Ireland Case Law

AB v An Taoiseach and Ors (Approved)

AB v An Taoiseach and Ors (Approved) [2026] IEHC 236 (21 April 2026)

The High Court dismissed a father’s claim seeking orders compelling the Irish Government to secure enforcement of a Polish return order for his abducted child.

• Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction
• Brussels iib regulation
• Constitutional rights to family life
• State obligations in international child abduction
• Justiciability of executive action
• Diplomatic protection

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U.V. v Y.Z. (Hague Convention, rights of custody, wrongful removal) (Approved)

U.V. v Y.Z. (Hague Convention, rights of custody, wrongful removal) (Approved) [2026] IEHC 293 (16 April 2026)

Hague Convention child abduction case ordering the return of a child from Ireland to Japan after finding the mother was exercising custody rights and no grave risk was shown.

• Child abduction
• Hague convention
• Custody rights
• Wrongful removal
• Child-abduction
• Hague-convention

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F.G. v H.I.G. (child abduction, habitual residency, grave risk, child's objection, discretion) (Approved)

F.G. v H.I.G. (child abduction, habitual residency, grave risk, child's objection, discretion) (Approved) [2026] IEHC 105 (18 February 2026)

The High Court ordered the return of a child to England under the Hague Convention after finding wrongful removal, rejecting grave risk, and accepting but overriding the child’s objections.

• Child abduction
• Hague convention
• Habitual residence
• Grave risk defence
• Child's objection
• Court discretion

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G v G [No. 2] (Approved)

G v G [No. 2] (Approved) [2026] IEHC 92 (11 February 2026)

The High Court approved limited undertakings to facilitate return of a child to Kansas under the Hague Convention, rejecting broader demands as unsupported and excessive.

• Child abduction
• Hague convention
• Undertakings
• Custody
• Maintenance
• Child-abduction

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G v G (Child Abduction: consent; grave risk) (Approved)

G v G (Child Abduction: consent; grave risk) (Approved) [2026] IEHC 45 (30 January 2026)

High Court of Ireland held that a child removed from the United States to Ireland was habitually resident in the United States; return was ordered.

• Child abduction
• Habitual residence
• Consent to removal
• Grave risk exception
• Visa status
• Child-abduction

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C v D (Approved)

C v D (Approved) [2026] IEHC 47 (30 January 2026)

The High Court refused a Hague Convention return order for a child to Poland, finding a grave risk of harm and giving weight to the child’s objections.

• International child abduction
• Hague convention
• Child custody
• Grave risk exception
• Child's objections
• Protective measures

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The Director of Public Prosecutions v D W (Approved)

The Director of Public Prosecutions v D W (Approved) [2026] IEHC 9 (07 January 2026)

The High Court held that a child remained habitually resident in Romania and ordered her return, rejecting consent, grave risk, and intolerability defences.

• International child abduction
• Hague convention
• Custody rights
• Habitual residence
• Consent
• Grave risk exception

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K.W. v M.L.M. (Approved)

K.W. v M.L.M. (Approved) [2025] IEHC 567 (17 October 2025)

The High Court upheld an enforcement order for Norwegian child maintenance arrears, finding proper notice was given and refusing to re-open the merits.

• Child maintenance enforcement
• Recognition and enforcement of foreign maintenance orders
• Hague convention 2007
• Child-maintenance-enforcement
• Recognition-and-enforcement-of-foreign-orders
• Hague-convention-2007

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G.M. v E.U. (Approved)

G.M. v E.U. (Approved) [2025] IEHC 450 (30 July 2025)

The High Court refused an ex parte application under section 12 of the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 because the child was in Germany.

• Child abduction
• Jurisdiction
• Hague convention
• Interim orders
• Child-abduction
• Hague-convention

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A.X. v R.X. (Approved)

A.X. v R.X. (Approved) [2025] IEHC 432 (01 July 2025)

The removal of M. X. from Poland to Ireland in June 2024 was wrongful under the Hague Convention as she was habitually resident in Poland, the applicant was exercising custody rights, and the removal was without his consent. The child's objections to return were not independently formed but influenced by the respondent and her partner, and did not meet the threshold for refusal. No grave risk of harm was established. None of the Article 13 defences were made out. The application for return is granted.

Source excerpt

• International child abduction
• Hague convention
• Custody
• Habitual residence
• Child's wishes
• Grave risk exception

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