Law digests: 3 November 2023

Contempt of court

Abdi v Manchester City Council and others [2023] EWCA Civ 1214, [2023] All ER (D) 105 (Oct)

The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, dismissed the appeal of the appellant father from a committal order imposed for failing to comply with court orders made in proceedings relating to four children aged between 11 and 6 years of age. It was alleged that the father had failed to ensure the return of the children and had failed to provide his PIN number and passwords for his mobile telephones as ordered. The father was committed to prison for 12 months. The father raised twelve matters in support of his appeal. The court rejected all the matters. It was held that the appellant had orchestrated the removal of the children to Somalia. They were with his family in Somalia and he could ensure their return. There was no evidence that he had had done anything to seek to arrange their return. In regard to saying that he had been sentenced again for the