Hassan, currently serving a four-year sentence in Mountjoy for handling stolen vehicles, has pleaded guilty to two counts of abducting his children in December 2004. The two young boys were taken from Ireland to Syria.

Hassan was charged with abduction in August 2005 and applied to the High Court for bail, which was granted on condition that he return the children.

Arrangements were made in September 2005 for his family to bring the boys to Beirut where they were met by Baiba Saulite and brought back to Ireland.