6 days ago
Over 50 kids currently missing
Irish authorities are investigating some 52 cases of child abduction, where kids have been taken to or from Ireland, against the wishes of a parent.
A report in the Irish Times shows that the Irish Central Authority, which is under the umbrella of the Department of Justice, and handles international parental child abduction cases, is currently attempting to resolve some 52 cases involving missing children.
As of August 7th this year the organisation was working on some 39 cases where a parent is in Ireland, but their child or children have been taken to another country, and 13 'incoming' cases where a parent living abroad is seeking the return of their child from Ireland. Pic: Shutterstock
In most cases of missing children, some 30 out of 39 cases, these children are understood to be somewhere in Europe, with nine cases of kids who are thought to have been taken much farther afield.
Eight of the 13 incoming cases relate to children who were previously located elsewhere in Europe, with five cases involving children previously outside Europe.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said 'In the majority of cases, this arises after a relationship between parents breaks down, and one parent chooses to leave their country of residency prior to issues of custody and guardianship being finalised.' Pic: Shutterstock
In 2024, 20 outgoing cases were resolved, where children were returned to Ireland, and 21 incoming cases were resolved with children returned from Ireland to another country.
Ireland is one of over 100 countries party to The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said The Hague convention 'aims to ensure that an abducted child is returned to the country where they normally live, so that issues of custody and guardianship can be decided by the courts of that country'.
