(1)A court in Northern Ireland which has jurisdiction to make a [F1custody order][F1Part I order] may refuse an application for the order in any case where the matter in question has already been determined in proceedings outside Northern Ireland.
(2)Where, at any stage of the proceedings on an application made to a court in Northern Ireland for a [F1custody order][F1Part I order], or for the variation of a [F1custody order][F1Part I order], it appears to the court—
(a)that proceedings with respect to the matters to which the application relates are continuing outside Northern Ireland, or
(b)that it would be more appropriate for those matters to be determined in proceedings to be taken outside Northern Ireland,
the court may stay the proceedings on the application.
(3)The court may remove a stay granted in accordance with subsection (2) above if it appears to the court that there has been unreasonable delay in the taking or prosecution of the other proceedings referred to in that subsection, or that those proceedings are stayed, sisted or concluded.
(4)Nothing in this section shall affect any power exercisable apart from this section to refuse an application or to grant or remove a stay.
Textual Amendments
F1Words “Part I order” substituted (prosp.) for “custody order” by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 62(2)(a) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1))