‘My Son Needs to Be Home Safe’: Mother Pleads
A heart-wrenching plea for the safe return of her young son has been made by Catherine Flanagan, the mother of three-year-old David Nahle, who has been held in Lebanon since 2022. The toddler, who holds both Irish and British citizenship, was taken by his father during a family holiday when he was just 10 months old, and has been kept in Lebanon ever since, despite a UK court order granting full custody to his mother.
David’s mother, who is from Belfast, has tirelessly campaigned for his return, but her efforts have been met with resistance. The child’s father, Dr. Mustapha Nahle, a consultant anaesthetist at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, has refused to let David leave the country, even after multiple attempts to bring him back to Ireland.
In a desperate appeal to both governments, Catherine Flanagan expressed her growing frustration, revealing that her calls for help have been ignored by authorities in Lebanon despite the case being raised by the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, with the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
“I want my son home, and I want him safe,” Flanagan said. “He urgently needs to come home to a country that is safe. I’m beside myself with worry. Two weeks ago, this was raised at the highest levels in Lebanon, and I have heard nothing since. It’s like they don’t care.”
The Kidnapping and Legal Struggles
David Nahle was taken from Belfast to Lebanon by his father in August 2022 for what was supposed to be a family holiday. However, the trip soon turned into a nightmare for Catherine Flanagan, who was left stranded in Lebanon when her estranged husband refused to return their son to Ireland. Fearing for her life, Flanagan was forced to leave Lebanon without her child, but she has since been fighting a relentless battle to get David back.
While the legal proceedings have progressed in the UK, including a court ruling granting Flanagan full custody of her son in July 2023, the Lebanese authorities have not taken any action to enforce the ruling. Despite multiple efforts to organise flights for David’s return, his father has blocked all attempts, refusing to allow him to board.
Flanagan has also said she coordinated four separate evacuation flights for David last month, all of which were thwarted by her husband’s refusal to release their son.
The Irish Government’s Involvement
In recent weeks, the Irish government has raised the case with Lebanese officials. Taoiseach Simon Harris met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, emphasizing the urgency of David’s return to Ireland and calling for a resolution in the child’s best interests. According to a letter from the Taoiseach’s office, seen by the Irish Examiner, the Taoiseach assured Flanagan that the Department of Foreign Affairs would continue to offer assistance and work closely with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
However, Flanagan has expressed frustration with the lack of progress, saying the response from both governments has been slow and inadequate. “I don’t understand why they’re not doing more. This is my son, and I’m his mother. I’m in a country that is unsafe, and I just want him back where he belongs.”
Legal and Diplomatic Challenges
The case of David Nahle is complicated by the intersection of international custody laws and the tense political climate in Lebanon. While Flanagan has obtained a UK court order granting her full custody of David, Lebanon does not have the same legal framework for enforcing foreign custody orders. The Lebanese judicial system has not taken action to uphold the UK ruling, leaving Flanagan in a prolonged legal battle.
Furthermore, Lebanon’s political instability, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and economic crises, complicates matters further. The country’s legal system has been slow to act on matters concerning child custody, particularly when foreign nationals are involved. This delay is contributing to Flanagan’s anguish, as her son remains in the custody of a father who has shown no intention of respecting the legal rulings of foreign courts.
The Mother’s Desperate Plea
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Flanagan continued her emotional appeal for her son’s return. “We promised them support when we raised this case with the Prime Minister of Lebanon,” she said. “But after two weeks, David is still not home. The silence is deafening. Do they not understand the urgency of the situation? This is a young child who needs to be with his mother.”
Flanagan’s heartbreak is compounded by the fact that David was born in Belfast and is a citizen of both Ireland and the UK. “He deserves to be raised in a safe environment, not in the midst of a war-torn country,” she said. “I don’t know how much longer I can endure this. It’s every mother’s worst nightmare to be kept away from their child.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Response
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the situation, stating that it is aware of the case and is providing advice and guidance to Flanagan. However, in line with its policy on consular cases, the department has refused to comment on the specifics of the case, citing the need to protect privacy and diplomatic confidentiality.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the FCDO in the UK, but with limited legal recourse in Lebanon, the progress remains slow. Flanagan has called for a more assertive diplomatic response from both governments, as well as pressure on Lebanon to enforce the UK court order.
A Heartbroken Mother’s Ongoing Battle
Catherine Flanagan’s fight to bring her son back is far from over, but she remains determined. “I just want to see my son again. I want him to be home with me, in a safe place,” she said. “Please, help me bring David home.”
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is closely watching the case, with calls for more robust diplomatic action to ensure the safe return of young David Nahle. The Irish government, along with the UK’s FCDO, is under increasing pressure to resolve this distressing situation and reunite a mother with her child.
References
- Irish Examiner
- Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK
