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The campaign group that represented the family of Alfie Evans in the later stages of their court battle over the toddler’s future could face a watchdog investigation.

The Christian Legal Centre played a high-profile role in efforts to convince judges Alfie should be moved from Alder Hey to the care of Vatican City medics as he fought for survival.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has now confirmed it is reviewing the organisation’s role in the tragic case.

A spokesperson said: “We can confirm we will review the information provided and consider if any next steps are appropriate.

“Only those authorised by a legal services regulatory such as the SRA are allowed to carry out reserved legal activities, as defined within section 12 of the Legal Services Act 2007, within the English and Welsh legal system.”

The role of the CLC in the case was questioned by judges called to rule on whether Alfie’s parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, should be allowed to remove him from Alder Hey children’s hospital.

Mr Justice Hayden described a CLC-linked legal adviser to the family of the sick toddler – student Pavel Stroilov – as a “fanatical and deluded young man”.

The judge criticised Mr Stroilov’s “malign hand” and told the Family Division of the High Court that some of his legal advice had come close to contempt of court.

The court heard the adviser had been party to Alfie’s dad, Tom Evans, lodging a private prosecution of Alder Hey doctors, allegedly for murder.

The judge said, in fact, the hospital had provided “world class” care for the 23-month-old, who suffered from a mystery brain condition and died last week following the removal of life support.

He described a court witness statement prepared for Tom, 21, as “littered with vituperation and bile”, doing him and Alfie’s mum, Kate, 20, “far more harm than it does them good”.

(Image: PA)

Mr Stroilov, who is not a practising lawyer, and another activist had helped to prepare the statement, which the judge also said was “critical of those who have done so much to help Alfie”.

Beyond the advice of Mr Stroilov, Alfie’s parents were represented by barrister Paul Diamond, standing counsel to the CLC, in several court hearings as they argued for his removal from Alder Hey.

Roger Kiska, part of the CLC team, said his parents should be the ones to make the decision over his life support and “not the state” following a High Court hearing at which a date and time was set for treatment to be withdrawn.

The CLC is a branch of Christian Concern - a religious lobbying group vocal on topics ranging from abortion to gender identity.

Claiming they handle more religious discrimination cases than any other group in the UK, their website says they “exist to defend Christians in the public sphere and to protect the freedom of Christians to live their lives in accordance with their Christian beliefs.”

The group’s chief executive, Andrea Williams, has since said the organisation did not support the criminal prosecution of doctors involved in Alfie’s care.

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In a statement released on Friday, she said: “In recent days, in addition to significant support we have endured some media and judicial criticism.

“We consider this unfair and detrimental.

“We reject the prejudicial and inflammatory comments made by Mr Justice Hayden.

“We also reject the portrayal by the Court of Appeal of our role in this case and the assistance that we have offered to Mr Evans.”

Ms Williams, who said the CLC had acted pro bono for the family, said she believed the family’s lack of legal representation at hearings in February had “major repercussions” for the rest of the case.

Speaking before Alfie’s death at the weekend, she added: “Again, we underline that our driving concern throughout our short involvement in this case has been to contend for little Alfie’s best interests and to serve his parents.

(Image: Lauren Pierce)

“We continue to believe that Alfie is not best served by holding him, against his parents’ wishes, in a hospital where he will be allowed to die, when another hospital is willing to offer him ongoing medical care, with minimal risk.

“At this difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the privacy of Mr Evans, Ms James and Alfie Evans.

“We entrust Alfie to the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the gift of life and the freedom of parents.”