Lalor and Tredrea

This matter concerned parenting orders for three children, B, C, and D, involving the mother and the father. The court, presided over by Thornton J, was tasked with determining the living arrangements, parental responsibility, and time spent between the children and each parent, as well as addressing related issues such as counselling, travel, and communication.

The central legal issues before the court were the appropriate orders for the children's residence, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the specific arrangements for the children to spend time with each parent. The court also had to consider orders relating to the children's health, education, communication between the parents, and financial matters, including the payment of counsel's fees and the reimbursement of a report. The discharge of previous parenting orders and the Independent Children's Lawyer was also a matter for determination.

Thornton J made orders discharging all previous parenting orders and establishing that the children would live with the mother. Equal shared parental responsibility was ordered. Specific time arrangements were detailed for the children to spend with the father, with variations for school terms, school holidays, and summer holidays, and particular provisions for special occasions including birthdays, Christmas, and Easter. The court also made orders facilitating counselling for the children, authorising passport applications, and requiring the exchange of travel and health information. Both parents were restrained from discussing proceedings in the children's presence, denigrating the other parent, exposing the children to illicit substances or excessive alcohol, or exposing them to conflict. Communication between the parents was to be in writing, by email, or text message. Financial orders were made for the father to pay the mother a sum for counsel's fees and a reimbursement for a report. The appointment of the Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged, and all extant applications were dismissed.