Married couple challenge foreign adoption refusal in High Court

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

An unnamed married couple won permission for a High Court challenge over recognition of their daughter’s adoption, reported on 18 April 2023.

The adoption took place abroad, and the couple seeks a declaration that they are the child’s legal parents and an order requiring registration.

The couple says it was habitually resident in the country at the time; the authority’s refusal cited residency and Irish adoption requirements. The couple also alleges that the refusal misapplied Irish and EU law and breached its family rights.

The proceedings name the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Ireland and the Attorney General as respondents. Permission was granted to bring the challenge, and the matter was adjourned.