'My kids have
gone. It's like they've died'
THE SUN'S
Justice For Dads campaign has been swamped with more than 500 emails of
pleas and support from fathers desperate to see their children. They back our
demand for a change in the law to give equal rights of access for BOTH
parents. Below are just some of the moving messages. On the right are words
of support from both main political parties.
SARAH:
"I WAS denied contact with my father for many years because my mother hated
him. A word of warning to any mother - children don't stay children. I have
grown up to despise my mother but now have contact with my father."
MARTIN:
"THANK you so
much and well done for nationally highlighting what fathers like me are
facing this Christmas."
JOHN:
"I WOULD like to
thank The Sun for getting behind dads like myself who have had to battle to
see our children. This is exactly what we need - the nation's biggest daily
newspaper giving us their support."
GEORGE:
"THE law and
court welfare system is a total sham. I spent five years trying to maintain
contact with my two children. In that time, seven court orders were issued
and each was breached by my former wife without challenge by the courts."
CARL:
"MY 20-month-old
son is facing his second Christmas without seeing his father. I am a
community police officer and committed to equality — I just wish I could get
some."
SALLY:
"I'M a woman of
25 engaged to a wonderful father of 26. He has two girls who he hasn't seen
since July, despite a judge granting him parental responsibility and a
contact order. Every time we had contact with the mother she was drunk,
abusive and difficult. My fiancé tried to get full custody but failed
because he worked full-time."
DAVID:
"FOR the first
time in four years I will be “allowed" by my ex-wife to see my kids on
Christmas Day — for 15 minutes. Despite a court order allowing contact she
has just refused and the courts have done nothing."
TOM:
"I AM not
allowed to see my three children from my previous marriage. What right does
my ex-wife and her boyfriend have, in their words, to tell me to “stay out
of our lives"? I doted on my kids and now they are gone. It's like they have
died."
LEE:
"THANK you so
much for highlighting the plight of thousands of children who will not be
able to see their dads at Christmas. This is because of biased Family Court
judges who remain wedded to the sexist values of the 1950s, despite the fact
that society has long ago moved on."
MICHAEL:
" I AM another
of the one in four dads who will not see his children this Christmas. Well
done The Sun for having the courage to print the truth about the awful
decisions made by secret Family Courts."
GARY:
"THOSE who allow
children to be denied the love and care of both parents are guilty of
emotional and psychological child abuse."
* The names
on these e-mails have been changed.
[SIDEBAR]
DOMINIC
GRIEVE - Shadow Attorney General
Separation
from a parent can be detrimental to a child's well-being.
Maintaining
children's contact with caring parents after divorce or separation should be
a priority.
It is
chilling that 40 per cent of non-resident parents lose all contact with
their children within two years of separation.
By changing
the law to provide a presumption that fit parents should be entitled to see
children, Parliament would show that obstruction of contact will not be
tolerated.
LORD
FILKIN - Constitutional Affairs Minister
We have
already set up family advice and information networks, where couples work
with experts to find solutions.
We want more
cases dealt with by mediation and to give clearer signals to parents that
the courts expect reasonable contact with both parents.
If they
cannot come to to an agreement the courts will play their role - but this
should be a last resort. We will announce proposals for how we intend to
make this work better early in 2004.
I WAS
denied contact with my father for many years because my mother
hated him!
NOW tell us your stories. E-mail featurea@the-sun.co.uk or fax 020 7782 4063
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