Web posted at 7:00 am CET March
8, 2002
Child custody battle: Six days to appeal
Michael Carabott
A 65-year-old father of two is expected to appeal a Maltese court ruling
on the custody of his children.
Ronald Grecula is expected to appeal a civil court decision
which awarded custody of his two children, Berenger Jamie Grecula, 10, and Emilie Gigi
Grecula, aged three, to their mother.
Mr Grecula and his 32-year-old French wife Monique had been battling it out in the local
courts after he fled from his native US with the two children over two years ago.
The local court, presided over by Mr Justice Ray Pace, ruled in favour of the mother and
awarded her custody after taking into consideration the fact that the father had left the
US with the children in breach of a court order in their home town. The court allowed Mr
Grecula six days in which to appeal the decision and he is expected to do so in the near
future.
Ms Grecula said when she and her husband separated, a court ruling by the Court of Common
Pleas of Monroe County awarded the couple joint custody of the children. She was nominated
as primary carer by the court on 26 October 2000.
She said her husband disappeared with the children on 26 November 2000 and left the US.
She reported the matter to the police and when Mr Grecula could not be traced, the Monroe
Court awarded her sole custody of the children.
Ms Grecula also claimed her husband was often violent and used psychological intimidation
on both her and the children.
Mr Grecula said he was never violent with his wife. “It was the other way round, she
was temperamental and prone to flare-ups,” he said.
Dr Josie Pace appeared for Mr Grecula while Dr Aaron Mifsud Bonnici and legal procurator
Sharon Mizzi appeared for Ms Grecula.
