Reunited – but at what cost?

It is hard to imagine a worse pain than losing your children to abduction. As we have previously featured, this is what happened to a client of Williamsons Solicitors Driffield Office, who was separated from her 3 young children for 17 months, when they were unlawfully abducted to Afghanistan by their father.

After a long and difficult search and legal fight, the children and their mother were finally reunited and are rebuilding their lives together. However, this has not been without cost.

For example, did you know that the flights home for the children were over £8,000? The UK Government lent the money to the mother for the flights but have refused to waive repayment.

The UK Government officials based in Afghanistan refused to help find the 3 children when they were missing due to their own safety concerns. The mother therefore had to employ an American lawyer in Afghanistan who persuaded the local Afghan authorities to find the 3 missing children and return them home. That lawyer has not yet been paid and the client has been left with a bill of over £30,000.

Many people have seen the press and the arguments for and against legal aid in family cases. Fortunately, our client did qualify for legal aid which has helped her receive invaluable legal assistance and support from Williamsons for legal work undertaken in this country. This was vital in securing the return of the children.

Many people may not realise, however, that there is little, if any, other financial help available for anyone finding themselves in this nightmare situation. This is why a fund raising campaign, supported by Miss Zoe Atkinson of our Driffield Office at Williamsons, has been set up to try to help this mother try to overcome one aspect of the ordeal she and the children have endured.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by clicking here for the fundraising page.