So as some of you know i had my DRA this week after having to wait 11 weeks since my FHDRA where a section 7 report was ordered
My parental responsibility order was supposed to be decided by the social worker appointed to do the report as well
Absoulety no safeguarding issues whatsoever and a perfect contact report, also have had last 4 weekends unsupervised contact in a public place
i had a legally trained mckenzie friend attend with me as my nerves were on level 10 and i asked for permission in a covering letter for her to speak on my behalf
on attending the court we asked the usher if the letter had been received and he advised it had and they had granted permission so we thought ok great
hearing was listed for 2pm and we finally go in at 320pm...on a friday afternoon!!!
well....i had 3 older women magistrates and they just thought i was the worst man alive....they shouted at my mckenzie friend to shut up and she is not allowed to talk in court, then shouted at both of us to shut up again when she was quietly advising me on what to say and what to ask
completely sided with the mother, ignored most of the section 7 report and just a complete fumble, didnt know their head from their backside. Statements supplied to court were completely ignored
mother went with the story of seperation anxiety with my boy who has been completely fine when with me
they wouldnt do anything about my parental responsibility order because social worker had not made a definite decision about it and they would not grant an interim order because of the apparent anxiety my child is having?
so we knew we had lost this well and truly despite me never having done anything wrong and everything being perfect and having an extremely strong argument for my orders both parental and contact as mother has been extremely hostile as provided in emails that the court couldnt be bothered to even look at and consider
So its now going to a final hearing at the end of April and i insisted the social worker attend who the report because its a complete mess so he can be cross examined and he is being ordered by the court to do a refreshed updated report
mother said she will still allow contact at her discretion and today i get a text from her brother saying i cant see my son because there is noone to drop him off and collect him despite 2 district judges urging her to communicate with me over contact during our non molestation hearings which was then discharged and also the section 7 report recommending that
and to top things off she states she is getting a new solicitor on legal aid because the last one could not secure legal funding...probably because legal aid are investigating them for fraud and my non molestation was discharged for an undertaking on a no admission basis
so what an absolute [censored] up....so downhearted 🙁
I'm sorry to hear mavic, it's dissapointing, you put all the good work in, give the best of you and they keep throwing barrier after barrier. It's not easy to find the strenght to keep moving forward when you keep getting punched in the face, and it's especially hard to understand that court doesn't seem to give a toss about the fact it will be over 6 months hardly seeing your child by the time of the final hearing.
Still, you just came out of an important hearing, now is not the time to mull over things or start ruminating. You need to continue taking care of yourself. Despite this setback, you are not doing too badly in the grand scheme of things, although I appreciate it's hard to take solace from that in this moment, but really, you're not.
Setbacks are defining moments. Some people use them as excuses that everything is against them and give up or start making silly self destructive mistakes. Others find the opportunity every setback brings to grow stronger, wiser, nicer and more compassionate.
We're with you.
Thank you so much
Just hope the lack of judicial professionalism is seen in the final hearing and thank God it will now be with a judge