Mum takes child appeal to Number 10

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Thursday 16th Dec 2004.

A FORMER Leigh mum fighting for the return of her children is to lobby Downing Street on Saturday.

The mother of three daughters, who she claims were taken from her by social services, has joined Purple Hearts, a new sub group within the prominent Fathers for Justice for women, friends and relatives affected by contact disputes.

She will join the campaigners, led by 1,000 singers, to march through London to the Houses of Parliament - and aims to knock on the door of number 10.

The mum, who canít be named for legal reasons, has also appealed to Wigan MP Neil Turner and to the Prime Minister for help.

She said: ìIím hoping my daughters may see me on TV as its one of the limited means they have. My youngest was 16 months old and still in nappies when they were unjustly taken from me after I had suffered violence from my husband who was not living at home at the time

ìEvery day is like a nightmare for me being apart from my beloved daughters. Itís a living bereavement. It is important I highlight the failure and total injustice I have been subjected to.

ìIíve had my visits stopped for two years now! I have been left in limbo land and abandoned wrongly. I was the victim in all this, as well as my daughters being deprived of their loving, mother who absolutely adores them.

ìI need help to get my voice heard, also in getting the relevant people to help change the unfair system we have and the injustices so rife today. It is left to a family court judge, with social services, to decide the fate of a family, unfettered by any outside judgement, or publicity. This is far from justice.î

She claims family law as it stands does not work, is rarely of benefit to the child and promotes injustice, creates conflict and unhappiness on a massive scale, treats parents with contempt, suspicion, disdain and hostility and child custody rulings show no understanding of society and what the social sciences are saying.

In a letter to Parliament she states: ìI have been unjustly denied the love and companionship of my three daughters for going on two years now! It is clear an immense injustice has been perpetrated against me.

ìI am not only concentrating on my contact being rightly restored but the rightful return of my beloved daughters. At Stockport County Court in September my visits were shockingly blocked indefinitely, and I was not given any opportunity to contest.

ìI have done nothing deserving of this and I am being punished! My children were re-habilitated in Leigh with my husband in September. I have no parenting time with my daughters anymore. My children have been denied the right to a family life with their mother, in contravention of the European Human Rights convention. According to an authoritative study by Guy Hordern published this year, to remove a child from his (mother) in this case amounts to a form of child abuse.

ì I would welcome the chance to hear your views on how best to resolve this conflict.î

Wigan MP Neil Turner wrote to Wiganís director of social services, Bernard Walker, regarding the mumís case and was told in July that there was no indication at that time that changes to contact arrangement would be made, but his department had a duty to review the situation on a regular basis and that the decisions had been taken to safeguard the welfare of the children.

A spokesman for Mr Turnerís office said: ìThe contents of this letter have been sent to the mum and because we have heard nothing further we assumed she was happy with the response.î

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