DUBLIN, Ireland: An Irish father who says the Polish State has "stolen" his child has been given a court date for his case, in which he argues that Irish authorities have failed to help bring his daughter home.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the child, told the High Court this week that Polish authorities — whom he accuses of "serious corruption" — had "declared war" on him.

He is asking the court to order the Irish State to take urgent action at the "highest EU levels" to help return his child, who is an Irish citizen. He says the State has failed to protect a vulnerable child.

The court has previously heard that the child's mother took her to Poland, her home country, in February 2024 without the father's permission.

Although a Polish court has ordered the child to be returned to Ireland, the father has not been able to find her. The children's ombudsman in Poland has appealed that order for a second time.

The father is taking legal action against the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He claims the Department of Foreign Affairs has shown "total weakness" and has failed to stand up for him and his daughter.

He says he has had a valid order to bring the child back since last May and has made 11 attempts in Poland to locate her. However, he says the child "cannot be found" and that Polish police have accused him of filing a false missing-person report.

In court, he told Justice Garrett Simons that he has documents from both Polish authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs that he says contradict what the State has told the court.

"This is the Polish State stealing my child," he said. "They have put death on me and my family, and my child is in danger."

He added, "I am 626 days without my child."

The man also claims that documents from Poland show his daughter was given "illegal drugs" by a hospital, with his wife's permission, to treat a medical condition. He says Polish police had detained his wife but later released her.

He alleges "serious corruption" in Poland, and says he is stuck in a game of "political ping-pong," arguing that Irish authorities "don't know what is happening, and I am not going to do their homework for them."

Lawyers for the State told the court that they will file their defence by the end of Wednesday and understand the urgency of the case, which raises "significant" legal questions.

The hearing is set for December and is expected to last one day.

In October, the man—who is representing himself—said he no longer wanted to continue with the case, even though the court had ruled in his favour by refusing the State's request to dismiss it. Justice Simons gave him two more weeks to think about his decision.

State lawyers have argued that it is the responsibility of Polish authorities to enforce the Polish court order and that Ireland cannot intervene directly.