Family law leaves many fathers feeling bitter
Those who come to the Parents Support Group are mostly single and separated men who have been cut off from their children or who have been barred from their homes with no justification.
We provide legal information on child access orders, as well as any other necessary information about court procedures, maintenance orders and barring orders.
We do get some women coming to us, and we help everybody, but 98% of those seeking help are fathers.
The biggest issue they face is the mother using the children as a weapon and preventing access between father and child even after it has been approved by the court.
All of this highlights the need for change We need the courts to put their own decisions into practice when they approve visits between children and fathers.
We need barring order legislation tightened up to prevent a woman getting her husband barred from the house and then moving her 'fancyman' in the following day.
The biggest advantage that anyone can have when approaching a court case is a group who will point out all the procedures so that her, or she, can approach the courts with eyes open.
The Parents Support Group meets on Mondays at 7.30pm in the Dublin Central Mission in Abbey Street.
We can be contacted at 087-9711017. There is no charge.
Peter Coleman,
46, Larkfield Ave,
Harolds Cross,
Dublin 6.
