Insolvent father seeking access to child ‘went on a foreign holiday’

A father seeking extended access to his child went on a foreign holiday, drives a luxury car, and was seen on social media “socialising” in a number of bars and restaurants while not paying maintenance to his former partner.

The mother’s solicitor told a family law court in Cork that the claims that his current girlfriend is funding his entire life, as he has been declared insolvent and is unemployed. The mother’s solicitor said the primary-school aged child does not want extended access with the father at this time. A previous judge heard from the child “extensively”, and had granted just two hours access on a Sunday, she said.

The mother’s solicitor said the court had to hear the voice of the child before any decision to extend access was considered.