Fathers to protest over access rights

A protest by unmarried fathers and separated parents is due to take place in Dublin later today.

The demonstration is aimed at highlighting the difficulties experienced by some men in gaining access to their children and the group will be calling for judicial reform in the area of access rights.

The demonstration will take place from midday to 1pm on Dublin's O'Connell Bridge.

Spokesperson for the protestors Ray Kelly said that that when fathers are excluded from families it causes pain and suffering, and that Christmas can be a very unhappy time for many.

"Today there is going to be an awful lot of sad people, an awful lot of sad fathers, extended family, grandmothers, grandfathers, but most importantly there's going to be a lot of sad children today," he said.

"Christmas time is about families and what's happening here is fathers being excluded from families and it's causing serious pain and suffering for many men in this country and also the children."