AN IRISH judge has blocked an Asian mother from taking her Irish born baby out of the country to attend a family wedding abroad for fear she wouldn’t return with the child.
Judge Patrick Durcan made the decision at the family law court that he would not be granting the order over fears that the mother may never come back.
According to the Irish Mirror, the judge heard that the woman had extensive family overseas and that she might be prone to not return to Ireland with her baby.
As a result of this, he concluded: “I don’t believe that it would be safe to grant such an order”.
The baby has an Irish passport but the child’s father was opposing the baby leaving Ireland.
The father’s opposition resulted in the mother having to apply to the court to allow the baby to travel.
When asked if she would stay in her native country after her planned trips, the woman said: “I don’t have anything there to support me. I wouldn’t be able to support myself there. I have a better life here.”
In his ruling, Judge Durcan said that the application by the mother to bring her child overseas was made in the context of the access order made after a lengthy and contested application last month.
Judge Durcan said: “It seems to me that with the best will in the world, there may be an encouragement for the woman to re-settle with her baby in either location. That would have the effect of completely frustrating the access order made last month.”
He added: “It seems to me that the child has an entitlement to the benefit and company of the child’s father and I am not satisfied up until now that the child’s interests have been protected and looked after sufficiently to ensure that right - from the point of view of the child - has been vindicated. It seems to be it hasn’t.”
