David and Wendy Farnell, of Bunbury in WA, were accused of leaving their biological son, who has Down syndrome and a congenital heart condition, in Thailand but taking his healthy twin sister home after employing a surrogate to carry their embryos.
Through a friend, they have denied the allegations, insisting Gammy was not expected to survive and that they were “heartbroken” but had to flee amid a military coup and legal battle over paternity.
But further controversy arose when it emerged Mr Farnell was a convicted child sex offender, who had spent time in jail in the late Nineties for molesting young girls.
The Farnells will reportedly give their full version of events to Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program in an unpaid interview to be aired on Sunday night.
A donation will be made by the Nine Network in the place of an interview fee to a charity raising money for Gammy, who has been looked after by his Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Januba since he was born seven months ago.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that officers from WA’s Department of Child Protection and Family Support, who were reportedly tasked with investigating the wellbeing of Gammy’s sister, have made contact with the Farnell family.
WA Child Protection Minister Helen Morton told Radio 6PR that her department had been in contact with the couple by telephone but wouldn’t say whether Gammy’s sister was still in their custody.
She said there would be no further public comment made while the investigation was underway.
“We think that the family deserves the opportunity for privacy and confidentiality,” she said.
Although David’s adult son by a previous marriage has defended his father, whom he says has “a massive heart” and has “made up for” mistakes in the past, Thai surrogate Pattaramon Januba has called for Gammy’s twin to be returned to her if Mr Farnell has committed sexual crimes against children.
