Judge's complaint referred to police

Supreme Court Judge Keith Mercer has asked the Department of Justice to investigate an alleged failure to comply with a Provincial Court Order dealing with the custody of two Labrador children.

Judge Mercer has asked the department to determine if the alleged failure to comply with the Provincial Court Order warrants contempt of court proceedings.

The order in question required the children to be returned to Davis Inlet, in the custody of a person other than the parents of the children, on or before February 26, 2001. In fact, the children were not returned until March 12, 2001.

The Director of Health Labrador Corporation applied for a stay of execution of the Provincial Court Order but this application was not filed until March 1, 2001. Judge Mercer dismissed the application for a stay on March 8.

The Department of Justice has since referred the matter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for further investigation.

Media contact: Edwina Bateman, Communications, (709) 729-6985.

2001 03 14                                   10:40 a.m.