Dad is refusing to hand child back to mother

The mother of a young child has said that the father would not give the child back to her after having access himself.

The woman came before Naas District Court seeking assistance.

The couple are not married and joint custody was granted in mid-July with the father having “significant access”, it was claimed.

She claimed he had refused to return the child and she had tried to contact him.

The woman told the court that the man would say that she has a difficulty with alcohol  but she told Judge Miriam Walsh that she only uses alcohol recreationally.

She further alleged that the man had tried to involve Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, but it had not made contact with her.

Judge Walsh said she would accede to granting a protection order.

She said the order would also be served on the man’s solicitor.