Castlerea Prison protest in support of separated father
The separated man, who is a farmer, was sent to the Roscommon jail for three weeks, for failing to provide for his children. Hans Benner, secretary of the NMC, said that the man’s circumstances had changed and that he was no longer in a position to make maintenance payments: “He was receiving free legal aid and his representatives were supposed to prepare a new statement of means following his change in circumstance. They failed to do this, so the judge had no option but to jail him.”
Mr Benner said the NMC regarded the jailing as grossly unfair.
“That man has two sets of bills to meet, his own home and his children’s home. There are many fathers like him, who, because they have access to their children, have to maintain them in the father’s home when they visit, while at the same time paying maintenance to the mother.” Mr Benner, who is also chairperson of Cork-
based Separation Crisis, said he was speaking from personal experience.
“I am separated for five years and I personally am totally crippled from paying maintenance for my four children,” he said.
He said the numbers of separated fathers coping with financial hardship were increasing daily and that it was high time for legislative change to ease the burden.
Today’s protest at Castlerea Prison begins at 10am.
It is expected to continue for the duration of the jailed man’s sentence.
