PULLMAN & PULLMAN

In *Pullman & Pullman*, heard before Austin J, the dispute concerned interim parenting orders for two children, M and S. The mother had made serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse against the father, while the father alleged the mother had failed to foster a positive relationship between him and the children and had encouraged disloyalty. The court was also concerned about the risk of the mother absconding with the children to Southern Europe, where she had previously been subject to a mental health order.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children in light of these competing allegations and concerns. Specifically, the court had to consider the impact of alleged family violence, the importance of the children maintaining a meaningful relationship with both parents, and the risk of the mother removing the children from the jurisdiction. The court also needed to address the mother's unexpected illness, which had led to the trial being part-heard, and make interim arrangements that would cover a period of five months.

Austin J reasoned that the evidence before the court did not establish the mother's allegations of abuse on the balance of probabilities. The court took a prospective view of family violence, finding that the children would not be exposed to it by the father in the future. Given the risk of the mother absconding and her failure to promote the children's relationship with their father, the court ordered that the children live with the father and discharged all former parenting orders. The mother was restrained from contacting the children for an initial period and was subject to supervised contact thereafter, with provisions for telephone contact. The court also made orders regarding the surrender of passports, the father's conduct, and the prevention of denigration of either parent. The trial was adjourned for further evidence, including a report from a single expert on the mother's psychological condition and an updated Family Report.