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For weeks the girls, who have joint Australian and Italian citizenship, had remained in hiding with their great-grandmother after a court ordered they should be returned to their father in Italy.
The father had insisted in court battles that the children should be returned to Italy under the provisions of the Hague Convention, an international treaty against child abduction.
Justice Colin Forrest found in the Australian Family Court last year that while he did not absolutely accept ‘the truthfulness of all of the evidence deposed to by the father’, he was satisfied the father did not consent to the children’s relocation.
Daily Mail
Up to a dozen federal officers in suits were present as the four sisters were dragged to an airport lounge to await boarding on an Emirates flight, but they were determined not to go without a fight.
‘Let me go, I want my mum, I want my mum,’ one of the younger girls – they cannot be identified because they are minors – cried as federal officers held onto her arms.
All girls cried out to their escorts to let them return to their home in Australia and complained the officers were hurting their arms.
Daily Mail
They say they fear for their safety and wellbeing if returned with their father, whom they described as physically abusive and a workaholic.
The eldest daughter, 14, said her father had broken her thumb when she tried to protect her head during a beating.
"I don't want to go. He was very violent when we were living in Italy," she said.
Her 13-year-old sister, told the paper: "I don't want to go back either. "I remember when I was little he'd hit us, and I remember when he hit my Mum."
However, a legal appeal by the girls and their mother to overturn the Family Court decision to repatriate them was rejected and an order issued for their repatriation.
Originally posted by DarknStormy
There is a bit more to this than just a judge ordering them to head back to Italy to be with their father. The father has been accused of being a violent person and I think that the mother also feared for the lives of her daughters if they were sent.
Originally posted by Sublimecraft
Although I agree that the law is the law, this, like many other instances is upsetting because the girls are the ones copping the brunt of their parents inability to resolve their differences and hence be separated.
Once again the children suffer the most
Originally posted by ollncasino
Originally posted by Sublimecraft
Although I agree that the law is the law, this, like many other instances is upsetting because the girls are the ones copping the brunt of their parents inability to resolve their differences and hence be separated.
Once again the children suffer the most
While the mother's selfishness is understandable, she has put her own interests before that of her children.
Originally posted by ladyteeny
in view of his apparent aggression i'd say she's putting the interests of her children first. and given they are all old enough to be consulted in the matter i think this is a disgusting state of affairs.
Originally posted by ChaoticOrder
Regardless of what parent is in the right here... I think the desires of the children should be the ruling factor here. If they want to be with their mother then they should be allowed to stay with their mother. I don't really think it's right to force them to travel back to another country against their will.
After spending 2 years with there mother after she abducted them, it could be argued that it would be surprising if they did not express a wish to stay with their mother.
Originally posted by ChaoticOrder
Maybe she lies and tells them their father is a cruel violent man when he really isn't... but that still doesn't justify why they should be taken from their mother.
Originally posted by ChaoticOrder
At the end of the day the children know what they really want. Ask them and let them decide who is the better parent... don't force them to do things against their will, especially when that thing is being shipped off to another country to live with a parent they hardly know.
Originally posted by ChaoticOrder
You are of course correct, but that's just the way things worked out. It can't be helped, the children will love who they will, and that can't be changed now.
And so we need to keep in mind what is best for these children on an emotional level and mental health level. Abrupt family disruptions like this in their early life can lead to serious problems later.