A JUDGE in Ireland has ordered the return of a teenage boy to his mother in England.
The 13-year-old, who was born in Ireland and lived there for nine years, visited his homeland with his father for a rugby match earlier this year.
This week the High Court in Dublin heard that the boy stayed in the country following that match and began attending secondary school.
Claims were also heard that the child told a psychologist that he wants to remain in Ireland and doesn’t feel he ‘fits in’ in England.
His mother acquired a court order in England - where the family moved to two years ago - requiring the boy’s return and the order was enforced in Ireland under the Hague Convention governing child abduction.
On Tuesday, June 3 Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan ruled the teen was ‘wrongfully removed’ from England by his father and must be returned there, where he should experience second-level school until the term ends in July.
The judge claimed it desirable that the child have the ‘double experience’ of both school systems.
With the Irish school term ending last week, on May 30, the youngster will now make his way to his mother in England on the condition that he attends school there until July 21.
The family left Ireland in 2010 and settled in England in 2012 after two years spent in another country.
In 2013 the mother left the family home in England, but retained unrestricted access to the boy, who was still living with his father.
Earlier this year, the father packed all their belongings into a van and headed to Ireland with his son, preparing to settle back in to their former family home once its current rental lease expires.
In her judgement this week Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan found, based on the evidence provided, that while the teenager’s views of England are not entirely negative he does object to returning and feels settled in Ireland.
The judge has requested the outstanding court hearing in Britain be expedited so that a decision about where the teenager should live and be schooled can be made before the Irish term begins in late August.
See More: Dublin, Family Courts, High Courts, Irish In Britain
