Facts of parental child abduction

PARENTAL abduction of children occurs when a parent or guardian takes a child to live in another country without the second parent’s permission.

Since October 1991 the Irish courts have dealt with 1,095 cases of parental child abduction under the Hague Convention.

Within Europe, the terms of this treaty have been strengthened with a number of other international agreements on custody cases.

In Ireland more than 100 children each year have their immediate destiny decided by these agreements.

Each matter is dealt with on a case-by-case basis but the convention’s terms are strict and there is little scope for defence by abducting parents.

The majority of cases will see the parent and child being sent back to the country where the other parent lives.

The Irish Centre for Parentally Abducted Children advises parents who feel there is a danger their child will be abducted to gather as much information about their child as possible.

This includes photographs, photocopies of birth certificates, finger-prints and copies of relevant custody orders.

There should be enough copies of these to give to solicitors and the gardaí if the child is subsequently abducted.

Gardaí can alert all ports if they believe a child has been taken by a parent and if necessary detain the child until the issue is resolved. A solicitor will give details on how to take a case under the convention.