A father of three children has been ordered to pay nearly €65,000 in child maintenance to his former wife in separation proceedings.

The couple, who are not being named by court order, married on October 29, 2001, and according to the woman, the relationship hit the rocks with the birth of the first child.

She told the court that her former husband never wanted the child and asked for an abortion.

He would even drive over potholed roads in an attempt to get the baby aborted, she claimed.

Among other allegations, she said that he was controlling and refused to let her have friends or visit her family.

Giving a completely different version, the man said he was the only person to try and push for her to visit her family but she always refused to go. Their relationship went downhill when he found out she was going to fortune tellers.

He also alleged he was the victim of emotional violence and that she had sent letters to the department of citizenship to try and stop him from becoming Maltese.

Mr Justice Noel Cuschieri said that the marriage had irrevocably broken down and that from psychologists’ reports, the father’s behaviour had a negative impact on his children.

The judge also placed blame on the woman’s behaviour, saying that her attitude towards married life was not conducive to the creation of a serene relationship.

Mr Justice Cuschieri ordered that he pay €64,657 to his former wife in lieu of child maintenance in arrears.

He also noted that the woman had made the payments on the house loan by herself, and taking into consideration the remaining balance of €50,000 still due, assigned the property in its entirety to her.

The rest of their possessions were split equally.