McB v E

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Judge: Mr. Justice John MacMenamin
• Judgment Date: 28 April 2010
• Neutral Citation: [2010] IEHC 123
• Court: High Court
• Docket Number: [2009 No. 42 HLC], [2009 No. 104 IA]
• Date: 28 April 2010

[2010] IEHC 123

THE HIGH COURT

[No. 42 H.L.C./2009]

[No. 104 I.A./2009]

McB (J) v E (L)

FAMILY LAW

IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS ACT 1964 (AS AMENDED)

IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILD ABDUCTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF CUSTODY ORDERS ACT 1991

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION DONE AT THE HAGUE ON 25 TH OCTOBER 1980

AND IN THE MATTER OF COUNCIL REGULATION NO. 2201/2003 (E.C.)

AND IN THE MATTER OF J.S. McB.; E. McB.; J.C. McB. (MINORS)

BETWEEN/

J. McB.

APPLICANT

AND

L.E.

RESPONDENT

HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION ART 15

HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION ART 3

GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS ACT 1964 S6A

GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS ACT 1964 S11

CHILD ABDUCTION & ENFORCEMENT OF CUSTODY ORDERS ACT 1991 S15

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 2

PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT BY A 2010 2 WLR 527 2009 2 FLR 1 2010 FAM 42

T (G) v O (KA) 2008 3 IR 567

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE CO COUNCIL v B (K) & ANOR UNREP FINLAY-GEOGHEGAN 26.1.2010 2010 IEHC 9

HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION ART 5

HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION ART 21

SHANNON CHILD LAW 2005 CHAP 10

SHANNON CHILD LAW 2005 CHAP 12

LONG THE HAGUE ABDUCTION CONVENTION & IRISH LAW: RIGHTS OF CUSTODY OR RIGHTS OF ACCESS 2007 1 IJFL 12

CHILD ABDUCTION & ENFORCEMENT OF CUSTODY ORDERS ACT 1991 S15(1)(A)

CHILD ABDUCTION & ENFORCEMENT OF CUSTODY ORDERS ACT 1991 S2(2)

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (JUDGMENTS IN MATRIMONIAL MATTERS & MATTERS OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY) REGS 2005 SI 112/2005 ART 8(A)(iii)

TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ART 288

VIGREUX v MICHEL 2006 2 FLR 1180 2007 3 FCR 196

EEC REG 2201/2003 RECITAL 17

SHORTER OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY ON HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES 3ED REV 1973

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 60

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 1(B)

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 2(7)

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 2(9)

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 2(10)

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 2(11)

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 9

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 8

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 11

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 11(1)

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 19(2)

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 8

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 14

MARCKX v BELGIUM 1979-80 2 EHRR 330

JOHNSTON v IRELAND 1987 9 EHRR 203

KEEGAN v IRELAND 1994 18 EHRR 342 1994 3 FCR 165

GORGULU v GERMANY 2004 1 FLR 894 2004 1 FCR 410

SOMMERFELD v GERMANY 2003 36 EHRR 33 2002 1 FLR 119

SOMMERFELD v GERMANY 2004 38 EHRR 35 2003 2 FCR 647 2003 2 FLR 671

ZAUNEGGER v GERMANY 2010 50 EHRR 38

LEBBINK v NETHERLANDS 2005 40 EHRR 18 2004 2 FLR 463 2004 3 FCR 59

KILKELLY CHILDRENS RIGHTS IN IRELAND 2008 101

B v UNITED KINGDOM 2000 1 FLR 1 2000 1 FCR 289

GUICHARD v FRANCE UNREP ECHR 2.9.2003 (APPLICATION NO 56838/00)

B (A MINOR) (CHILD ABDUCTION: CONSENT), IN RE 1994 2 FLR 249 1995 2 FCR 505

F (ABDUCTION: UNMARRIED FATHER: SOLE CARER), IN RE 2003 1 FLR 839

O (A MINOR) (CHILD ABDUCTION: CUSTODY RIGHTS), IN RE 1997 2 FLR 702 1997 2 FCR 465

A (AA) v H (AS) 2010 1 FLR 1 2009 3 FCR 95 2009 4 AER 641

CONSTITUTION ART 41.1.1

CONSTITUTION ART 41.1.2

NICOLAOU, STATE v BORD UCHTALA 1966 IR 567

MCD (J) v L (P) & M (B) UNREP SUPREME 10.12.2009 2009 IESC 81

F (T) v IRELAND & ORS 1995 1 IR 321

G (K) v BORD UCHTALA & ORS 1980 IR 32 1979 113 ILTR 25

O'R (W) v H (E) 1996 2 IR 248 1996/14/4316

LAW REFORM CMSN REPORT ON RIGHTS & DUTIES OF COHABITANTS (LRC 82-2006) 10-11

IRISH HUMAN RIGHTS CMSN THE RIGHTS OF DE FACTO COUPLES 2006

LAW REFORM CMSN CONSULTATION PAPER ON LEGAL ASPECTS OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS (CP 55-2009)

MURRAY v IRELAND & AG 1985 IR 532 1985/9/2561

O'BRIEN v S (M) & AG 1984 IR 316

STATUS OF CHILDREN ACT 1987 S12

K (J) v W (V) & PROTESTANT ADOPTION SOCIETY 1990 2 IR 437

CONSTITUTION ART 29.6

O LAIGHLEIS, IN RE 1960 IR 93

R (ULLAH) v SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR 2004 2 AC 323 2004 3 WLR 23 2004 3 AER 785

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2003 S4

I (H) v G (M) 2000 1 IR 110 2002 FAM LJ 11 2000/11/4017

D (A CHILD) (ABDUCTION: RIGHTS OF CUSTODY), IN RE 2007 1 AC 619 2006 3 WLR 989 2007 1 AER 783

HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION ART 12

HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION ART 5(A)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT v COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 2007 AER (EC) 193 2006 ECR I-5769 2006 3 CMLR 28 2006 2 FCR 461

TREATY OF MAASTRICHT ART 6(2)

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 8(1)

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 8(2)

NETHERLANDS v REED 1986 ECR 1283 1987 2 CMLR 448

ARAUXO-DUMAY v CMSN 1993 ECR II-597

EEC DIR 2003/86 ART 4(1)

EEC DIR 2003/9 ART 2(D)

CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ART 7

CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ART 51(2)

CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ART 21

BELGIUM v CMSN 2005 ECR I-2801 2006 2 CMLR 5

OWUSU v JACKSON (T/A VILLA HOLIDAYS BAL INN VILLAS) & ORS 2005 QB 801 2005 2 WLR 942 2005 2 AER (COMM) 577 2005 ECR I-1383

EEC REG 2201/2003 ART 2(11)(B)

THOMSON v THOMSON 1994 3 SCR 551

M (C) & M (O) v DELEGACION PROVINCIAL DE MALAGA CONSEJERIA DE TRABAJOE Y ASUNTOS SOCIALES JUNTA DE ANDALUCIA & ORS 1999 2 IR 363 1999 2 ILRM 103 1999/16/4846

S (A) v S (C) UNREP SUPREME 19.11.2009 2009 IESC 77

FAMILY LAW

Child abduction

Custody - Hague Convention - Wrongful removal - Unmarried father - Country of habitual residence - De facto family - Rights of custody - Inchoate rights -Whether broad interpretation should be given to rights of custody - Whether inchoate rights given effect - Family life - Whether family life synonymous with "the family" as defined in Constitution - Whether non-marital parent could invoke provisions of Hague Convention in absence of rights of custody - Case A (C-523/07) [2009] All ER (D) 286 (Jun) followed; State (Nicolaou) v An Bord Úchtála [1966] I.R. 567, McD v L [2009] IESC 81 [2010] 1 ILRM 461, TF v Ireland [1995] 1 IR 321, HI v MG [2000] 1 IR 110 and WO'R v EH [1996] 2 IR 248 applied; Marckx v Belgium (App No 6833/74) (1979) 2 EHRR 330, Guichard v France (Case No. 56838/00) (Unrep, ECJ, 2/9/2003) and Vigreux v Michel [2006] EWCA Civ 630, [2006] 2 FLR 1180 followed - Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003, articles 1, 2, 9, 11, 19 and 60 - European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950, articles 8 and 14 - Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980, articles 3, 5,15 and 21 - Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (No 6), s 15 - Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (No 7) ss 6 and 11 - Constitution of Ireland 1937, Article 4 - Relief refused (2009/42HLC - MacMenamin J - 28/4/2010) [2010] IEHC 123

McB(JS) v E(L)

Facts: The proceedings related to the rights of an unmarred father involved in a long-term relationship where the mother without consent removed the children to another jurisdiction, to England. The English High Court had made orders in 2009 permitting the father to bring an application to the Irish High Court for a declaration pursuant to Article 15 of the Hague Convention that the removal of the children by their mother was wrongful, within the meaning of Article 3 thereof. He now sought orders as to guardianship, pursuant to s. 6B Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 as well as joint custody and access. The question arose as to the habitual residence of the children prior to 25th July, 2009, when their mother removed them to England, the extent of their connection with their new location, the failure of the applicant to initiate guardianship proceedings in the District Court and the jurisdiction of the Court. The issue also arose as to the interaction of The Hague Convention, the Brussels II Regulations and ECHR law and whether the Treaty of Lisbon and Charter of Fundamental Rights impacted upon the analysis of the issues. The issue also arose as to the decision of the Supreme Court on Article 8 ECHR and how the rights of unmarried fathers had to be construed in proceedings such as those at issue, having had to right of custody and not having applied for guardianship.

Held by MacMenamin J. that the applicant did not enjoy the benefits of any right to custody within the meaning of the Hague Convention. The recognition of the asserted right would be contrary to and inconsistent with the terms of the Hague Convention. The Court was constrained to follow the decision of the Supreme Court in Mc D v. L [2009] IESC 81 in rejecting any recognition in Irish law of the de facto family or any direct application of Article 8 ECHR. There was not breach of any "existing" or "exercised" right of custody. It was a difficult and troubling case. The applicant father never applied to be appointed a guardian of the children. Nevertheless he had a significant and long term relationship with them. The children were prior to 25th July, 2009 habitually resident in Ireland. The removal was not wrongful for the reasons identified. The Court would decline the applicants claim for the reliefs sought and the Court would conclude that the removal of the children was not wrongful.

Reporter: E.F.

1 JUDGMENT of Mr. Justice John MacMenamin dated the 28th day of April, 2010.

Introduction

2 1. The circumstances of this complex and troubling case give rise to a consideration of the relationship and interaction between the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980; Council Regulation 2201/2003 E.C. (hereinafter Brussels IIR) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as applied in this jurisdiction. The issues also necessitate analysis of E.U. primary and secondary law. The matter concerns the rights of an unmarried...