Short trip, big appointment: Catherine Birmingham and Nathan Trevallion left Chieti a little after 10:00 a.m. to go to Rome. They are due to meet the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, at Palazzo Giustiniani at 12:30 p.m.
Why the meeting matters
The couple, often referred to in the press as the "family in the woods," had their parental responsibility suspended by the Juvenile Court of L'Aquila with an order dated November 20 of last year. Since then their three children have been placed in a group home. The mother also lived at the same facility until March 6, when a new court order, based on social services reports, removed her from that placement.
How the day unfolded
- At 9:30 a.m. the couple arrived in Chieti, where their lawyer Danila Solinas was waiting at her office on via Spaventa. They are assisted by lawyers Danila Solinas and Marco Femminella.
- Around 10:00 a.m. they left the building accompanied by the lawyer and an interpreter. A car with a driver sent from Rome was waiting to take them to the capital.
- When journalists asked what kind of day it would be, lawyer Solinas, as she climbed into the car, answered "una bella giornata!"
Background from earlier statements
On March 16, the same Ignazio La Russa had confirmed that he had invited the couple and said he would meet the parents the following Wednesday. He added that he intended to proceed despite criticism from the parliamentary opposition related to the timing around an upcoming referendum.
Quick reality check: This trip is a short, visible step in a legal and social services process that has already affected the family and their children. The meeting with the Senate president is notable because it brings political attention to an ongoing judicial matter.
