A judge in Chatham ordered 14 children belonging to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor into child protective services on Monday.

A judge ruled in-favour of an earlier decision made by a Quebec court.

The decision means the 14 children will be sent back to Quebec child services. The order is stayed for 30 days so an appeal can be made. During that time, the children will stay with their families and cannot leave Chatham-Kent.

The parents will also be required to allow Chatham-Kent Children’s Services to visit.

On Nov. 27, a Quebec court ordered the children into foster care, after the group fled to Ontario amid an investigation into alleged child neglect.

Approximately 40 families with Lev Tahor left Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., and relocated to Chatham.