Tug-of-love boy returns to US with mother

DYLAN BENWELL, the Cork-born youngster at the centre of an international tug-of-love, returned to the United States yesterday, more than three months after his grandparents were accused of kidnapping him.

The nine-year-old returned to the US yesterday afternoon after his mother Serena successfully argued he would be better off at the home she shares with her husband and four other children.

Mrs Benwell, who travelled to Ireland last week for a High Court hearing, accompanied her son back to America. The family had been living in Winthrop Harbour, near Chicago, but moved to Virginia some weeks after the alleged kidnapping.

Dylan had been in the care of his Cobh-based grandparents, Mrs Benwell’s parents Ethel and Tim Blake, until the hearing. When contacted yesterday, the Blakes said they were unable to speak about the case until after consulting their solicitor today.

The couple still face aggravated kidnapping charges in the US. However, Winthrop Harbour Police Chief Joel Brumlik said his department will not be expending any more resources to have the couple extradited. “If they attempt to travel to the US, they will be detained. However, we hope that as a family they can work out their differences,” he said.

Tim, also known as Teddy, and Ethel Blake are accused of the premeditated kidnapping of Dylan on July 22 this year, from a hotel close to the family home.

According to police, the Blakes had multiple flights booked with Aer Lingus and British Airways. They left the US on a British Airways flight to London before catching a connecting one to Ireland. The case was complicated by competing court orders here and in the US, with both parties claiming judges had given them custodial rights.

While the hearing last Tuesday was in camera, it is clear the High Court ruled in favour of Mrs Benwell. This was confirmed by Chief Brumlik, who said a judge ordered the child be returned to the US.

While Dylan was born in Ireland and had lived here with his grandparents in the early years of his life, he latterly stayed with his mother and stepfather John, a member of the US Navy due to be deployed in Iraq.

His grandparents argued he was happier in Ireland, a claim vigorously contested by Mrs Benwell, who publicly stated she believed her parents should be punished.

Dylan was born in Ireland just two weeks before his natural father died. He moved to the US seven years ago with his mother and three brothers. Serena married John Benwell in 1998 and he adopted Dylan and his siblings. The couple also have a daughter, five.