23/9/14 F4J FOUNDER MATT O’CONNOR APPEARS AT BASINGSTOKE MAGS COURT
A video report on the days events: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVdLAevfSg
Fathers4Justice founder Matt O’Connor appeared in Basingstoke Magistrates Court today (23/9/14) after he was unlawfully arrested by Hampshire Police. The incident happened shortly after Hants Police published a report upholding O’Connor’s complaint about the conduct of 3 Hants Police Officers and the involvement of Caroline Nokes MP in a violent attack on his home and subsequent 7-month long campaign of political intimidation which has targeted his family.
O’Connor has been charged with one count of causing ‘alarm harassment and distress’ outside his home in Hampshire after being stopped and challenged over his complaints about the Police by an officer at 8.00am on 4/9/14. O’Connor pleaded not guilty and said his arrest was ‘unlawful and politically motivated’. A trial date of 12th November was set.
Outside the court, UKIP County Councillor, Tony Hooke, who has also recently been arrested for assault by Hants Police (before charges were dropped), said he was concerned by the conduct of Hants Police and the impression of ‘political policing’ that is being created as a result of these arrests.
Earlier this year, Mr Hooke called on the Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, Andy Marsh, to step down after an investigation was launched into his leaking of information to Caroline Nokes MP, concerning the Stanbridge Earls child sex abuse scandal. F4J had also offered support to the families involved, and said the MPs calls for the school to remain open, placed children at risk. The school later closed.
Other supporters spoke to a documentary maker following the campaign about the issues they face every day in the family courts where fathers are routinely criminalised.
F4J Campaign Director, Nadine O’Connor, said that her husband and family had been the victims of harassment, not the perpetrators.
Matt O’Connor said he would not be bullied, intimidated or frightened from pursing the Fathers4Justice campaign and that he would not allow the voices of those in Fathers4Justice to be silenced by people who he says are ‘acting like political Nazis’.
He said the attacks on his family were an attack on every family in Fathers4Justice. The group will announce further action in the coming days.
Pic: F4J Founder Matt O’Connor, F4J Campaign Director Nadine O’Connor, UKIP Hampshire County Councillor Tony Hooke & Fathers4Justice supporters.
