Our thanks to Douglas for the following, it takes up the remainder of this piece:
“I am pleased to say that a Family Court decision in England on the granting of child access has been allowed limited publication. The case involves a father regaining care of his children after a breakup of the relationship with the mother, many years before.
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this decision for others, along with other recently published court cases is that the judge took into account the welfare checklist in s.1 Children Act 1989 and the importance of children having a relationship with both parents. This is correctly seen as more important in law than senior judges who have parroted statements around the notion that fathers are not necessary.
It helped that more than one CAFCASS officer (including a man, in the last instance) was willing to cast doubt on the mother’s probity. It is also notable that this case involved a father who was willing to keep up the pressure to see his children and be involved in their lives, properly documenting everything as he went. It has been seven years of battling, three independent legal cases, returning to court multiple times, before he can get justice for his children and himself. The take-away from this is that if a father walks away from trouble or cannot be seen to be in the right, he can’t expect justice—and that justice may take many years.
The judgement of Dame Nathalie Marie Daniella Lieven (sitting as Mrs Justice Lieven DBE), 20 June 2025.
Like many cases, it seems clear cut and it seems like the mother has been given multiple chances to behave with responsibility towards her children.
The mother (very worryingly, a professional child psychologist) has been involved in general lies, denial of court orders, lying under oath to the court, behaviour leading to the children being expelled from school, parental alienation, and other forms of non-physical abuse. The mother’s professional regulatory body will be advised of the judge’s judgments. No other action seems likely to be taken against her.
The four children have now settled into their father’s care and are doing well at school. The judge even said “It is to [the father’s] credit that they have moved so easily and settled into their new home with relative ease.”
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Justice for Men & Boys 