Hello my name is Ann Power and I am the grandmother of two precious children, aged 6 and 9. We are currently in the midst of an urgent international custody case in an Eastern European country within the EU.   We are fighting to protect my grandchildren’s safety and bring them home to Ireland—where they will be surrounded by love, support, and stability.

Despite our deep love and respect for the children’s mother, we are gravely concerned about the recent decision to grant her temporary custody—particularly in light of longstanding and serious concerns about her mental health and her current ability to safely care for the children.

This is not a criticism of her as a person or as a mother. We are fully aware that she is battling complex and debilitating mental health challenges.

She is profoundly isolated, with no nearby family, social network, or support system. We have consistently reached out to her with love and open arms—encouraging her, pleading with her to seek help and to consider relocating to Ireland, where she would have the full support of our family. We only want her to get the help she needs—not only for her own wellbeing, but for her children’s.

Over recent years, numerous professionals—child protection authorities, social workers, psychologists—have made extensive efforts to support her. We, too, have tried repeatedly to assist her in any way we can. Sadly, her mental illness has made it extremely difficult for her to engage with the help being offered.

Our Sole Concern: The Children’s Safety

At this point, our focus must turn fully to the safety and wellbeing of our two beautiful grandchildren. They are currently living in circumstances that are highly unstable, emotionally distressing, and potentially harmful. They are incredibly vulnerable, and we are deeply concerned for their physical and emotional welfare.

Our only goal is to offer them a safe, loving, and stable home—one where they can grow and heal in a nurturing environment surrounded by family. We are fully prepared to care for them here in Ireland, with the constant support of their grandparents and extended family. Their father remains committed to staying by their side and doing everything within his power to ensure their protection. He will not abandon them.

This is not about taking sides—it is about stepping in where there is risk and doing what is necessary to protect two young lives. We remain committed to supporting their mother in any way we can, but right now, our priority has to be the safety and stability of the children.

The Unspoken Risk: Filicide and Mental Health

While extremely rare, filicide—the act of a parent taking the life of their own child—is a deeply tragic event that does happen, often in the context of untreated or severe mental illness. Research conducted in Ireland has found that around 80% of parents involved in filicide had a history of psychiatric illness. Of those, approximately 70% of mothers and 30% of fathers had prior contact with mental health services.

These statistics are heartbreaking and difficult to acknowledge, but they serve to highlight just how critical early intervention and appropriate mental health support can be—not only for the parent, but for the protection and wellbeing of their children.

The country in which our grandchildren are currently living does not appear to maintain clear or accessible data on filicide, or on the prevalence of mental health conditions among parents receiving treatment. This lack of transparency makes it even more difficult to assess the level of risk or the effectiveness of existing safeguards.

We want to be very clear: we are not suggesting the children’s mother would ever intentionally harm them.

Our greatest fear is that, if no action is taken, our grandchildren may one day become part of a statistic no family should ever face. We are not willing to wait until that happens. Our urgent plea is based on love—for the children, and also for their mother. We want her to be safe, supported, and well, and we want her children to grow up in an environment where their safety, emotional security, and development are protected.

Our Situation

This is a complex, ongoing international case.

We have already exhausted our personal funds—paying for legal representation, psychological assessments, court documents, interpreters, and travel costs.

We don’t know how long this case will go on—but we will not stop fighting to bring the children to safety.

Because of the sensitivity of the case, we are unable to share photos of the children or name the country they are currently in. But please believe us when we say: we live with this fear every single day. We just want the children to be safe and to have the kind of peaceful, supported childhood every child deserves.

How Your Donation Will Help

Your contribution will go directly towards:

• Legal representation in-country

• Court fees, official translations, and documentation

• Travel expenses to attend urgent hearings

If you can donate, every single euro makes a difference. If you can’t, please help us by sharing this page with friends, family, or anyone who might be able to support our cause.

Thank You

From our family to yours—thank you for caring, thank you for believing in justice, and thank you for standing with us in our mission to protect and bring home these innocent children.

With heartfelt thanks,

Ann Power

Irish Grandmother Fighting for Her Grandchildren