If anyone wants to send a follow-up letter, it can be sent
to:independent.letters{at}unison.independent.ie

Family law fiasco


Sir - Last week when so many column inches in various newspapers were
devoted to the Travers Report, Justine McCarthy wrote two of the best
articles on the State's abuse of its citizens ever published in an
Irish newspaper. She was, of course, writing about the family law
system and not the illegal charging of residents in old people's homes
(Features).

The article tells of one man who drew back from the brink of suicide
after his ordeal in the family courts. The member groups of the Men's
Council of Ireland (MCI) are dealing with such cases on a daily basis.
Regrettably, despite the best efforts of the support groups, many men
go on to take their own lives, such is the level of devastation caused
by this cruel, evil system. After one such suicide, the MCI wrote to
the Minister for Justice asking that immediate action be taken to end
the routine destruction of fatherhood and men's lives. His response
consisted of two sentences vaguely referring to disadvantages suffered
by men, followed by two paragraphs on the disadvantages allegedly
suffered by women.

These included the low representation of women on the boards of State
bodies. One wonders how many women are driven to suicide because they
are not represented on State bodies. Whether due to loyalty to his own
profession, or control of his Department by misandrist women's groups
(or both), it is obvious that Minister McDowell will do nothing to
bring about a fairer system and derail the latest legal gravy train.

While the wrongdoings identified by Travers are disgraceful, they are
trivial in comparison to the routine destruction of human lives that is
happening in the family law courts every day. Yet this crime against
our citizens is not even on the political agenda. Apart from family
law, is there any other body of legislation on the statutes books
driving citizens to suicide on a regular basis? Is there a more serious
issue in our society today?




--- UseNet To RIME Gateway {at} 3/21/05 8:59:11 AM ---