More than two-thirds of child abduction cases handled by the Irish authorities last year involved children brought from or to the United Kingdom against the wishes of parents with custody rights, new figures show.
A total of 92 cases involving children aged under 16 were handled by the Central Authority for Child Abduction in the Department of Justice last year, including 21 cases carried forward from 2001.
Of these, 42 cases involved requests by the Irish authorities for the return of children from other countries to Ireland; 51 involved reported abductions into the State from other countries.
The Central Authority for Child Abduction records data relating to cases involving children who have been taken from Ireland to another state, or vice versa, against the wishes of the parent with custody rights.
It operates under international laws which oblige contracting states to ensure the immediate return of children who have been removed from one state to another, usually by one parent in defiance of the wishes of the other parent. Contracting states also undertake to recognise and enforce custody or access orders granted in another state.
Of the 42 cases involving abductions of children from Ireland to other countries, eight foreign courts ordered the return of the children. In two cases the foreign court refused the return of children, while in a further nine the children were either returned voluntarily or the parties reached an agreement. Seven applications were withdrawn, which means the people seeking the return of the children withdrew their applications. Thirteen cases were awaiting resolution at the end of 2002. Three applications were refused.
Of the 51 cases involving abductions into the State from other countries, in 10 the High Court ordered the return of the children and in three refused it. In 14 cases the children were either returned voluntarily or the parties reached an agreement, while nine applications were withdrawn. Thirteen cases were awaiting resolution at the end of the year. In addition, two access orders were registered, which means it was finally agreed that the children were not abducted.
Of the cases dealt with by the Irish Central Authority in 2002, 65 per cent involved the United Kingdom, 10 per cent involved other EU member-states and 9 per cent the United States.