A woman who fled from the US to Ireland with her two children is being sought by US authorities along with her mother.
US authorities confirmed that they were seeking the immediate arrest of the woman and her mother. They have both been charged with interfering with child custody and could face up to five years in prison.
They left the US after the woman's estranged husband regained custody of their children. The women, who are US citizens, were tracked to Ireland by a private detective and a children's charity after a two-year search.
Both women have indicated in court papers that they believe the children would be better off with them as their father has a criminal record for burglary and theft.
The private detective said his client had also begun a civil action in the High Court to have the children returned to him and that he had completely reformed his life. "[ He] has not seen his children in a long time. If his ex-wife and her mother agree to come home voluntarily, it will be a lot easier for everyone."
The detective said he had contacted Interpol and the Garda to notify them of the women's address.
A US district attorney official said both women had been charged with interfering with child custody and each faced up to five years in prison if convicted.
A family court in the US awarded the father full custody of his children in 2005, after their mother fled with them.
The previous year, she had been involved in an altercation with her ex-husband's new wife and relations between the two families had been strained.