Really sorry this happened to you.From my experience with social workers in 2001 and again in 2007
In 2001 they took my sons children away from him and us on the say so of a vindictive woman who cared little for her children and was using them to punish her husband (my son) and us as grand parents, childrens court eventually returned the kids and ruled that mother should have no contact except birthdays and xmas.
In 2007 the mother came back and had the children taken away again, when we tried to tell social that this had happened before and mum wasn't suppose d to contact the kids social services said their records didn't go back to 2001. I gave them a transcript of my diaries from the time with court references etc but they dismissed them and wouldn't believe us, we couldn't get this across to the judge either because you can't say anything in childrens court unless asked and judge believed everything social said even though we could prove them wrong.
Judge realised when she asked mum what shall I do with the children? mum said lock one up and put the other in a home !! Judge then saw the light but it was too late, kids were damaged and my son had taken his own life.
Social didn't even apologise
They lied to you, and therefore probably in court.
Even if they got down to the minimum of 6 years, as it is in one particullar case, then they still should have had them. But the table shows that they should have held on to them for ages longer than that.
The records from the first court case must have been held.
Too many egos involved.
Bad apples that you simply got caught out with.
Symapthies and condolences to you and you family.
Did your son/you not have a solicitor?