VEGETARIAN ‘FED KIDS MEAT TO GET AT WIFE’

Dad repeatedly tried to undermine his ex, family court is told

A ONCE outspoken vegetarian started to feed his children meat to wind up his wife after they split up, a court has heard.

At the Family Law Court, the mother told Judge Mary Larkin: “In the beginning, before we ever had children we both agreed that we would bring them up vegetarian.

“He was a very outspoken vegetarian but when we separated he decided to start feeding the children meat – he did that to get at me.”

In the case, after hearing several instances where the father allegedly undermined his ex-wife in front of their children, Judge Larkin asked: “Do I suspend access to someone who is deliberately setting about damaging his children?”

Judge Larkin said she would suspend access pending the father re-engaging with a court appointed expert who has stated the father’s behaviour is having a very profound influence on his children.

Judge Larkin stated the expert would make suggestions about resuming access as soon as the father re-engaged. The father was not in court because of a medical issue.

The mum claimed continued negativety from her ex “towards me is completely eroding any trust the children have in me and their bond with me – that is his whole point, his whole aim”.

The mother said every time they come home from access from their father, the children are cross and tired “and I’m told ‘Daddy told me that you are a liar and said not to believe what you say’”.

She added: “Everything about my parenting is undermined – from their feeding to their bedtimes.”

The mother said her name is not to be mentioned at her ex’s house when their children are there.

And she claimed there had been a running joke between the father and children that if there was a plane crash wouldn’t it be funny if their mother’s new partner was the one without a parachute? Judge Larkin said: “The children are being told it is funny.”

Solicitor for the mother, Joseph Chambers, stated: “This man has for the past two years been seriously undermining my client’s position with the children and continues to do so.”

They say ‘daddy told me you are a liar and not to believe you’ THE MOTHER FAMILY LAW COURT, DUBLIN, YESTERDAY