Father loses bid to keep kids in Ireland over face mask law in French schools

The judge remarked: "The sole catalyst for his actions appears to have been the announcement that French schools would require pupils over the age of six to wear masks."

A father who failed to return his two young children back to his estranged wife in France over concerns about the wearing of masks in French schools has lost a High Court challenge to allow them to remain in Ireland.

Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty rejected an application by the father for a stay on a court order directing the two boys, aged 11 and four, be returned to the custody of their mother in France.