A Northern Ireland lecturer abducted his five-year-old daughter and fled with her to the Republic because he feared for the child's safety, a court heard today.
Mr Gerard McCullough (56) of John Street, Belfast, is accused of taking his daughter Shannon O'Brien from his ex-wife's home in Poleglass, in the west of the city, earlier this month and travelling to County Kerry.
He is also charged with two counts of assaulting his former wife, Ms Francine O'Brien, on separate occasions in April last year.
Mr McCullough, who was described as a diamonds expert, was arrested earlier this week at Belfast Magistrates Court as he was about to apply for a residency order to obtain custody of Shannon.
Details emerged in the High Court in Northern Ireland today as Mr McCullough's lawyers applied for bail.
"If he took his child to the Republic he did it for the very best of motives," a defence lawyer told the hearing.
The case was adjourned by Lord Justice Nicholson, who said he wanted to examine reports being prepared by the RUC and social workers.
PA