You have to wonder exactly who put her up to this.

I can't quite believe she formulated this grievance all on her lonesome...

As surprising as it may seem, that hasn't happened here yet -- with the emphasis on that final adverb.

Guys, this is the inevitable result of no-win-no-fee lawsuits.

It's unlikely that this case will be succesful, but nobody can predict the courts. The pertinent question here is, why was she granted legal aid to pursue this fatuous claim?

Yes, it's hideously selfish of her. But from one point of view, why should we criticise her when the law allows, nay encourages her to take such actions? This is, to my mind, just one small example of the absurdity and total wrongness of basing a legal system on the flawed concept of "human rights", or of even introducing the concept into a legal system at all. I am completely opposed to it.

"Catholics who have been exposed to Protestants are unemployable?"

My understanding of Northern Ireland was that it was the other way around ;-P

She may feel that she wasn't able to follow the teachings of Catholicism, but the judge is unlikely to agree because young people are placed with carers who will enable them to keep the faith, whichever it is, and whether or not they share the child’s beliefs. There are simply not enough placements to match children for all their needs, and the risks of residential care are greater, as you point out.

In Northern Ireland, people who give up their children for adoption are allowed to insist that the child may only be adopted by Catholic parents or by Protestant parents, so she has a well established legal precedent on her side. That's not to say she'll win, but the judge's decision wouldn't be as cut-and-dry as you suggest.