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Irish father fights for American son

By
CAHIR O'DOHERTY,
Irish Voice
Published Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 9:45 AM
Updated Monday, December 7, 2009, 11:18 AM

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A father's fear: Irish father Donough Lawlor and his son Liam
A father's fear: Irish father Donough Lawlor and his son Liam


A CO. Limerick native awarded full custody of his son by a Bronx court in 2007 is dismayed to find the boy’s Irish American mother, who fled with the child twice in the past, has successfully won the right to contact the boy by telephone twice a week in the U.S.

Donough Lawlor, 38, who lives in Ridgefield, Queens, told the Irish Voice that although he has a standing order of protection against his estranged ex-wife Kathleen Brigit McAuliffe, 36, she may pursue every option available to her to reconnect with Liam Jack Lawlor, 5, the son she has lost custody of.

Lawlor, an electrician by trade who now has boxes of files relating to his son’s case, was dismayed when on October 19 Judge Ira Globerman of the Bronx Supreme Court decided to grant McAuliffe the right to telephone Liam twice a week for 15 minutes. How, Lawlor wonders, can a parent who has lost legal custody of a child still be permitted to call that child twice a week, throwing the boy into continuing turmoil?

Two days after he wrote this decision, Lawlor says, the judge retired.

“If this was a good woman who could handle a child and would care for a child in a stable manner, do you think I would be disputing it?” Lawlor told the Irish Voice.

“It would be great. But I have seen first hand her violence, anger, and her behavior across the board, and I cannot accept this ruling. Any person listening to my ex-wife’s conversations with Liam would say that this person is not right in the head.”

The unexpected ruling by Judge Globerman, coupled with the fact that McAuliffe has to date twice abducted the boy, makes Lawlor worry. The expense of mounting legal defenses is a significant drain on his income, his well-being and his time. But as he sees it, he’s being left with little option but to pursue his rights though the courts.

“I’m standing behind full prosecution as a victim now,” Lawlor says. “I will press charges against my ex-wife for abduction. I will stand up in a court of law and say my son was abducted twice, this is what was inflicted on my son, and I suffered years of emotional upset and anguish as a result of this.

“I suffered the expense and the loss of time, too. These are years that can never be brought back between my son and I. So I’m closing the door on this one. I want it done and finished.”

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4 Comments

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Auntcarol123 | Nov 06, 2010, 11:59 PM EDT
The Dec.14, 2009 posting is not mine.

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Auntcarol123 | Nov 06, 2010, 11:16 PM EDT
You clearly have a drinking problem. Hopefully you will get the help that you need so that you are healthy enough to raise your child in a drink/smoke free environment. That is the least you can do for my nephew. Liam will find us eventually my friend. Two wrongs don't make a right.....

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Auntcarol123 | Dec 14, 2009, 10:16 AM EST
I think this Dad should put the call on a speakerphone and hand his son a special fascinating toy to play with during the 15 minute conversation, at least if the child is multi tasking there is less damage, maybe feed him his meal as well.

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catarerina | Dec 02, 2009, 12:27 PM EST
A very sad story, as it always is when children are caught in the middle of an ongoing battle between the parents. The little boy is too young to understand what is happening and no doubt is confused. The father should not have to spend every dime to make sure that a standing judgment giving him full custody is enforced. I imagine the judge felt a couple of phone calls a week could do no harm, but that would depend on what was said during those conversations. At any rate prior to granting that to the mother he should have at least looked very closely at why the father was given full custody and ordered an evaluation of the mothers fitness to continue contact with her child. If she did not want to commit to this then no deal. The father has spent enough money if she loves the child let her spend some, come to the states and do a psychological evaluation and then make the decision if there should be any contact. I hope things work out for the child's sake.

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