Fathers 4 Justice calls it a day

Matt O'Connor announces the end of F4J following questionable revelations in The Sun about an alleged kidnapping plot.

The Sun newspaper last week claimed that police officers had uncovered a plot to kidnap Tony Blair's young son, alleging that Fathers 4 Justice activists were behind the plan.

No further details became available, and suspicion increased that this allegation had originated with The Sun, who has close links with Blair and the Labour Party. Matt O'Connor having stated that despite requests by himself for further information, the police had not provided any information as to the origin of the allegation or the names of the individuals supposedly involved.

Some suggested that it was an orchestrated event designed to ease the passing of Blair's controversial anti-terrorism laws.

Much criticism has been levelled at Matt O'Connor's response to the allegation. Mr O'Connor immediately blamed F4J extremists on the fringe of the group for the alleged plot.

Many feel that, rather than stand his ground, he was too quick in passing the blame onto activists within his own group, at the same time failing to demand further proof of the validity of The Sun's claims.

His apparent eagerness to wash his hands of the group over such vague and unsubstantiated claims has done little to ensure the support either of his own members, or other parental rights groups.

Opinions on the contribution that Fathers 4 Justice made to the fight for parental rights, equality in the family court system and justice are just as divided.

Some believe that it was only through F4J that the fight for fathers rights became recognised as a serious issue and that had it not been for the high profile protests by F4J, that the public would still be unaware of the gross imbalance in our family courts.

These people believe that Fathers 4 Justice paved the way for others parental rights groups who are active today.

Others, such as Tony Coe, President of Equal Parenting Council, feels that "F4J hurt our cause." He states that "The feedback we've received globally is that they are perceived as irresponsible - and as lunatics and women-haters."

Mr Coe goes on to say that "Their antics alienated the very people whose hearts and minds we need to win over."

There is little doubt that Fathers 4 Justice was the most prominent of the parental rights groups. However, F4J was one group among many active groups who campaign on family issues, they may have come to an end, but the fight goes on.

One thing is so obvious, is injustice create's extremism!!!!!.