A verdict was reached on the morning of June 30th in the contentious custody trial regarding Miss Kaatjie Spaans (Dempsey) of North Bartonburg. The Spaans family, of Bartonburg (via the Netherlands) filed a lawsuit against Mr. Don Juan Dempsey (and family) accusing Mr. Dempsey of being unfit to care for the eleven-year-old witch.

A committee of three Wizengamot members ruled that Miss Kaatjie Spaans — who is now to be known as Miss Kaatjie Dempsey — will be remanded to the custody of her father.

During the trial, solicitors for the Spaans family argued that Mr. Dempsey was unfit, pointing to his previous lack of involvement with the child and to the various scandals which he has found himself in. Attorneys for the Dempseys leaned on the family's extensive involvement in British society — Mr. Klaas Spaans, the girl's uncle, is Dutch — and argued that the girl's mother was irresponsible in not sending her to Ireland in the first place.

Ultimately, the Wizengamot sided with the Dempseys, stating in their written ruling that Mr. Dempsey is most equipped to give the girl a British upbringing. However, in their verdict they issued a strong warning that Mr. Spaans is welcome to bring his suit back if Mr. Don Juan Dempsey's parents are not 'strongly involved' in raising Miss Kaatjie Dempsey.

While Miss Dempsey is the Minister's niece, his office did not issue a statement on the case.