Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19025Unauthorised removal of children from the State · Co. Galway

Father signs guilty plea over removal of two sons from State

A 48-year-old father pleaded guilty at Gort District Court to two offences under Section 16 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, relating to the removal of his two sons, aged six and eight, out of the State. In February 2022 he took the boys from Shannon Airport, and they flew to London Heathrow, in defiance of a High Court order made on 14 December 2021. Bail conditions bar him from going near the boys' primary school, and he is to have supervised access to them while in Ireland. The plea is to be affirmed before Galway Circuit Court on the following Tuesday, and the reports do not give a sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 Nov
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The father signed a guilty plea to taking his two sons out of the State in defiance of a High Court order.
  • The two sons are aged six and eight.
Where
  • The plea was entered at Gort District Court.
  • The father took the children from Shannon Airport, and they flew to London Heathrow.
When
The removal took place in February 2022.
Charges
The father pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to Section 16 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act.
In court
  • The removal defied a High Court order made on 14 December 2021.
  • The plea is to be affirmed before Galway Circuit Court on the following Tuesday.
Sentence
The father is to have supervised access to his children while in Ireland.
Other details
Bail conditions require the father not to go near the sons' primary school.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe father signed a guilty plea to taking his two sons out of the State in defiance of a High Court order. (clareecho.ie)
  • whereThe plea was entered at Gort District Court. (clareecho.ie)
  • whereThe father took the children to Shannon Airport and they flew to London Heathrow. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe removal happened in February of the year before the article. (clareecho.ie)
  • chargeThe father pleaded guilty to two offences contrary to Section 16 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe removal defied a High Court order made on 14 December 2021. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe plea is to be affirmed before Galway Circuit Court the following Tuesday. (clareecho.ie)
  • sentenceThe father is to have supervised access to his children while in Ireland. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherBail conditions require the father not to go near the sons' primary school. (clareecho.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Nov2023
    In courtclareecho.ie, first report
    Father signs guilty plea to unauthorised removal of two sons - Clare Echo

    Reports the father's guilty plea at Gort District Court, the Section 16 charges, the February 2022 removal from Shannon Airport to London, bail conditions and the supervised access arrangement. The plea is to be affirmed at Galway Circuit Court.

    accused, 48, malevictim, 6, malevictim, 8, male