Woman wanted in France in Dublin court for not allowing ex-partner access to children

A French woman wanted in her native country over her refusal to comply with a court order to allow her former partner access to their children has appeared before the High Court in Dublin.

The French authorities are seeking the extradition of the woman arising out of a custodial sentence she received from a French court over her failure to allow her former partner access to their children between 2008 and 2013.

A European Arrest Warrant (EAW) seeking her surrender says the woman and her former partner had two children together. The children in question are no longer minors, and are aged in their late teens, and early 20s.

The woman, who is aged in her early 50s, then went to live in Luxembourg in 2008. In that country she again refused to allow her ex-partner visitation rights despite the fact that he obtained access rights from a Luxembourg court.

She then moved back to France, where she again refused her former partner access to the children.

In 2013 a judicial investigation was opened by a French criminal court into her continued refusal to grant access. She was arrested and remanded in custody for 30 days.

However, the French authorities say that following her release she again refused to comply with the court order to allow access, and left France before she was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for breaching the French criminal code.

A warrant seeking her arrest was issued in late 2014, and was renewed in 2016.

Arising out of her actions an EAW seeking her surrender so she can serve the remaining 11 months of a custodial sentence was issued by a French court.

The EAW seeking her arrest said she had moved to Ireland, and was understood to be living for a time in Dublin.

The matter came before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys during Friday’s vacation sitting of the High Court.

Warrant

Det Sgt Tony Keane, of the Garda Extradition Unit, told the court he arrested the woman at the Four Courts on Friday morning by arrangement.

The detective said when he put the matters contained in the EAW to the woman and asked her if she knew what the matters contained in the warrant were about, she replied “yes”.

The judge was told there was no objection by the State to the granting of bail. The terms of her bail include that she be of good behaviour, surrender her national identity card to gardaí and reside at an address in the southeast of Ireland.

The woman, who was legally represented, did not speak during the brief hearing.

The matter will return before the High Court later this month.