Alarming rise in child abduction cases

IRISH authorities dealt with more than one child abduction every week last year, figures released yesterday reveal.

Department of Justice statistics show there were 72 new cases of child abduction, involving 112 children, in 2002 - seven more cases than in 2001.

In all, the Department’s Central Authority for Child Abduction dealt with 93 cases in 2002, including an additional 21 cases that were carried over from 2001.

The 93 cases were divided between 51 cases of abductions into the State and 42 cases of abductions out of the State.

Of the incoming cases:

The High Court ordered the return of the children in 10 cases.

The High Court refused return in three cases.

In 14 cases the children were either returned voluntarily or the parties reached an agreement.

Nine applications were withdrawn.

13 cases are awaiting resolution.

Two access orders were registered.

Of the outgoing cases:

The foreign courts ordered the return of the children in eight cases.

The foreign courts refused the return of the children in two cases.

In nine cases the children were either returned voluntarily or the parties reached agreement.

Seven applications were withdrawn.

13 cases are awaiting resolution.

Three applications were refused.

Of the cases dealt with by the Irish Central Authority in 2002, 65% involved Britain, 10% involved the remaining EU member states, 9% the US and 16% involved other countries.

The Central Authority operates under the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991.

The law gives the force of law in Ireland to the Hague and Luxembourg Conventions on child abduction.

The purpose of those conventions is to facilitate the return of children who have been taken from one contracting state to another against the wishes of a parent with custody rights.

In addition, there is provision under the Luxembourg Convention for a custody or access order granted in one contracting state to be recognised or enforced in another contracting state.

In the period October 1991 to December 2002, the Irish Central Authority has dealt with 865 cases, involving 1,456 children.