Child removal across international borders

IrishGeek

Hello guys,

I am just wondering if you can share your views and advise for following matter. It's about removal of my son by my ex girlfriend from Ireland to UK. My son is Irish born and was living here until September this year. I was with my gf for last 6 yrs and things were fine. Problem was she didn't want to give me any rights to my son and didn't want to have my input in my son life be it be to put him to creach, take him hospital appointments or other stuff. I put the matter to social workers and they asked me to go courts, i applied in courts in Jun and had one court hearing in July. Where she came to court but before our case was called she went away and even didn't respond to her solicitor. She did so to adjourned the case. Case was adjourned to September coz of court summer break.

Meanwhile she went on to take protection orders against me and pressurise me to take the case out of courts or else she will take protection orders against me. I did not pay attention, she went on to get protection orders and then next day send gardai to my house that I was following her. Which was false. She kept on forcing me to cancel courts but social workers advised me not to do that, they were not happy with her as she was not cooperating with them too.

At the end of August I have to go out ofor country for work related travel as I go abroad from time to time for work related purpose. I went abroad and she slip from Ireland and went to UK. And send me message she is not coming back. I reported it to social and gardai.

In September court hearing she did not appear in court and judge struck out protection orders and grant me access and guardianship rights. And also made an order for production of child before court in November hearing. Court notice was served to her via email and she talked to court security about that.

I'm trying to make it bit short, please bear with me. In November she did not appear in court and judge issued bench warrants against her.

I am not so sure what is going to happen now. I called court office many time to get the status but they didn't tell me if they have sent warrants to gardai or not, went to gardai and they say they can't disclose it to me. I feel like it's been delayed. She is not letting me have any contact with my son over phone or video chat. I pay maintenance but she still not give me video contact with my son. Social workers in UK never spoke to me about my son or hear my side of story. I requested contact details and it was given to me last week that's only email address, sent him email and no reply yet. Could you please help me advise what else I can do in this situation. I was thinking a long time to put it on here to get some advise or view point. Social worker in ireland mention it in their report to uk social services that she is mentally not fit and need mental health assessment also they recommend that child be removed from her care and given to dad, and they ask me to apply for full custody. How can apply for full custody if she and child is in UK different jurisdiction and what Irish or European jurisdiction law apply to UK too.

I was thinking to go to UK in Xmas holidays to see my son but she is denying me access, i know where my son is in UK if I go there can I ask UK police that I want to see my son by showing them court orders for my guardianship and access. If I turn up to her door will I comit any crime or what can she do to put me in trouble if I go to her door to want to see my son. Please do advise me. I know it's a long post, thank you for taking time to go through it, I will really appreciate any help or advice on this. I miss my son terribly and he miss me too, she is forcing things on him and not letting him see me.

If i am in wrong category please point me to right one. Thanks
Best regards

lifeandtimes

You're doing everything right so far but you need and I say NEED legal advice.

Get to a solicitor experienced in family law immediately

Robbo

Moderation: OP, you have quite a serious issue on your hands, that can only be dealt with through professional legal advice. We can't offer that here, as per the charter, so I have to close the thread.