In breach of a court order, the woman is refusing to allow unsupervised access for the father to the children as she is alleging that her former partner has sexually abused their five-year-old girl.

The man has not seen his children since February of this year and Gardaí are investigating the woman’s sex abuse complaint.

The case was adjourned to yesterday to allow the mother put in place access arrangements to allow shared custody.

However, solicitor for the woman, Ronan Murphy told Judge Durcan yesterday: “We are where we were — my client is prepared only to give supervised access.” Judge Durcan said this represented a contempt of court and a breach of a court order that he has made.

The mother addressed the court held in the judge’s private chambers and she said: “I don’t understand why the father of my children can get access without a supervisor when there is an investigation that is ongoing.”

In reply, Judge Durcan said that the “order of the court stands”.