Plight of fathers ignored, say protesters

THE plight of unmarried and separated fathers has not changed since the time the hit film Evelyn was set — some 50 years ago.

Fathers fighting for access to their children said the Pierce Brosnan film, depicting a father's fight to reunite his family, still reflected reality.

“Evelyn, Pierce Brosnan’s new film, that was 50 years ago. We still have the same problems today. Why? Because the Irish Government has ignored us,” said Ray Kelly of Unmarried Fathers of Ireland.

More than 50 members of the support group protested outside the Four Courts yesterday before marching to the GPO on O’Connell Street.

Mr Kelly said some unmarried and separated fathers will not be able to give their children Easter eggs this weekend.

He said the protesters were calling for:

* Access rights for fathers to their children;

* Access rights of grandparents to their grandchildren;

* A change to the in camera, or secret, nature of family law courts;

* An end to the adversarial system between solicitors.

Mr Kelly said solicitors and barristers abused the system to make as much money as possible and did not use mediation, as they were supposed to do.

“It’s not about mother and father in the courts, it’s about solicitor and solicitor. But we’re talking about a child’s life and emotions here.”

He said fathers and grandparents could not publicise their plight due to the in camera nature of family law courts.

Mr Kenny said depression, self-harm and suicide was a continuing problem for unmarried and separated fathers denied proper access to their children.

“Imagine taking away some man’s kids. How do you get over that? That’s why we’re called the living dead.”

He said successive ministers for justice over the last eight years have refused to meet with his group.

“This is not about fathers, it’s about children. Their right to know their parents, as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to be loved and cared for by both parents. If you don’t have that you have a dysfunctional family, and you have a dysfunctional society.”