A Local Authority v B, F & G

APPEARANCES: For the Local Authority: �� Miss Cavanagh There was no appearance by or on behalf of any other party, the Official Solicitor being excused attendance ____________________

������� The Court was further satisfied to the requisite standard of proof that the meeting with B had been planned by F and that it had taken place for a considerable length of time, being approximately one hour; further, that JS and her father had met at the right-hand side of the station. B and her father had moved behind the station to a location that was out of sight of others.

������� F was personally served with the order of the 13th September 2012 and a note of the judgment given by the Court on that date. F was afforded an opportunity to attend court that day and advance reasons why he should not be sent to prison for the contempt of court. He immediately informed the process server, upon being served with the aforementioned papers, he would not attend court unless someone paid for him to travel there. He failed to attend, and the Court proceeded to sentence him for the contempt in his absence.

������� The Court is satisfied the father knows of this hearing today and the consequences of his failing to attend.

That seems to me to be on all fours with this case. That is precisely the position here. It is therefore clear that a Court has the power to make a Hadkinson order affecting someone who does not obey its orders and who is in contempt, and it is plain to me too that it is appropriate to make such an order in this case.