MAIRIE & MALAK

In the matter of *Mairie & Malak*, heard by Cronin J, the proceedings concerned applications relating to the parenting of two children, D and E. The applications were brought by Ms Malak, Ms S, and the father of the children. The core of the dispute revolved around the arrangements for the children's lives and the father's contact with them.

The court was required to determine several key issues. These included whether to strike out various applications filed by the parties, whether to discharge existing parenting orders, and how to make final orders regarding parental responsibility and the children's living arrangements. Furthermore, the court had to consider an application for an injunction to restrain the father from contacting the children and whether to dismiss the mother's outstanding application.

Cronin J reasoned that the applications before the court were to be struck out, and all extant parenting orders discharged. The court ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the children, who were to live with her. Crucially, the father was restrained by injunction from contacting the children until further order. The father's application for an adjournment was refused, and the mother's application filed on 16 August 2012 was dismissed. The court also directed that particulars of the obligations and consequences of these orders, as set out in an attached Fact Sheet, be included within the orders themselves, pursuant to sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the relevant legislation.