A GRANDMOTHER described as manipulative, obsessive and disturbing has lost her bid for court-ordered time with her three grandchildren.
She had told one grandchild: "I am your mummy too", the Federal Magistrates' Court was told. As part of her manipulative behaviour, when she was being observed by a family consultant for the court, the grandmother commented repeatedly how much she loved the children, including asking them "who loves you this much" while holding her arms wide apart.
"The children failed to respond to this gesture," federal magistrate Garry Foster said.
The toxic relationship unfolded in the court sitting in Sydney after the grandmother, 47, applied for custody of the oldest two children, aged five and thre...
She subsequently dropped those claims and instead asked for access at specific times, including from 5pm Boxing Day to 5pm January 12 - every year.
But her daughter, described as a responsible parent who had twice moved house without giving her mother the new address to try and get away from her, did not want the court to make the orders.
Mr Foster said the mother had felt powerless in the face of her domineering parent.
On one of several occasions the grandmother complained to police about her daughter, police went to the house and found "there were beds, plenty of food and clothing and nil concerns for the children's welfare," the magistrate said.
There was evidence the grandmother complained 15 times to the Department of Family and Community Services alleging domestic violence, drug use, failure to provide medical treatment, the mother needing psychiatric care and suffering depression.
Mr Foster dismissed the grandmother's application and ruled that the grandmother could spend time with the grandchildren as agreed with their parents.
