Fathers4Justice campaigner begins hunger strike after being sent to jail for defacing portrait of Queen
5th February 2013 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Campaign Group: Fathers4Justice
Telephone: 08433 621323
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fathers-4-justice.org
Press Release: Fathers4Justice campaigner begins hunger strike after being sent to jail for defacing portrait of Queen
Fathers4Justice campaigner Tim Haries has begun a hunger strike after being given a six-month custodial sentence today at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of defacing a portrait of the Queen whilst it was on display in Westminster Abbey in June 2013.
Mr Haries has said his hunger strike is in protest at the ‘politically motivated’ custodial sentence which was at odds with the sentencing recommendations by the Probabtion service. He will continue his hunger strike until his case is reopened and he is reunited with his daughters Katie and Scarlett.
In a statement this morning Mr Haries said,
“I Timothy John Haries (4/8/71) hereby declare, that the Judge’s decision to ignore the Probation Service’s recommendation of a Community Service Order and replace it with a custodial sentence leaves me with no alternative than to enter an immediate hunger strike.
I consider that as the custodial sentence is well outside of the Probation Service recommendations, this can only be a political motivated decision. I therefore now regard myself as a political prisoner.
My only crime is fight to see my two daughter’s whom I love dearly, after being ordered to abandon them by the Family Courts. My children and I have done nothing to warrant such treatment by the courts and our government.
I have today made a final application to the Family Courts in an attempt to re-unite Katie and Scarlett with their father whom they have not seen or spoken to now for over 4 years.
My fast will continue until this application is granted. Until this application is granted I will accept nothing but water, no food, sugar, glucose, vitamins, supplements etc. I hereby insist that any medical examinations are conducted by an external and independent doctor.”
ENDS
For further information call F4J Campaign Director Nadine O’Connor on 08433 621323
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fathers-4-justice.org
http://www.facebook.com/Fathers4Justice
https://twitter.com/F4JOfficial
http://www.youtube.com/user/wearefathers4justice
The facts about the fatherless generation:
200 children lose contact with their fathers every day in secret courts. Fathers4Justice
50% of all court orders are broken and not enforced. The Times.
3.8 million children are fatherless in the UK. Office of National Statistics
1 in 3 children live without their father. Office of National Statistics
£44 billion is the cost of family breakdown every year. Office of National Statistics
84% of the public support equal parenting. YouGov Poll, June 2012
