The child, a boy, was 1 1/2 at the date of the alleged wrongful removal. On 7 December 1992 the parents, who were separated, had entered into an agreement whereby the mother could move with the child to England. Until then the child had spent its entire life in Ontario.
On 30 December 1992 the mother returned with the child in an attempt to reconcile with the husband. The attempt failed and on 8 March 1993 the mother took the child back to England. The father’s return petition was issued in England on 25 February 1994.