“It’s the same control, silence, and state-backed removal of children from vulnerable mothers, just rebranded.”
Northern Irish family court campaigners have compared the system to mother and baby homes and institutional abuse as they say it sees the “same state backed removal of children”.
A group of concerned mothers who are campaigning for reform within the family court system has said that it is currently having the same impact on vulnerable mums as the mother and baby home system as parents have no control over what happens to their children and face repercussions for speaking out.
The group says that Family Courts are being weaponised by domestic abusers and used as another way to inflict trauma on parents and children.
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They have said that there are cases within family court where parents convicted of domestic abuse are still granted custody of children against the wishes of their victim. They say this can lead to prolonged abuse for victims as they have to continue to engage with someone who has done them harm and entrust their children with them.
The group has held protests outside the Royal Court of Justice in Belfast and have also recently met with Justice Minister Naomi Long to highlight their concerns and call for reform.
Speaking to Belfast Live, one member of the group said they believe the impact the current system has on vulnerable mums is similar to the institutional abuse experienced by those in mothers and baby homes.
The group says it is gathering evidence of failures within the family court system and will be pushing for reform and accountability moving forward.
She said: “We’ve been looking closely at the patterns between the Mother and Baby Homes and what’s happening now in the family courts, and the similarities are disturbing. It’s the same control, silence, and state-backed removal of children from vulnerable mothers, just rebranded. Back then it was moral judgment and shame, now it’s dressed up as safeguarding and welfare, but the outcomes are alarmingly similar.
“We’re gathering evidence and pushing for accountability, this isn’t historic abuse, it’s ongoing.”
If anyone would like to get in touch with the group you can do so via this email: protectivemothers.ni@gmail.com
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