A girl who was caught in the crossfire between her separated parents and remained in Scotland with her father for almost two months, has finally joined her Maltese mother.

"She's my little girl and it's amazing to have her back. But it's hard to see her so confused. She's a bit traumatised," Emma McLelland, 26, said, as her daughter, Caitlin, 5, was at her first day of school since the incident.

In November, they went on holiday to visit relatives in Scotland, where Ms McLelland's estranged husband, Chris, also lives. She said he showed up at the airport and asked whether he could keep their daughter for a day, a request she acceded to because their relationship had stopped being as volatile as it used to be.

But, instead of returning the girl, Mr McLelland made serious allegations about his wife, convincing the Scottish authorities to allow him to keep his child until the courts decided on the case, Ms McLelland said.

On January 8, the courts heard that she had care and custody of Caitlin and her husband had no legal entitlement to keep her, Ms McLelland said.

"When they saw all my evidence, his lawyers advised him he does not have much of a defence and he should return the child," Ms McLelland said.

In court, Ms McLelland invoked the Hague Convention, which spells out the procedures that should be followed for a child to be returned to her rightful guardian.

Last week, Ms McLelland flew to Scotland to get an "over the moon" Caitlin back home.

"She was singing Home Sweet Home on the plane. She didn't even give me five minutes; she rushed to open her Christmas presents as soon as she got through the door."

Before returning to Malta, however, Ms McLelland had some unfinished business to take care of.

"I took her to the zoo like I promised," she said.

Even though she has now settled down, Caitlin is still afraid to be without her mother and does not want her to go to work or leave her alone in a room.

Ms McLelland is still worried about the girl's safety.

"I don't want to stop her from seeing her dad but after what has happened, how can I? And if I don't, will Caitlin retaliate later on in life? It's a really hard situation to be in and I don't know what to do."

When The Times contacted Mr McLelland on New Year's Eve he denied any wrongdoing, insisting he took back his daughter because she was being neglected in an unhygienic and dangerous environment.

He could not be reached for comment yesterday and nor could his Scottish lawyers.

cperegin@timesofmalta.com