A mother is appealing for help to get her young son - who could be "alive or dead" - out of Lebanon.
Catherine Flanagan went on a holiday to Lebanon with her son David to visit his father's family for two weeks in August 2022.
Ms Flanagan claims his father, Dr Mustapha Nahle, would not allow David to return home with her.
She told Lunchtime Live she has taken legal proceedings to try and get her son back.
"I launched proceedings against Mustafa in the High Court of Northern Ireland and the High Court ruled that David must be returned to Belfast on or before the end of August 2023," she said.
"His father absolutely ignored that and told me that if I went to Lebanon he would give me David back and I went to Lebanon in January of 2024."
'I have no idea where David is'
Ms Flanagan said his father refused to hand over their son.
"He remains defiant - I have no idea where David is in Lebanon," she said.
"I have no idea where David is at all - the reality is, I don't know if David is alive or dead".
Ms Flanagan said she spoke with their son a few weeks ago.
"He gave me a phone call with David, which was the first one, the first time I've seen David since January 24," she said.
"That was two Saturdays ago.
"The internet wasn't good enough and cut out and he immediately blocked me again on WhatsApp.
"He has absolutely no intention of giving David back. He's keeping David there, it is so dangerous for David to be in Lebanon right now."
Catherine Flanagan and her son David. Image: SuppliedMs Flanagan said she has tried to ensure her son was on one of the recent evacuation flights out of the country.
She said David's father "wouldn't agree to it".
"Moustafa is David's father, and he's responsible for his safety - courts or not courts - he's absolutely responsible to send David to safety," she said.
Ms Flanagan is directly appealing for help.
"I'm appealing to the Taoiseach to lift the phone to Najib Mikati, the Prime Minister of Lebanon," she said.
"Lebanon are getting an awful lot of help and support from Ireland - that cannot just be a one way street," she added.
Their son David, who has joint Irish and British citizenship, turns three on Thursday.
Ms Flanagan has also engaged the services of qualified mediator Dr Miceál O'Hurley to help with her case.
