‘Devious’ mum avoids jail by allowing shared custody

A “devious” mother of two avoided being sent to jail yesterday after bowing to a judge’s ultimatum that she allow the children’s father to see their children unsupervised.

At the family law court in Ennis yesterday, Judge Patrick Durcan said the woman “deserved to be sent to jail for the total contempt of an order of this court”. However, he that sending the woman to jail would not be in ease of her children.

Solicitor for the father, Shíofra Hassett said that substantial progress had been made in the mother agreeing to shared custody of the estranged couple’s two children.

The mother’s agreement to allow the father unsupervised overnight access followed two separate ultimatums served on the woman by Judge Durcan, who said that she “is a devious woman in many ways”.

The case was last heard on Wednesday when Judge Durcan told the woman that he would jail her for contempt if she didn’t agree by yesterday to shared custody.

The woman told the court on Wednesday: “I need to protect my child. I need to protect them and I don’t believe that the father can see them without a supervisor.”

Yesterday, solicitors for the two parents had drawn up a consent order for shared custody to take place pending an appeal to the circuit court in the case.

Judge Durcan complimented all sides on reaching the interim order.

Addressing the couple, Judge Durcan said: “This isn’t a battle between you. This is an issue regarding your children and what is best for them.”