Tony told Ms Judge Reilly "that due to laws that discriminate against Fathers and their children, I am taking a stand for all Fathers and their children's' rights in Ireland". From six o' clock this evening Tony has taken the extreme measure of refusing all food for the duration of his stay in Mountjoy prison.

Fathers civil rights group, USFI, will stage a protest, to support Tony and his family, this Tuesday morning outside Mountjoy prison. USFI will be mounting a vigil outside Mountjoy calling on the Prison to have Tony released immediately. Ray Kelly, founder of USFI, demanded that "The laws must change before any more dads have to resort to desperate acts in their plight of being separated from their children. These scrooge laws, he said, must change. It is no longer acceptable that when a relationship breaks down that the children are removed from their dads, their grandparents and other close family members. Anyone sitting at home with their loved ones will fail to see how how this self-employed dad can contribute in a meaningful way from a cell, which is, after all, a punishment for criminals, and not for dads who love their kids"

In a response to a recent RTE Primetime investigation on the comments made by Supreme court Justice Ronan Keane, "The absence of Fathers in many families is contributing to the rise of crime and lawlessness", Irish Times Journalist John Waters said that "Justice Keane was courageous to come out with his interview on Fathers but I wish it were sooner. The Irish Family law system foists Fatherlessness on an industrial basis and causes wholesale damage to families".

In an online survey conducted by dads-house, 86% of respondents said their children have had little or no access to their dads in the past 2 years, 62% said that their ex partner had repeatedly violated court orders with impunity and more than 74% saying that their ex partner engaged in tactics that alienated the children from their dads.

USFI and several other European Fathers Civil rights groups plan more protests throughout Ireland in 2004 to coincide with Ireland's presidency of the EU. Several legal strategic initiatives in Ireland and the EU are also planned by the groups.

Contacts:

Frank Duffy, 087 6527 300

Dave Whyte, Chairperson, 086 261 2400

Ray Kelly, Founder, 086 887 9444

email: info@dads-house.com

source: http://www.dads-house.com/

Vote: http://dads-house.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=121

Thursday 5 Feb 04, Mountjoy prison, Dublin, Ireland.

Tony Hamilton, the jailed Father of 2 children, aged 12 and 7, continues his hunger strike in Mountjoy prison today. Tony has been in jail since Monday 2 Feb 04 after a failed petition for Access violations by his estranged wife and was jailed for 60 days because he fell behind in his maintenance payments.

Photo: http://www.dads-house.com/data/freetony05jan04.jpg

Speaking on the Hook programme (Newstalk 106FM with George Hook) this week, USFI Chairperson, David Whyte said "This man is not a criminal but will have to serve the sixty days whilst actual criminals will be let out on the revolving door system." USFI have been holding a vigil outside the jail. Other groups across the country pledged support with members travelling from Limerick, Cork, Mayo and Kerry this weekend to support the protest outside Mountjoy.

John Lonergan, the Governor of Mountjoy was asked by the Hook in an interview how he felt about the protest. He said "he could understand why we were protesting, that Tony will be looked after, and he confirmed that he was on hunger strike." The Deputy Governor later confirmed with USFI "that all the prison staff supported the Campaign and Tony and the reason he had to shut the gates was to stop up to 20 prison wardens coming out to stand with the protestors." It later transpired that in an effort to have Tony come off the hunger strike, all privileges, including visitor access, have been removed.

When USFI requested the Minister for Justice "to release Tony forthwith", they were told "that they could not deal with the matter once a committal sentence was passed down and that they were inundated with calls from all over the country in relation to the matter"

His story is a typical one. Tony was not being paid by his customers and as a consequence fell behind with his maintenance payments. In court he offered a lump sum and then pay the rest over a short period of time to pay for the arrears. The Judge would not agree to this and told him that if he did not have the money he was going to prison for 60 days. There was a recess but Tony could not come up with full amount. Access violation by the Mother was also an issue. Tony's only access is on a Saturday. His daughters' communion falls this year on a Saturday, the Mother was denying him access on that day. The Judge fully concurred and in so doing was breaking another Judges court order.

"If your relationship breaks down in this country, and you are a man, your children are taken away from you" said Ray Kelly in an interview "Now, it seems that you get thrown in Jail, too. It makes no sense for Tony to be in Jail and we now urge the Judiciary to take a hard look at this family law system, which, as others before me have said, is depriving children of their Fathers on a wholesale and industrial basis. We would also ask them to take heed of the statement made by Supreme court Justice Keane that "Fatherless homes are to blame for crime" in a Sunday Tribune FrontPage interview. See http://dads-house.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=77

Pat O' Donovan (spokesperson for USFI) spent several hours today with Tony and said afterwards in an interview "that Tony is totally distraught, fearing that his business will founder and feeling that his life has been wrecked. This man is not a criminal, he loves his children, he is sorry that he couldn't keep up his maintenance payments but is prepared and has offered to make amends."

USFI are grateful for the many phone calls from women's groups supporting the campaign to have him released.

USFI Contacts

Pat O' Donovan, Spokesperson, +353 87 935 7571

Dave Whyte, Chairperson, +353 86 261 2400 Ray Kelly, Founder, +353 86 887 944