The children, three siblings, were approximately 7, 8 and 10 years old at the date of the alleged wrongful removal. They had previously lived had lived in Sweden with their parents.
In March 1998 following the end of the marriage a Swedish court ordered that the parents should have joint custody, with the children living with the mother and having access with the father.
On 16 December 1998 a lower Swedish court ordered that the mother should have sole custody. The father appealed that decision but before the appeal was heard the mother took the children to Iceland on 25 January 1999.
On 8 February 1999 the appeal-court in Sweden decided that two of the children should remain in Sweden until a final decision had been reached on the custody issue.
On 4 March 1999 the father, through the Central Authorities in Sweden and in Iceland, filed a petition for return of the children in the District Court of Reykjanes, Iceland.
