Divorce challenge by dad blamed ‘for not taking holiday’
AN IT consultant is claiming his human rights have been breached after his wife was granted a divorce – allegedly on the grounds that he ‘ worked too much and never went on holiday’.
Charles Ayeh-Kumi, 64, is mounting a legal action at the High Court later this month to challenge England’s ‘easy’ divorce laws.
He said use of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ as grounds for ending marriages is too vague as it is not defined in law, making separation too easy.
No-fault divorce legislation, due to come into effect next year, should also be repealed as it will make the process even easier, he said.
In his claim, Mr Ayeh-Kumi says the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 breaks the Humans Right Act because of its lack of legal definition.
He began making his case when his wife of 33 years, Marion, divorced him in 2018. He said examples of ‘ unreasonable behaviour’ she provided were that he ‘worked too much’ and ‘didn’t go on holiday’ 20 years earlier with her and their two daughters.
‘I admit that I missed a few family holidays, and that I made myself available to clients 24/7, over the weekends and late at night,’ said Mr Ayeh-Kumi, of Farnborough, Hampshire.
‘We were struggling to pay our mortgage at the time. I needed to keep a roof over my wife and daughters’ heads.’
He said that he agrees divorce should be available in cases of domestic abuse or adultery but argued the law is ‘openended’ in terms of financial settlement.
‘It is completely biased against men. Marion is applying for me to pay her maintenance until I die and beyond the
grave if she outlives me. The law allows her to claim from my estate if I die.’
His ex-wife declined to comment on a ‘private matter’. Mr Ayeh-Kumi will bring his crowdfunded case at a virtual hearing next Wednesday.