Couple reunited after court drops restraining orders

Friday 12 October 2018

A couple who have had a "volatile" relationship for over 15 years have been given another chance to rekindle their romance after the court granted their wish to drop restraining orders against one another.

Daniel Charles Cornish (45) and Claudine Francesca Oliver (44) were reunited after the Magistrate's Court granted their application this week.

The pair had originally split up and restraining orders stopping them from contacting each other have been put in place on numerous occasions to minimise what the court deemed a "risk" to each other's safety.

But the Court heard that the couple still had trouble with staying away from each other. They appeared in Court this week because they were found having an argument in Ms Oliver’s house, as well as being seen walking a dog together, holding hands and kissing in Parade Gardens - despite the restraining orders being in place.

Having decided to give their relationship another go, the pair made individual applications to the Court to have the restraining order dropped so that they could be together again, as well as appearing in support of one another’s application.

Pictured: The couple appeared in the Magistrate's Court this week, applying to have their restraining orders against one another dropped.

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris, presiding, wanted to ensure that there was no pressure on either of them to make this application and asked both Mr Cornish and Ms Oliver whether they were of the “risks” posed by lifting the order. The Assistant Magistrate reminded Ms Oliver that the order is “in place for your protection."

Despite these warnings, the couple were adamant that they wanted to pursue their application and, in the interest of “trying to give these two people a fresh start”, Assistant Magistrate Harris lifted the restraining orders. 

He addressed the pair: “You know full well that everybody who’s had dealings with you is concerned about your welfare and it’s dispiriting to think about the harm you might do to one another. There are lots of people to help you… but the primary responsibility for helping yourselves rests with you.”

The Assistant Magistrate then imposed a binding over order, which means that they will avoid custody for their breaches if they don’t reoffend in the next six months.