High Court Judgment in Re A (A Child): Richard Barraclough KC Represents Father in Complex International Abduction Case.

St Pauls Chambers is proud to highlight the recent High Court case of Re A (A Child) (Abduction from Pakistan) [2025] EWHC 2637 (Fam), in which Richard Barraclough KC acted on behalf of the father.

The case, heard before Mr Justice Harrison in July 2025, involved serious cross-allegations of child abduction, domestic abuse and falsified evidence, and required meticulous advocacy across jurisdictions.

Background of the Case

The proceedings concerned a seven-year-old girl, “A”, brought from Pakistan to the UK in May 2024.

Two separate applications were before the Family Division of the High Court:

1. A care order sought by the local authority under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; and
2. An application by the mother for A’s return to Pakistan under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Both parents made grave allegations against the other, and the court was asked to determine complex factual disputes arising from events in both Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The hearing extended over two weeks and required the judge to consider more than 2,000 pages of documentary and expert evidence, alongside multiple witnesses, interpreters and cultural considerations.

Representation and Advocacy

Richard Barraclough KC, instructed by City Law Chambers, appeared for the father.

His advocacy demanded clear strategic focus amid allegations of abduction, fabrication, and coercive control.

Mr Barraclough KC ensured that the father’s case was fully presented and rigorously tested against the extensive evidence before the court.

In his approved judgment, Mr Justice Harrison acknowledged the “helpful and skilful way in which this difficult case has been conducted”, expressing his gratitude to all counsel.

The case showcased the importance of careful, fair and robust advocacy when serious findings of fact are sought in child protection proceedings.

Outcome and Legal Significance

The judgment offers detailed guidance on:

Fact-finding principles in family proceedings;

• The treatment of conflicting international evidence; and
• The handling of allegations supported by digital and video material of uncertain provenance.

It also reaffirms the court’s duty to evaluate all the evidence — oral, documentary, and forensic — in context, and to remain cautious when dealing with cross-allegations between parents in international abduction cases.

About Richard Barraclough KC

Richard Barraclough KC is a leading barrister at St Pauls Chambers, with extensive experience in serious crime, family law, and complex public-law proceedings.

He is frequently instructed in cases involving allegations of serious misconduct, vulnerable witnesses, and cross-jurisdictional evidence.

His calm, incisive advocacy and strategic approach are widely recognised by judges and instructing solicitors alike.

This judgment underscores the intricate challenges of modern family law, where international elements, cultural differences and digital evidence increasingly intersect.

It also highlights the calibre of representation available through St Pauls Chambers, where experienced counsel such as Richard Barraclough KC continue to deliver excellence in advocacy in the most demanding of cases.