I am the loving father of two wonderful children, E and J.  E was kept in Northern Ireland, at the end of a family holiday, without my agreement.  J was born in Northern Ireland, but I had no say in the matter.  E was last in Scotland, where she was born, over two years ago.  J has never been to Scotland.

Please help me in my continuing legal battle to obtain meaningful, reasonable contact with our children, and in so doing, please help me stand up for the rights of parents everywhere who find themselves in similar situations.

Your generous help would allow me to appeal to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, to argue for our case to be granted a full hearing in the High Court in Northern Ireland.

This, on the one hand, is a specific case involving J, E and the father they barely see.  However, it is also a case that deals with fundamental Family Law issues and therefore it potentially affects us all.

Some of the questions that need addressed are:

• What does it mean to have 'parental responsibility'? 
• Do both parents have equal rights? 
• Does Northern Ireland need to review its Children Order procedures so that no other families suffer, as ours has suffered, in the future?
• Is Section 41 of the Family Law Act 1986 fit for purpose?
• Is Northern Ireland in breach of intra-UK jurisdiction legislation?

With your help, I will reasonably and responsibly try to obtain answers to these questions (and other questions) and in so doing stand up for the rights of parents everywhere.

One final thing.  I do realise this 'begging business' is not very dignified and for this I sincerely apologise. Those that know me will probably appreciate I used to be a quiet, private, retiring individual and that for me to do what I am currently doing must mean that things are desperate. 

Sadly they are, and needs must..