Fathers’ group disbands over kidnap outrage

THE fathers’ rights group linked to an alleged plot to kidnap Tony’s Blair’s youngest son Leo is to disband in the wake of the furore over the affair.

Fathers 4 Justice said early yesterday that the group was suspending its activities pending an inquiry into the allegations, reported by the Sun newspaper.

Last night, however, the group’s leader Matt O’Connor told Channel 4 News that Fathers 4 Justice could no longer continue in light of the negative publicity generated by the allegations.

Mr O’Connor said: “I regret to say that, three years after starting the organisation, we’re going to cease and bring it to a close.”

He said “extremists” had “undermined the position and credibility” of the organisation, which had been going along “nicely”.

Mr O’Connor “categorically” denied that he had handed information to the Sun as part of infighting within the Fathers 4 Justice group, which he said had been “responsible for some of the most spectacular stunts the country has seen in years”.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done but if we’re going down this road, with extremist elements, then it’s come to an end.”

Mr O’Connor said he was “past caring” what happened to Fathers 4 Justice.

“I want to get a good night’s sleep. This is not what I wanted. I don’t want to be associated with an organisation getting headlines like this.”

The group expelled 30 people last year in a bid to get rid of extreme elements, according to Mr O’Connor, but that has not stopped its problems.

Terence Bates of splinter group Real Fathers 4 Justice insisted that they would continue to campaign, telling Channel 4 News that Mr O’Connor should have wound up his arm of the group after the split.

Asked whether the campaign had failed, Mr Bates said: “Mr O’Connor has failed. He failed to move it forward. Many, many good people left last year and formed our splinter group.”

Mr Bates also claimed the idea of a “dark underbelly” in the campaign was a “myth”.

“Most fathers in this situation, the last thing they would like to see is something of this nature,” he said.

Fathers 4 Justice said officers from Scotland Yard’s Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13) paid visits to some of its former members.

Said Mr O’Connor: “If the police have enough information they should not only release the names of those involved but prosecute them.

“This kind of coverage unravels all the good work we have done over the last three years.”

Both Downing Street and Scotland Yard yesterday refused to comment.

It is understood that the threat was uncovered before Christmas, while officers were investigating people associated with the fringes of the F4J group.

However, the alleged kidnap plot is thought to have got no further than the discussion stage.

Privately, police had doubts about whether those allegedly involved were capable of carrying out such a plan, while there is not believed to be any evidence that those involved wanted to harm Mr Blair’s son.