The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987

Restrictions on removal where adoption agreed or application made under Article 17(1) or 18(1)

28.—(1) While an application for an adoption order is pending—

(a) where a parent or guardian of the child has agreed to the making of the adoption order (whether or not he knows the identity of the applicant), the parent or guardian;

(b) any person or body, other than a parent or guardian;is not entitled, against the will of the person with whom the child has his home, to remove the child from the actual custody of that person except with the leave of the court.

(2) While an application is pending for an order freeing a child for adoption and—

(a) the child is in the care of the adoption agency making the application, and

(b) the application was not made with the consent of each parent or guardian of the child,

no parent or guardian of the child is entitled, against the will of the person with whom the child has his home, to remove the child from the actual custody of that person except with the leave of the court.

(3) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.