Mercy for Madonna: star wins appeal to adopt

Madonna has finally been allowed to adopt Malawian toddler Mercy James after months of legal wrangling. The singer appealed against an earlier ruling that prevented her adopting four-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James, because she had not been resident in Malawi for 18 to 24 months. The residency rule was waived in 2006 when Madonna was allowed to take Malawian toddler David Banda to live with her in London before his adoption was finalised in 2008. Critics claimed the star was being given preferential treatment because of her status and because she has influence through her charity, Raising Malawi. But now Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo has overturned the original ruling, saying Mercy James would have a better life with the star. Development agency Plan has said it could not condone "whisking a single child off to a fairytale lifestyle in Hollywood". Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of international development charity EveryChild, previously said that high-profile adoptions sent out the wrong message and the focus should be on the work done to help vulnerable families stay together. She said: "This may be less glamorous than international adoption by pop stars but it is the only viable solution to provide safe and secure homes for all of Africa's children." Madonna, 50, also has two biological children, Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, aged eight.

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ITN | June 12, 2009

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