D.T v F.L

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Court: High Court
• Judge: Mr. Justice William M. McKechnie
• Judgment Date: 22 February 2006
• Neutral Citation: [2006] IEHC 98
• Date: 22 February 2006

[2006] IEHC 98

THE HIGH COURT

[Record No. 82 M/2000]

T (D) v L (F)

IN THE MATTER OF THE JUDICIAL SEPARATION AND FAMILY REFORM ACT, 1989

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE FAMILY LAW ACT, 1995

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE FAMILY LAW (MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES AND

CHILDRENS) ACT, 1976, AS AMENDED,

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE FAMILY LAW (DIVORCE) ACT, 1996

BETWEEN

D.T.

APPLICANT

AND

F.L.

RESPONDENT

JUDICIAL SEPARATION & FAMILY LAW REFORM ACT 1989

FAMILY LAW (MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES & CHILDREN) ACT 1976

FAMILY LAW (DIVORCE) ACT 1996

FAMILY LAW ACT 1995 S29(1)(d)

FAMILY LAW ACT 1995 S29(1)(e)

JURISDICTION OF COURTS & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS ACT 1998

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 17

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 19

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 12

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 22

EEC REG 44/2001

EEC REG 1347/2000

TREATY OF EUROPEAN UNION ART 3

TREATY OF EUROPEAN UNION ART 10

TREATY OF EUROPEAN UNION ART 18

TREATY OF EUROPEAN UNION ART 39

HENDERSON v HENDERSON 1843 3 HARE 100 1843 67 ER 313

CONSTITUTION ART 29.4

MEAGHER v MIN FOR AGRICULTURE 1994 1 IR 329 1994 ILRM 1

MAHER v MIN FOR AGRICULTURE 2001 2 IR 139

K (C) v K (J) & MCG (F) 2004 1 IR 224 2004 2 ILRM 168

AHMED v MEDICAL COUNCIL 2004 1 ILRM 372

COX v DUBLIN CITY DISTILLERY (NO. 2) 1915 1 IR 345

JOHNSON v GORE WOOD & CO 2001 2 WLR 72 2002 2 AC 1 2001 1 AER 481

WOODHOUSE v CONSIGNIA 2002 2 AER 737 2002 1 WLR 2558

TINNELLY & SONS LTD v UNITED KINGDOM 1999 27 EHRR 249 1998 4 BHRC 393

AMMINISTRAZIONE DELLE FINANZE DELLO STATO v SIMMENTHAL SPA 1978 ECR 629 1978 3 CMLR 263

R v SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT EX PARTE FACTORTAME LTD & ORS 1991 1 AC 603 1991 1 AER 70

FRANCOVICH & BONIFACI v ITALY 1991 ECR 5357 1991 2 CMLR 66

AMMINISTRAZIONE DELLE FINANZE DELLO STATO v MIRECO 1980 ECR 2559 1980 CMR 8694

SCS PETERBROECK VAN CAMPENHOUT & CIE v BELGIUM 1995 ECR 4599 1996 AER (EC) 242 1996 1 CMLR 793

MCNAMARA v BORD PLEANALA 1999 3 IR 453

LOCAL GOVT (PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT) ACT 1963 S82(3B)(a)

LOCAL GOVT (PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT) ACT 1963 S82(3B)(b)

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 2

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 3

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 10

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 18

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 39

EEC REG 2201/03

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 5.2

DE CAVEL v DE CAVEL 1980 ECR 731 1980 3 CMLR 1

VAN DEN BOOGAARD v LAUMEN 1997 QB 759 1997 ECR 1147 1997 AER (EC) 517 1997 3 WLR 284

HOFFMAN v KRIEG 1988 ECR 645

DE WOLF v HARRY COX BV 1976 ECR 1759 1977 2 CMLR 43

OVERSEAS UNION INSURANCE LTD v NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE CO 1992 1 QB 434 1992 2 AER 138 1991 ECR 3317 1992 2 WLR 586

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 26

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 29

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 21

GUBISCH MASCHINENFABRIK AG v PALUMBO 1987 ECR 4861

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 27

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 33(1)

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 39

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 66(1)

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 66(2)

VON HORN v CINNAMOND 1997 ECR 5451

SAN SEBASTIAN CONVENTION 1989 (ACCESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN & THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC TO THE CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & THE ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS)

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (CIVIL & COMMERCIAL JUDGMENTS) REGS 2002 SI 52/2002

EEC REG 1347/200 ART 1.1(a)

EEC REG 1347/200 ART 42.1

EEC REG 1347/200 ART 42.2

EEC REG 1347/200 ART 11

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 65

DIATTA v LAND BERLIN 1985 ECR 567 1986 2 CMLR 164

R v IMMIGRATION APPEAL TRIBUNAL & SURINDER SINGH, EX PARTE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT 1992 3 AER 798 1992 ECR 4265 1992 3 CMLR 358 1993 1 FCR 453

EEC REG 1612/68

PUSA v OSUUSPANKKIEN KESKINÄINEN VAKUUTUSYHTIÖ 2004 ECR 5763 2004 AER (EC) 797 2004 2 CMLR 514

TREATY OF EUROPEAN UNION ART 61

TREATY OF EUROPEAN UNION ART 293

VIENNA CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF TREATIES 1969 ART 18

INTER-ENVIRONNEMENT WALLONIE ASBL v REGION WALLONIE 1997 ECR 7411 1998 AER (EC) 155 1998 1 CMLR 1057

DOMICILE & RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DIVORCES ACT 1986 S5

FIRMA A RACKE v HAUPTZOLLAMT MAINZ 1979 ECR 69

EEC REG 1347/200 ART 2(1)

EEC REG 1347/200 ART 2(1)(a)

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 27(3)

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 27(4)

MACAULEY v MACAULEY 1991 1 WLR 179 1991 1 AER 865 1991 FCR 483

CONSTITUTION ART 41

EEC REG 44/01 ART 5(2)

EEC REG 44/01 ART 1(2)(a)

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 42

EEC REG 44/01 ART 48

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 TITLE II SECTION 8 ART 21

EEC REG 2201/03 ART 19

EEC REG 2201/03 ART 71

BRIGGS & REES CIVIL JURISDICTION & JUDGEMENTS 4ED 2005 PARA 2.19

COLLINS (ED) DICEY & MORRIS ON THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PARA 12.40

EEC REG 2201/03 ART 64

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 54

SAN SEBASTIAN CONVENTION 1989 (ACCESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN & THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC TO THE CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & THE ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) ART 29

DAVY INTERNATIONAL LTD & ORS v VOEST ALPINE INDUSTRIEANLAGENBAU GMBH & ORS 1999 1 AER 103

PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE CO LTD v PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE CO OF AMERICA 2003 EWCA CIV 327 2003 1 WLR 2295

INTERNATIONALE NEDERLANDEN AVIATION LEASE BV v CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY & EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR THE SAFETY OF AIR NAVIGATION (EUROCONTROL) 1997 1 LLOYD'S REP 80

TAVOULAREAS v TSAVLIRIS & ANOTHER TAVOULAREAS v ALEXANDER G TSAVLIRIS & SONS MARITIME CO 2006 1 AER (COMM) 109

BRUSSELS CONVENTION (EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL & COMMERCIAL MATTERS) 1968 ART 68

NV ALGEMENE TRANSPORT - EN EXPEDITIE ONDERNEMING VAN GEND EN LOOS v NEDERLANDSE ADMINISTRATIE DER BELASTINGEN (NETHERLANDS INLAND REVENUE) 1963 ECR 1

GIMÉNEZ ZAERA v INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE LA SEGURIDAD SOCIAL 1987 ECR 3697 1989 1 CMLR 827

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY TITLE III(a)

TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ART 39

FAMILY LAW (DIVORCE) ACT 1996

EUROPEAN LAW

Free movement of workers

FAMILY LAW

Divorce

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Trial of preliminary issue

Whether rule at community law which obliges member state to automatically give effect to judgment of another member state on basis that it will promote free movement of workers - Relief refused (2000/82M -McKechnie J - 22/2/2006) [2006] IEHC 98 T(D) v L(F)

Facts The respondent sought to challenge the applicants entitlement to seek a decree of judicial separation and ancillary reliefs in circumstances where a decree of divorce had been granted by a Netherlands court but where the Irish Supreme Court had held the parties to be still validly married within the Irish jurisdiction. The respondent sought to contend that the maintenance orders sought would be in conflict with a judgement of a foreign court and that Brussels 2 ought to have application to the decree granted in 1994.

Held by McKechnie J., that the maintenance order of 1994 did not qualify for recognition within the jurisdiction. The decree of Divorce did not come within Brussels 2 or Brussels 2 bis, which had to be given prospective application only.

Reporter: E.F.

1 JUDGMENT of Mr. Justice William M. McKechnie delivered on the 22nd day of February, 2006.

2 1. On the 6th July, 2000, the applicant instituted family law proceedings against the respondent wherein she sought a number of reliefs, including a decree of judicial separation as well as several ancillary orders dealing with property, financial and related matters. At paragraph 6 of the special endorsement of claim she pleaded:-

"that the respondent purported to obtain from the Courts of the Netherlands in or about September 1994 a decree of divorce. Neither the applicant nor the respondent herein were at any time domiciled within the jurisdiction of the courts of the Netherlands. The said purported divorce is accordingly not recognised in this jurisdiction".

3 The background circumstances which gave rise to this plea are as follows.

4 2. The parties were married on the 30th August, 1980, in this jurisdiction and have three children who were born in 1982, 1984 and 1987 respectively. The respondent, who is now a successful business man, together with his then wife and family, moved to the...