Simon Watson, who plans to set up a website for fathers who have been denied
access to their children.
DAVID BALE 24 May 2006
A father who has not seen his nine-year-old daughter for nearly a year has set
up a less antagonistic form of the controversial Fathers 4 Justice group to call
for a change to the law.
Simon Watson said he has not been allowed to see his daughter because his
ex-wife said the child does not want to see him.
As the law stands at the moment he has no rights to change that unless he goes
to court and spends up to £5,000 to get a court order to get access rights to
see his child, he said.
While he agrees with the aims of the Fathers 4 Justice group, which staged a
comeback by disrupting the National Lottery draw on Saturday night, he said they
give fathers a bad name with their stunts.
He said their cause would be better served through persuasion and consultation
rather than through hostility and violence.
The 36-year-old, from Reepham Road, Hellesdon, is planning to launch a website
for fathers to contact him and wants to present a petition signed by like-minded
fathers to the House of Commons calling for action.
He said: “I started the group because I want to see my child and there are
hundreds of other men in the same situation.
“We are a non-violent group wanting our story to be heard.
“We want to be more peaceful than Fathers 4 Justice. They attracted the wrong
sort of press and people got on the bandwagon. I always think words can be a lot
stronger than actions.
“I'm trying to set up a group of fathers who have, through no fault of their
own, lost touch with their children. These are genuine people from stable
backgrounds who have been denied access to their children.
“We want to come up with a plan to speak to Norfolk MPs and go to Downing
Street, because the law has got to change.”
Mr Watson, who is a retail manager at Sainsbury's in Queens Road, Norwich, split
from his ex-wife, whom he does not want to be named, eight years ago, when his
daughter was one.
He's now married again with two stepchildren.
Fathers 4 Justice was founded in December 2002, and stirred up controversy
through action such as dressing up as superheroes.
The group appeared to have disbanded in January after some of its members were
accused of allegedly plotting to kidnap Prime Minister Tony Blair's youngest
son, Leo.
But the group made a dramatic return when BBC's National Lottery show was
briefly delayed after protesters invaded the studio and chanted slogans.
Fathers who want to get together and join Mr Walton's group should email
Watsonsimon35@aol.com
Do you have a story about your battle to see your children? Telephone Evening
News reporter David Bale on (01603) 772427 or email
david.bale2@archant.co.uk
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