M.I. v M.B.R. (Approved)

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON THE CIVIL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION,

1.������ This is an application for the return of the child, P.I., to Italy pursuant to the provisions of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 1980� (� the Convention �) as enacted by the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991.

3.������ The application is grounded on the affidavit of Ms. Grainne Brophy, solicitor representing the applicant sworn on the 21st April, 2020. Affidavits have also been sworn by the applicant.��

4.������ It is not in dispute that save for a short holiday period in Ireland, prior to his removal,� the child has resided in Italy since birth. The permanent residence of the parties was in Bracciano, although for a number of weeks prior to the removal of the child to Ireland the parties and the child resided in temporary accommodation when the family home was undergoing renovations.

5.������ The applicant maintains that he received a WhatsApp message from the respondent on 23rd� October, 2019 stating that her mother, who resides in Ireland, was unwell and that she and the child were travelling here for a few weeks. He claims that the respondent has failed to return with the child, despite his attempts to persuade her to do so. By letter dated 20th March, 2020, the applicant�s Italian lawyers formally demanded the return of the child once the Covid-19 crisis abated.