Paul and Wendy Turner.

Paul and Wendy have been fighting the secrecy of the Family Court system since 1995 when Wendy lost her residency application in respect of her two small boys despite divorcing her ex-husband for domestic abuse/violence and  being described as an ‘excellent Mother’ by the Judge.

 Both professional people, Paul was in Management whilst Wendy was a Residential Social Worker for the Elderly (Social Services) and part-time College Lecturer. Concerned at the actions of the Court Welfare officer involved, and being told they could not complain, they succeeded in lobbying the Home Office, via both Houses of Parliament for the first Complaints Procedure for the Court Welfare Service in West Yorkshire. The final report of their Formal Complaint concluded that the Officer involved was ‘indeed lying in order that her recommendations be carried out’.

In Court, Wendy was told by her Barrister not to mention the actions of the CWO as ‘the Judge wouldn’t like it’. Wendy, the Mother, left court with nothing.

Following several breeched court orders regarding his own children, Paul finally reported the Judge involved in his own case, to Lord McKay of Clashferne, the then Lord Chancellor, for condoning violence. The Judge in return, stated that ‘the parties, i.e.  Mr Turner, be brought to heel’ .

They then petitioned Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and wrote to virtually every MP to highlight their case. Legal Aid to appeal Wendy’s case was refused and their MEP refused to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights. Eventually, having taken the relevant Social Services department through a Formal Complaint procedure and having received personal threats, they reluctantly moved to be nearer family in the South.

Paul and Wendy continued to fight the system alone until they joined Real fathers for Justice ,becoming Regional Co-ordinators and taking part in the Trimdon  Protest(delivering letters to the Blair residence for Fathers’ Day), Manchester Labour Party Conference Demo and Wendy spoke briefly at the UEPC in June. In October of 2006,Wendy was refused access to the Government’s consultation conference ‘Opening Up the Family Courts’ as RFFJ representative,  so they successfully organised and held a peaceful protest/PR exercise outside the hotel, costing over £73,000 in security and enlisting the support of Ann Widdecombe, and dialogue with CAFCASS and John Reid MP, Home Secretary.

Realising that the way forward is to be an active part of the debating arena they have now joined the Equal Parenting Alliance and Wendy was voted onto the committee and recently elected Chair. She attended the Conference ‘Making Contact- what is safe and what works in child contact?’ as representing the EPA with John Holden and is currently reviewing Dr Ludvig Lowenstein’s recent book on Parental Alienation.

Their personal fight continues as they have now not seen their children for ten years ,having been totally alienated from all aspects of their lives.Their own respective lives have been wholly blacklisted in every conceivable way. Their aim is to have  a recognised ‘Declaration of Interests’ whereby ALL parties involved make a formal declaration of any interests that may have a bearing on the outcome of a case.

Paul and Wendy’s presentation is entitled:

‘Daddy or Chips?

(A childs’ right not to choose’.)

Looking from the Childs’ perspective, they have the right to both parents ;just because their  parents’ relationship breaks down does not mean they have to be forced to choose either or when in many cases the choice has already been made for them.

Paul and Wendy will also include details from their own cases, which highlight this issue.

Including a short film and the chance for debate/questions.

Plus a message from Jim Reaper.

www.equalparentingalliance.org