Carrie Ward has been told to return her four-year-old son, Melvin, and two-year-old daughter, Suzie, to the country where she once lived with their father Henri Veldhof after he won a legal ruling there.

Miss Ward hopes to challenge the Dutch court's ruling but must have a permanent address in Holland to raise that action. She plans to remain with her children whatever the legal position.

Yesterday she was waiting to hear if her lawyers could mount an appeal against the ruling to force her back to Holland.

She claims serious marital problems made her end their seven-year relationship last year and return home to the Highland Capital.

Mr Veldhof (41), an engineer in the nuclear power industry, went to the Dutch courts to fight for the return of his children.

He claimed Miss Ward (30) had not told him she was leaving for good, a point she disputes, and successfully lodged a petition for the return of his children to the Netherlands.

Last week the Court of Session in Edinburgh upheld the Dutch court's decision and Miss Ward, of Assynt Road, Kinmylies, and her children are due to leave for Holland on Monday if her case for an appeal does not come through in time.

Her imminent departure has left the unemployed single mother unable to find accommodation in Holland and she fears she will have no alternative but to move back to her former partner's farm.

"That would be a nightmare," she protested, saying she did not want to be in his company again.

"He says we can live next door with his sister and parents but the children don't want to go back." she claimed "They have made friends here since coming back. They have lost their Dutch tongue and only speak in English now."

Carrie Ward with Melvin and Suzie. Pic: Northern Exposures 01463 710420

The relationship began in Chester in 1998 while Miss Ward, then aged 22, was working in a telesales centre and met the tall, handsome Dutchman. In 1999 she moved with him to Holland and the children were born there.

"He was very attractive but after Mevin was born he started to get bad and after Suzie he just treated me like a doormat," she claimed.

"I don't want to go anywhere near him or his family," she said. "They knew what he was like to me before and didn't do anything.

"Melvin has made lots of friends since we came back and is due to start school next year and Suzie will start nursery then too.

"It is only spitefulness that has made him go to court to get the children back.

"He only decided to use the Hague Convention when he realised we had a permanent home here."

Several politicians have agreed to look into Miss Ward's case to see if alternative accommodation can be found for her but all stress the court's decision must stand unless a fresh legal application in Holland overturns it.

Mr Veldhof 's solicitor failed to return calls to The Inverness Courier despite several attempts to make contact this week.

g.burke@inverness-courier.co.uk

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