Italian court removes children from family living off-grid, father calls it 'injustice'

The father of three children from a British-Australian family living in the woods in Italy's central Chieti province who have been transferred to an educational facility by court order denounced the decision as an "injustice".

Authorities intervened after the entire family was hospitalised for mushroom poisoning, with the juvenile court in the central city of L'Aquila deciding last week that the couple's alternative lifestyle put the lives of the children at jeopardy.

The family of five, including an eight-year-old girl and two five-year-old twin boys, had been living in a caravan in the forests of Palmoli and an isolated house without running water or electricity, pursuing a lifestyle in close contact with nature.

Nathan Trevallion hit back at the decision, telling the local press that the authorities' decision led to "the worst night of my life".

"Taking children away from a parent is the greatest pain there is ... It's an injustice," he said.

The court order enforced by police allowed Trevallion's wife Catherine Birmingham to stay with the children during an observation period, while the father remains in their woodland home.

Social services conducted an inspection and deemed the environment unsuitable for the children's development, citing strong social isolation.

The children did not attend school and had no peer relationships, factors that influenced the decision to suspend parental responsibility.

The couple's lawyer confirmed that the court order has been complied with and that a legal guardian has been appointed, noting that the mother will live at the facility with the children to provide "emotional continuity".

According to the lawyer, the children are safe and in good health, but the defence is considering whether to challenge the court order.

Thirty thousand signatures support family

The parents have argued that their lifestyle represented a deliberate choice inspired by a return to nature, not neglect or abandonment.

They maintain that the children receive home education, which is legal in Italy, and are cared for by a paediatrician, disputing that material simplicity constitutes danger. The couple has contended that removal poses a greater traumatic risk than living in the woods.

The case has sparked widespread media attention and public mobilisation in Italy, with an online petition gathering over 30,000 signatures calling for the family to remain together in their home.

Supporters defend the legitimacy of homeschooling and the right to an alternative lifestyle, but the courts will make the final decision.

Expert reports in the coming weeks will determine whether the children can return to their original lives or whether a permanent alternative solution is needed.