A DIVORCED mother who persistently violated contact orders has had her children removed and sent to live with their father by a senior High Court judge.

The couple were married in 1994 and have two daughters, aged 7 and 9.

Mrs Justice Bracewell of the Family Division gave her decision in open court because of the significance of the ruling.

She said the public felt that the courts often awarded custody to mothers at the expense of fathers and that the law allowed parents to flout contact orders, thus excluding the other parent from the children’s lives.

The judge’s explanation was a clear attempt to convey a message that the courts will no longer condone such behaviour.

The couple in the case, known only by the letter “V”, separated in 2000 and were divorced last year. From the time they ceased cohabiting, Mrs V has not permitted her former husband to see his daughters.

In the past four years there have been 17 court orders issued and directions given by 16 judges.

Mrs Justice Bracewell said it was time for the legal action to end and make a residence order in the father’s favour. Her decision was made in May, but a full transcript has only just been published.

She found that Mrs V had little or no credibility.

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