A mother of two young children is calling for an independent journalistic investigation into her case before the Paphos Family Court, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for Monday, 21 September 2026.
Chrystalla Dos-Santos, a Portuguese and Cypriot citizen, argues that her case raises broader questions concerning parental care, the role of the Social Welfare Services, the protection of children with additional needs and the handling of cases involving a history of proceedings related to domestic violence.
Children require additional support
Dos-Santos says she has been the primary day-to-day carer of her two children, aged six and four, throughout their lives.
According to her account, she is responsible for their daily routines, school attendance, medical appointments, specialist care, medication, educational support and other everyday needs.
She says both children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and have additional developmental and educational needs requiring stability, supervision and professional support.
Concerns over possible removal of children
The mother says she has repeatedly been warned that if an agreement cannot be reached with the children's father, the Social Welfare Services could become involved and the children could potentially be removed from her care.
She has expressed serious concern about that possibility and is calling for an independent examination of whether the handling of the case is consistent with the children's best interests and particular needs.
Dos-Santos also refers to a history of proceedings between the two parents relating to alleged domestic violence incidents, arguing that this should be taken into consideration when the case is assessed.
She stresses that she is not asking the media to accept her allegations as fact, but to examine the available evidence and seek the positions of all parties involved.
Financial burden also raised
Dos-Santos has also highlighted the financial burden associated with the prolonged legal proceedings.
She says the case has resulted in continuing legal fees, expenditure on documentation and professional appointments, travel costs and expenses connected with the children's medical and educational needs.
As the mother of two young children requiring additional support, she says she is struggling to continue meeting the costs of an increasingly complex legal process indefinitely.
She is therefore asking a journalistic organisation to examine the case without imposing further costs on her, with the aim of determining whether it raises matters of wider public interest.
Documents offered for examination
The mother says she is prepared to provide journalists with documentation relevant to the case, including:
- Family Court decisions and applications.
- Affidavits and statements.
- Correspondence with the Social Welfare Services.
- Medical and specialist reports.
- School and educational records.
- Chronological records of communications and incidents.
- Written communications and WhatsApp messages.
- Documents concerning previous proceedings related to alleged domestic violence.
- Documents concerning maintenance and other court proceedings.
- Information which she says demonstrates the financial burden of the proceedings.
She has also said she is willing to cooperate with journalists to ensure the privacy of both minor children is protected and that only information necessary to examine the case is made public.
Next hearing on 21 September
The next hearing is scheduled for 21 September 2026 at the Paphos Family Court. The matter is listed as Application No. 36/2025 (I-JUSTICE).
Dos-Santos is asking journalists and researchers to consider whether her experience points to broader issues involving parental disputes and potential state intervention, the protection of children with additional needs and the way domestic violence-related matters are taken into account in custody proceedings.
She also wants scrutiny of the role played by the Social Welfare Services in family disputes, the financial burden created by prolonged court proceedings and families' access to independent assistance when they cannot continue meeting legal and professional costs.
Dos-Santos reiterates that she is not seeking favourable media coverage or asking journalists to take her side. Instead, she wants the evidence independently examined, the relevant institutions and other parties approached for their positions, and any matters of legitimate public interest identified.
