Following the break-up in his
relationship last November, 31-year-old Neil was told he would never
be allowed to see his child.
Neil, of Darrington, Pontefract,
is not able to launch legal action until the baby is born and he is
refused access but he says he is struggling to find out whether or
not the child has been born already.
He said: She could have been
born already, I might be a dad and not know, it's heartbreaking.
This was the last thing I wanted but I am terrified of getting
caught in a lengthy court process just so I can see my
daughter.
I know of cases that have taken
over six years and that is simply ridiculous, even the quick cases
seem to drag out for about a year. That's not fair on the estranged
parent, the grandparent, the uncles and aunts and, most importantly,
the child itself.
Neil joined a candle-lit vigil
outside Leeds Crown Court last night to highlight the plight of
families who are kept apart because of lengthy court
procedures.
Campaign group Candles 4 Kids, who organised the
vigil, want the system to be overhauled and streamlined so cases are
sorted out far more quickly than at present.
The Leeds vigil was one of 35
being held nationally to raise the group's profile.
Along with
calling for a court procedure that takes weeks rather than months
the group also want case officers to be fully trained in dealing
with emotional abuse and parental alienation and they also want the
same judge to see cases through.
They also say that parents who
move with their children to another area of the country during an
ongoing court case should be ordered to bring them back or attend
court in the original location so the court process does not start
all over again with fresh reports.
Neil, who is planning to go to
university to study family law next year, added: "This was a
family-based peaceful event that didn't involve Batman hanging from
railings.
It is an attempt to show the
political parties, who have ignored this issue so far in their
electioneering, that those involved in children's issues come from
every corner of the land, from all backgrounds.
It is not just excluded dads,
it's mums, step-parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles,
friends, godparents and anybody who cares about the child.
paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk
Of Interest:
Dads
to highlight access heartache IC Cheshire Daily
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