MP Confirms Harman Rejected Meeting

The founder of Fathers 4 Justice, Matt O'Connor,said that Mark Oaten MP had confirmed that his office received a letter from the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Harriet Harman rejecting a meeting with Fathers 4 Justice on the 18th December 2006, citing 'ministerial commitments.'


Said O'Connor today, "As we said at the weekend, we have exhausted every avenue to engage the government in dialogue, only for our efforts to be rejected. We understand the decision not to engage us was taken at Cabinet level and that Ms Harman's comments were a deliberate calculation to mislead the media and public.'

'What else can Fathers 4 Justice do in these circumstances other than to resume direct action.'

F4J Cartoon

Rooftop protesters challenge Harman

Two men charged over a rooftop protest at Harriet Harman's house have challenged the Labour deputy leader to face them in court.

Fathers 4 Justice campaigners Nigel Ace, 40, and Anthony Ashby, 42, scaled Ms Harman's London house dressed as Spider Man and Batman last week.

Appearing before Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court charged with harassment and using threatening words and behaviour, they were granted bail and are due to appear before Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on September 8. Ace said: "We will be calling Harriet Harman as a witness, and will be waiting for her response in court."

Superheroes fly back to bug Harman

Two Fathers 4 Justice protesters dressed as Spiderman and Batman scaled the roof of deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman's home yesterday.

The two men said they will not come down until the Government "takes them seriously".

The men said their names were Nigel Ace, 40 - Spiderman and Tony Ashby, 42, in the Batman costume.

They said they had enough food supplies to last for a week. Mr Ace, who described himself as a sales manager from Bristol, said the stunt was provoked by Ms Harman's recent pledge to ensure equality in the workforce.

He said: "What about dads? We haven't got equality. The Government is ignoring us and has a feminist agenda.

"We want Harriet Harman to come back here and engage in a debate with us and, if not, then Gordon Brown should come. I am trained in survival, so I don't care how long we are up here."
MrAshby, a painter and decorator from Leicester, said he had not seen his children for seven years.

He said: "We have been up here since 6am and we are in for the long haul. We don't want to cause trouble, we just want to get our message across."

The protest comes as Ms Harman yesterday stood in for Gordon Brown in Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons while he attends the G8 summit in Japan.

Court Cleared Amid Fathers Protest

Dozens of employees were evacuated from a Bristol family court today when Fathers 4 Justice campaigners stormed the building and a fire alarm was set off.Court and construction staff huddled outside Bristol County Court, in the high-rise Greyfriars building in the city centre, and waited for the fire service to arrive.



Around 30 banner-waving protesters dressed as various superheroes stopped at the courts during a street demonstration through Bristol in support of fathers' rights.

Around 10 protesters dressed as Spiderman, Batman, Superman and The Incredibles forced their way into the court and chanted "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now."

A fire alarm was activated, although court staff could not confirm who was responsible, and nearly 100 staff flooded into the street outside.

Two police vans arrived, along with two fire engines, and the men soon left the court building and continued their march.

The demonstration was joined by two campaigners who scaled the roof of deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman's home in Herne Hill, south London, earlier this week.

Jolly Stanesby and Mark Harris, both from south Devon, started the rooftop protest on Sunday and continued for more than 24 hours. They have since been bailed by police.

Mr Stanesby, from Ivybridge, said: "We always have a little get-together before Father's Day to put our message across."

Fathers 4 Justice is a civil rights group which campaigns for parental equality and a father's right to see his children.

Mr Stanesby added: "Just because my ex decided to move on to another boyfriend shouldn't mean I don't get to see my child.

"Her new boyfriend can see my child as long as he likes, whereas I have to apply and have boundaries. I have to have checks, doctor reports... The courts are corrupt."

Mr Stanesby said he and Mr Harris have written to Ms Harman to request a meeting with her.

He said: "She's Minister for Justice and Minister for Women - how can those two things go together?"

Mr Harris, from Plymouth, said opening family courts to the public was one of the focal points of the Fathers 4 Justice campaign.

He said: "Open up the courts so people can see the ridiculous decision made against fathers. I was once sent to prison for waving at my daughters."

The march started at The Pithay and moved up to Perry Road via Corn Street and Colston Avenue, where the group unveiled a new poster campaign.

The poster showed an image of a child dressed in a superhero costume and read: "If this little superhero doesn't see his daddy on Father's Day, he doesn't see half his family."

Fathers campaigner tries to stop Queens carriage

A fathers' rights campaigner has admitted he was "lucky" to escape with only a fine after trying to disrupt the Queen's birthday celebrations. Jolly Stanesby was one of two Fathers 4 Justice activists arrested on Saturday after trying to halt the Queen'scarriage as it made its way down The Mall.
Dressed only in Union Jack boxer shorts, Mr Stanesby, of Ivybridge, Devon, and fellow campaigner Tony Ashby from Leicester got over safety barriers lining the route as the Royal procession made its way from Buckingham Palace to see the Trooping the Colour Parade.

The protesters, arrested at around 12.30pm, were taken to a central London police station and charged with public disorder offences.Speaking yesterday, Mr Stanesby, 39, said he received an £80 fixed penalty fine for his actions, done to coincide with Father's Day.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed two men had been arrested following the incident. However, he said: "They did not get anywhere near the Queen."

Spider-man convicted of causing a nuisance

A fathers' rights campaigner who staged a rooftop protest dressed as Spider-Man has appeared in court under the name Tony Blair. Tony Ashby changed his name to Tony Charles Lynton Blair earlier this year.

Magistrates heard how he climbed on to the roof of the Child and Family Court Advisory Service (CAFCASS) in Riverside House, Western Boulevard, Leicester, in November.

The 39-year-old - who was dressed as the Marvel Comics superhero - sat there for more than two hours until police persuaded him to come down.

In the end firefighters had to use a lift to get him off the roof.

Prosecutor Ian Johnson said police were called to the scene at 2.15pm on November 5.
They were concerned that the protest was causing disruption to traffic.

Mr Johnson said: "Members of the fire service were called and they brought the Spider-Man down off the roof and it turned out it was Mr Blair." Blair, who is a painter and decorator, climbed on to the roof using his own ladders to protest on behalf of Fathers 4 Justice.

At Leicester Magistrates Court on Thursday, he was given a 12-month conditional discharge after being found guilty of causing a public nuisance.

Stephen Robertson, defending, said Fathers 4 Justice was a peaceful organisation.
He said: "CAFCAS is an organisation which Fathers 4 Justice have a grievance with because they don't feel they are getting a fair deal.

"He used his ladders to climb up on to the roof and sat there for more than two hours, occasionally standing to stretch his legs or have a cigarette.
"Members of the public were able to walk up and down the pavement and could get into the building.

"Some people were waving at Mr Blair and drivers tooted their horns.
"Four people in one building were affected and 10 in another." Blair, of New Romney Crescent, Scraptoft, was also ordered to pay £275 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, he said: "I will continue to support a change in family law and will do whatever I can to support this change." Blair also carried out a demonstration on Good Friday.

He and another man, who were dressed as monks, climbed on to the roof of St Paul's Cathedral, in London. They unfurled a banner which said "In the Name of the Father".

Santa protest man arrested

The Fathers for Justice protestor, Tony Ashby, 39, came down of his own accord just before 4.30pm. He managed to get there yesterday morning by scrambling from the fourth storey of the car park.

Mr Ashby, from Leicester, who says he has no access to two of his children and limited access to another two, unfurled a banner which read: "Save Father Christmas, Children need their father this Xmas."

Father takes rights protest to the top

Tony Ashby, dressed as Santa, unfurled a banner saying "Save Father Christmas". Passing motorists hooted in support. Speaking from the bridge, he said he would stay there until 4pm: "I'll have walked up and down a few thousand times before I've finished." Mr Ashby, 39, of Leicester, climbed on to the bridge from the Broadmarsh Centre car park.

"It wasn't too hard but I wouldn't recommend it. It's not the safest of things to do," he said.

Mr Ashby, 39, says he has no access to two of his children and limited access to another two.

Police said they would not try to force Mr Ashby down.

Sgt Steve Cambers said: "We are going to wait for Mr Ashby to come down. He's expressed intentions to come down this afternoon."

'Spiderman' roof protest

Painter and decorator, Tony Ashby, a supporter of the Fathers 4 Justice campaign, climbed to the top of the Riverside building in Leicester's Western Boulevard yesterday.

Egged on by 20 supporters waving banners and singing, Mr Ashby, of Melton Road, Rushey Mead, sat on the roof, 40ft above ground level. He said it was part of his battle for more access to his child. "There are a lot of fathers in a similar position to me," he said.

A dozen police officers were at the scene throughout the afternoon to keep the peace. They only intervened in the demonstration when one of the campaigners swore while shouting through a loudspeaker.

Members of Fathers 4 Justice held the protest above the building where the Child and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service, which looks after the interest of children in family proceedings, has an office.

When Mr Ashby, who is in his 30s, finally agreed to come down, firefighters had to use a lift. Officers arrested him on suspicion of causing a public nuisance. He is being questioned.Insp Bill Knopp said: "If there are similar protests in future, we would ask people to protest within the law and we will support their right to do this."

Dads in roof-top protest

Two fathers' rights protesters have been released on police bail after scaling St Paul's Cathedral in an Easter weekend stunt. During the Good Friday protest, which saw them stay on top of the London landmark for more than 10 hours, the pair unfurled a distinctive purple banner which said "In the Name of the Father".

Police cordoned off the area below the pair to protect passers-by from any debris that might have been dislodged.

Meanwhile, other officers went on to the roof to try to talk them down.

The cathedral remained open throughout the protest, although visitors were asked to use a different entrance.

Protesters Tony Blair, who has changed his name by deed poll from Tony Ashby, and Darren Frost, both from Leicester, were arrested and escorted down from the roof by police officers.

They were then taken to a nearby police station before being released on bail.
They must return to a City of London police station next month.

Both are understood to have since returned home, although Mr Blair, who has appeared in a Spiderman outfit during previous protests made by the group, has since joined another fathers' rights demonstration in Wales.

Barry Gaynor, Leicestershire co-ordinator for Fathers 4 Justice, said they were highlighting the plight of men who will be denied access to their children over Easter.

He said that the group would continue to fight to make sure both parents get equal rights to see their children in cases of separations and divorce.
"The church was specifically a target because they were pushing issues to do with the rights of unborn children, but said nothing about the rights of children who are living now," he said.

"We intend to stay in the media spotlight and keep putting our points across." A City of London Police spokesman said the protesters came down at about 6.40pm and were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and criminal damage.

The stunt was the latest in a series of protests by the group, including scaling the walls of Buckingham Palace and invading the House of Commons.

The militant monks

FATHERS 4 Justice protesters scaled St Paul's Cathedral yesterday in the latest stunt to highlight the campaign for access to their children.

Two members of the group dressed as monks and climbed scaffolding on the cathedral's north side just before 6am.

Then they hung a banner from the roof with the words 'In the name of the father' printed on it.

The activists who plan to stay on the roof until tomorrow were named as father- of- one Darren Frost, 29, an IT consultant from Leicester, and Tony Ashby, 34, a labourer from Nottingham.

Mr Ashby, who has a son and daughter, recently changed his name by deed poll to Tony Blair.

Group spokesman Darryl Westell said: 'While the Prime Minister is enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend-with his family he should think about this Tony Blair who represents thousands of fathers across the country who are suffering a living bereavement.'

He added: 'Also, it is a direct message to the Church. With all this controversy over abortion, we haven't seen them muscling in over the rights of children that have already been born.' In the past the group has thrown flour bombs at Tony Blair in the House of Commons and scaled Buckingham Palace to draw attention to its campaign.

Pair arrested over St Paul's demo

Two fathers' rights protesters have been arrested after scaling St Paul's Cathedral in London. The Fathers 4 Justice campaigners, dressed as monks, climbed up to the dome at 0800 GMT and unfurled a banner reading "In the Name of the Father".

They came down at 1840 GMT and were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and criminal damage, a City of London Police spokesman said. The cathedral stayed open but visitors had to use an alternative entrance. It is to do with Easter and the fact a lot of dads will not see their kids this Easter

Officers had to cordon off an area below just in case they dislodged any debris on to passers-by, the police spokesman said. Other officers went on the roof to try to resolve the incident. Earlier, Fathers 4 Justice spokesman Matt O'Connor claimed there were three protesters despite the police saying there were only two. "I have got no further details about the protesters but they will be up there until Sunday,"

Mr O'Connor said. "They have got provisions and tents." Asked why they picked St Paul's, he added: "It is to do with Easter and the fact a lot of dads will not see their kids this Easter."