VINCENT & REEVES

This matter concerned an application before Judge Brown regarding the welfare of a child, X, born in 2013. The proceedings involved the child's parents, identified as the father and the mother (referred to as Vincent and Reeves in the case title). The core of the dispute revolved around arrangements for the father's contact with the child and orders designed to protect the child from parental conflict.

The court was required to determine the appropriate terms for supervised contact between the father and the child, considering the child's reactions and the capacity of the children's contact centre. Additionally, the court needed to address the issue of parental conduct, specifically concerning online communication and interactions in the child's presence, and to establish measures for ensuring the parents' sobriety during the proceedings.

In relation to contact, Judge Brown ordered that the father spend time with the child X on occasions accommodated by the Director of the Children's Contact Centre. These sessions were limited to one two-hour visit per fortnight, supervised by the Centre's Director, and at the father's expense. The father was also required to obtain a report from the Director regarding the child's reactions after each visit, with the first visit scheduled for 7 February 2015. The court also granted injunctions restraining both parents from posting inflammatory material about each other or the proceedings on social media, and from abusing or denigrating each other in the child's presence or hearing. Furthermore, the parties were ordered to participate in random urine drug screening at their own expense upon 24 hours' written notice from the Independent Children's Lawyer. The matter was adjourned for further consideration.