Lorraine Kelly interviews Fathers4Justice founder Matt O’Connor on ITV1 about helping dads this Father’s Day
Fathers4Justice founder Matt O’Connor went on the Lorraine Kelly show on ITV1 this morning to explain why he has hung up his superhero costume to take his organisation in a different direction this weekend. You can watch his interview below, and here: http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hot-topics/fathers-4-justice-helping-dads-this-fathers-day
Fathers4Justice will be setting up a phone line where Matt himself will be taking calls on Father’s Day along with other mentor dads he knows who can help fathers to feel understood, whether they are estranged from their families or not.
He said: “It’s a helpline for dads and parents affected by family breakdown, there’ll be a Skype service as well.”
Matt also said Rebecca Minnock’s story is an illustration of the country’s failing family justice system. Ms Minnock disappeared with her three year old son after a custody ruling went against her.
Speaking about the case, Mr O’Connor said: “It is very, very, very, very rare and also extraordinarily rare to see a case like this aired publically. I think the Rebecca Minnock case is another illustration of our failing family justice system and whatever happens in court now what I would say is that our view as a campaign group is that the best parent for Ethan is both his parents.”
“We believe this ‘winner takes all’ system drives parents to extremes and we see it with fathers, thousand of fathers every week going through a secret family justice system fighting to see their children, so the Rebecca Minnock case illustrates the problems generally faced by fathers in this country.”
And on hanging up the superhero costumes, Mr O’Connor said: “You probably wouldn’t be talking to me now if it wasn’t for the fact that we had some very brave and courageous people dressed as Batman, dressed as Superman, dressed as Spiderman.”
