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Judge warns of 'darker side' to Alfie Evans support as police issue warning

A senior judge in the case of terminally ill Alfie Evans has spoken of a "darker side" to some offers of support to the distressed family.

Lord Justice McFarlane aired concerns about people like the 23-month-old's parents - Tom Evans and Kate James - being vulnerable to receiving bad advice.

He said the couple had made decisions based on incorrect advice after their appeal of a High Court ruling, preventing the boy from being moved to Italy, was rejected on Wednesday.

:: Court rejects Alfie Evans appeal as hospital trust speaks of staff being 'abused'
:: Timeline: The fight to keep Alfie Evans alive

The comments during Wednesday's Court of Appeal hearing come as tension continue to ride high with supporters still demonstrating outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

In an earlier stage of the protracted legal battle, a High Court judge had criticised a law student advising the couple, saying he had led the boy's father to wrongly believe he could walk out of hospital with Alfie.

Protesters blocked the road outside the hospital earlier in the week and tried to storm the entrance after European judges refused to intervene.

Following the latest ruling, a group of protesters warned others they would be dispersed by police if the same was to happen again.

In an open letter, Sir David Henshaw, the hospital trust's chairman and Louise Shepherd, its chief executive, said staff had been subject to a "barrage" of abuse.

"We have found ourselves at the centre of a social media storm that has included many untrue statements about our work and the motivations of our staff," they said.

"This has led to often inappropriate interventions from a range of external bodies and individuals, some of which have caused significant disruption to our children, families and staff."

They said their "remarkable" staff members had been subject to "unprecedented personal abuse that has been hard to bear".

"Our staff have received in person, via phone calls, email, and through social media channels a barrage of highly abusive and threatening language and behaviour that has shocked us all," they added.

"Worse still, patients and visitors to Alder Hey have also reported abuse."

On Wednesday, Merseyside Police were forced to issue a statement about "a number of social media posts" relating to the hospital.

Chief Inspector Chris Gibson said: "I would like to make people aware that these posts are being monitored and remind social media users that any offences including malicious communications and threatening behaviour will be investigated and where necessary will be acted upon."