It's a story that began with a family living in the woods with their horses and chickens – and turned into a battle pitting the Italian government against its own judiciary.

In 2021, British former chef Nathan Trevallion and his Australian wife Catherine Birmingham moved with their three children into a house in the forest in Palmoli, in southern Italy. There they lived "off-grid," using well water to avoid microplastics, an outdoor compost toilet and solar panels to power their devices.

But in mid-November all three children, an eight-year-old and six-year-old twins, were taken into foster care after an Italian court concluded that their parents had violated the children's rights.

"The family unit lives in housing hardship as the building has not been declared habitable," the court concluded. "The members of the Trevallion family have no social interaction, no fixed income, the home has no toilet facilities, and the children do not attend school. 

"The order is based on the risk of violating the right to social life in consideration of the serious and harmful violations of the children's rights; therefore the parents should be suspended from parental responsibility."

The Trevallions first crossed paths with local authorities last year, when the whole family ended up in hospital after eating poisonous mushrooms from the forest.

They started receiving visits from social services and law enforcement, who told the couple their children needed to go to school and receive regular medical care.

After they failed to comply, and refused educational and psychological assessments, patrol cars took the children to a church-run care facility by court order.

Government intervention 

The court case hit headlines and stirred controversy in Italy, with tens of thousands of people signing a petition calling for the family to be reunited. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the situation as "alarming" and has reportedly contacted Justice Minister Carlo Nordio about the case.

Meloni's deputy went further. Matteo Salvini told reporters it was "shameful that the State is concerned with private education and the personal life choices of two parents who found Italy a hospitable country, yet it steals their children."

This attack by national leaders on a court ruling is part of a broader trend, according to the European Commission's latest Rule of Law report. The report expressed concern that such government displays of disrespect are eroding public trust in the legal system.

"While criticism of judicial decisions is a normal aspect of democratic debate, the executive and legislative branches should avoid criticisms that undermine the independence of the judiciary or citizens' trust in it," the report said.

Meanwhile, the family caught in the middle of the latest clash has vowed to appeal the court's decision – and a local restaurateur has lent them his former family cottage for their use while they carry out court-mandated improvements on their own home. 

Armando Carusi offered his Airbnb cottage, where he was born and raised without central heating, out of empathy for the family.

"I am not scandalized by the family's lifestyle because I lived it myself when I was little," he said. "It was the natural thing to do."

The cottage has since been updated with modern comforts, including an indoor bathroom.

Using the cottage could allow the family to be reunited. The mother had been housed with the children while the father carried out improvements to the family home.