Case No. NE24C50736 - [2025] EWHC 1767 (Fam)

The Guardian “wholeheartedly” supports the Local Authority’s position and proposals. The Local Authority has in fact adapted its proposals regarding the frequency of family time with the Mother in accordance with the Guardian’s recommendations in her final analysis report. The Guardian is clearly very troubled by the Mother’s parenting of the children, her decision to abduct them, and the considerable emotional harm and risks of physical harm that have arisen as a consequence.

The Guardian sat in when at their requests, I separately met P and Q during the hearing. Notes were taken of each meeting and circulated to the parties. Each child wanted to tell me that they wished to go home to live with their Mother and brothers. P told me that his Mother is “not a monster”. Q told me that he did not care about his Father. What they told me fully accorded with what the Guardian had reported about their wishes and feelings. All four children feel a close bond with their Mother and want to return home to live with her. The Guardian has fully represented the children’s views, wishes and feelings to the Court but also her view as to their best interests. The Guardian’s view is that it is important to do life story work with the children and to support the rehabilitation of their relationship with the Father which may progress as the children wish in the future.