Judge rules in favour of father
In a landmark case for unmarried fathers Judge Liam McKechnie has ruled that the removal of three-year-old twin boys from Ireland to their mother's parental home in the UK was contrary to the meaning of the Hauge Convention of 1980.
The boys father, referred to as Mr G in order to protect the identity of the children, is not married to
their mother and therefore does not qualify for custody of his sons under current Irish law.
He had, however begun guardianship proceedings by the time the twin's mother (referred to as Ms O) took them abroad last January.
Today's ruling means Mr G has won the first battle in his attempt to have his sons returned to Ireland.
Legal proceedings that were running in the UK were frozen while the Irish case was in process.
On Friday legal representatives for the applicant (Mr G) and the respondent (Ms O) will return to the Hight Court where the wording of an order to be served in the English jurisdiction will be formulated.
The scheduled hearing will take place in the UK next week.
