Father granted primary care and control of son following protracted proceedings

Family law - appeals from Circuit Court - welfare of children - marriage abroad in 1990 - children born 1995, 1998 and 2000 - separation in 2002 - allegations against husband of violence - Circuit Court orders for custody and access - refusal to give primary care of one of children to husband - pressure on children - alleged threat by child to kill himself if made to live with father - expert reports - recommendations by experts in respect of access to children - whether recommendations by expert should be accepted - refusal of child to holiday with father - alienation of child - whether children being trained for interviews by mother - psychological explanations for children’s behaviour - order transferring primary custody and sole care of child to father - failure of proposed transfer - reviews of order - complaint against expert - “children first” protocol procedure - apology from mother - evasiveness of mother on cross-examination - allegation of sexual abuse against expert, leading him to withdraw from case - guardian ad litem - evidence of children - “light touch method” - attachment of child to mother’s partner - reflections on lengthy litigation - determination of mother to undermine experts - alienating tendencies of mother - s 47, Family Law Act 1995 (as amended) - reports on welfare of children - types of experts retained - special role of experts in family law litigation - cross-examination of experts.