HE BLAMED ME FOR CAUSING THE FEAR IN THE CHILDREN AND SUGGESTED THAT I TELL THEM HOW GOOD A IS AND ONLY MENTION HIS GOOD QUALITIES. I ASKED HIM TO SUGGEST SOME OF THESE GOOD QUALITIES TO ME THERE AND THEN BUT HE SAID NOTHING.
HE HAD ALSO CONTACTED THE PRIVATE PSYCHOLOGIST REGARDING MY CASE. I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT. THIS SAME SOCIAL WORKER CONTINUED TO POINT OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT HE HAD THE POWER. HE SAID THAT I HAD READ UP TOO MUCH ON FAMILY LAW AND THAT I KNEW TOO MUCH.
HE THEN SAID A GROUP OF SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD CALL TO THE HOUSE ON 10-5-95. I AGREED. THEN HE
SAID HE WANTED TO BE LEFT IN THE HOUSE ON HIS OWN FOR A WHILE. I ASKED WHY?
"BECAUSE I SAY SO". I REFUSED. HE THREATENED ME WITH "I WILL REMEMBER THAT IN
COURT" HE SAID "YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO JUMP WHEN I CLICK MY FINGERS" HE SAID.
I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS PART OF A SOCIAL WORKERS JOB DESCRIPTION. I KNEW IT WAS
NOT RIGHT.
10-5-95
THE SOCIAL WORKER ACCOMPANIED BY TWO CARE WORKERS ARRIVED EARLY. THE
MALE SOCIAL WORKER WANTED TO COME WITH ME ALONE IN MY CAR TO COLLECT THE
CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. I DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND NATURALLY REFUSED. HIS ANGER GREW
TO THE POINT THAT HE WAS "SNARLING LIKE A DOG"AT ME.
I RETURNED WITH THE CHILDREN. THEY LOOKED AROUND THE HOUSE - WHICH WAS HUGE -4 BEDROOMS , 2 BATHROOMS, 2 KITCHENS, 3 RECEPTION ROOMS AND A HUGE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
HE BEGAN SMOKING INTO MY FACE WHICH WAS VERY ANNOYING. ALL 3 WERE VERY NEGATIVE, DOUR CHARACTERS. ONE CARE WORKER HAD OBVIOUSLY SLEPT IN HER CLOTHES AND SMELT LIKE A TOILET. IT WAS DISGUSTING. SHE COMPLAINED THAT THE CHILDREN WOULDN'T COME CLOSE TO HER. I FELT LIKE SAYING -TAKE A SHOWER AND YOUR CHANCES MIGHT IMPROVE- BUT I DECIDED AGAINST IT.
THE SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER BEGAN SNAPPING HIS FINGERS AND SAYING TO REPEAT WHAT HE WAS SAYING, REMINDING ME HOW HE HAD THE POWER. HE THEN POINTED OUT THAT IF HE COULDN'T GET HIS HANDS ON THE CHILDREN IN ANY OTHER WAY HE WOULD MAKE US HOMELESS
THEN HE COULD TAKE THEM. I SAID "IT WILL BE A COLD DAY IN HELL BEFORE YOU SEE ME HOMELESS".
HE THEN SUGGESTED THAT I - A POWERFUL WOMAN MADE GABRIEL BEHAVE IN SUCH A MANNER AT THEIR OFFICE ON 3/4/95. HE THEN ANNOUNCED THAT GABRIEL WOULD HAVE TO ATTEND FAMILY THERAPY BUT HE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS NOT ALLOWED BACK INTO HIS OWN HOME.
THEN HE TOLD ME
HE WOULD BRING CHARGES OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE AGAINST ME IF I DID NOT MENTION
SOME GOOD QUALITIES OF A - EVEN IF I MADE THEM UP. I POINTED OUT THAT WE NEVER
MENTIONED A'S NAME WHEN WE WERE ON OUR OWN. I PHONED THE POLICE RE:
LEAVING MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT ALONE IN THE HOUSE, AND
ASKING ME TO TRAVEL ALONE WITH HIM TO THE CHILDRENS SCHOOL. HE SAID THAT WAS
ILLEGAL AND WAS SURPRISED THAT A QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKER WOULD PUT HIMSELF IN
A POSITION LIKE THIS.
QUITE BY ACCIDENT I OVERHEARD A WOMAN TELLING HER FRIEND ABOUT A SIMILAR
INCIDENT WHERE THE SOCIAL WORKER PROPOSED THAT IF SHE HAD SEX WITH HIM HE
WOULD LET HER KEEP THE CHILDREN. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
12-5-95
I WAS APPROACHED BY MY MOTHER IN A SHOP WHO ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A
AFFAIR. SHE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND ME LEAVING MY BEAUTIFUL HOME AND POOR A -
BROKEN HEARTED. I GAVE HER A FEW HOME TRUTHS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN HER
SINCE AND I KNOW I NEVER WILL.
15-5-95
I WENT TO SEE MY SOLICITOR AGAIN. HE SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD FROM THE SOCIAL
WORKER THAT GABRIEL WAS DRUNK AT HIS OFFICE. THIS WAS NOTHING NEW AS QUITE A
LOT OF PEOPLE MADE THIS MISTAKE- WHEN GABRIEL WAS IN PAIN HE WAS UNSTEADY
ON HIS FEET. ALSO WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE HE OFTEN SLUMPED FORWARD /
GASPING FOR BREATH. I UNDERSTOOD BUT I WAS WASTING MY TIME.
THEIR SENTENCE HAD BEEN DELIVERED.
IF THEY HAD ASKED FOR GABRIEL'S MEDICAL NOTES THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH WAS NOT THE REAL ISSUE - IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO SEE WHO HAD THE POWER.
I NOW FOUND MY SOLICITOR SHOUTING AT ME TELLING ME HOW "THESE PEOPLE" - SOCIAL WORKERS COULD MAKE MY LIFE HELL.
THE POLICE PHONED THAT EVENING TO INFORM ME THAT THE HEALTH BOARD WERE BREAKING THE LAW BY SENDING 3 SOCIAL WORKERS TO THE HOUSE AS THIS WAS CONSIDERED - INTIMIDATION -. HE SUGGESTED THAT I PRESS CHARGES REGARDING INTIMIDATION AND THREATS.
THE POLICEMAN ALSO WONDERED WHY THERE WERE 3
BRITISH SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE ONE AREA IN IRELAND. HE POINTED OUT THAT BRITISH
CULTURE IS NOT THE SAME AS IRISH CULTURE.
17-5-95
ANOTHER DAY IN COURT. THE JUDGE SUGGESTED THAT WILLIAM MEET MY SOLICITOR
FOR A CHAT. GABRIEL WAS NOT ALLOWED BACK TO HIS HOME. THE SOCIAL WORKER
SAID THAT GABRIEL WAS NOT AT THE HOUSE ON 12-5-95 BUT HE FELT HE WAS LIVING
THERE. GABRIEL WAS REALLY ANNOYED BY THIS ACCUSATION - NATURALLY - HE WAS
LIVING WITH FRIENDS IN THE HOPE OF CLEARING UP ALL THEIR MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
18-5-95
ANOTHER SESSION WITH MY FAVOURITE SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER. PEOPLE WILL SAY WE
ARE HAVING A AFFAIR!!!. HE TELLS ME TODAY THAT A WILL ALLOW US BACK TO THE FARM
HOUSE - EXCEPT WE WILL HAVE TO STAY OUT ALL DAY WE COULD ONLY SLEEP THERE.
I THOUGHT THIS SUGGESTION WAS A JOKE . WALK THE STREETS AGAIN. THIS SAME SOCIAL WORKER THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT I WAS NOW "BOXED IN" AND THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO RETURN TO THE FARM AND OBEY A.
HE ALSO SAID THAT HE (WITH THE POWER) HAD SUCCEEDED IN ISOLATING US FROM GABRIEL AND ALL OUR FRIENDS.
WE WERE NOW UNDER HIS CONTROL.
I SAT AND TOOK IT ALL IN IN TOTAL DISBELIEF. "GABRIEL WILL WANT HIS HOME BACK AND WILL THROW YOU AND THE CHILDREN OUT" -HE SAID.
"YOU WILL BE DEPENDENT ON ME AND YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING I SAY. "
BY THIS TIME I HAD CREATED A MENTAL SHIELD AROUND MYSELF IN ORDER TO SHOW NO EMOTION AT THE TIME. YOU HEAR STORIES LIKE THIS AND YOU SAY - NO - THAT CANNOT BE RIGHT, THIS IS THE 1990'S. NOW, WHEN I HEAR OR READ SIMILAR ACCOUNTS I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT THEY ARE TRUE.
PEOPLE SAY - THERE IS LAW - JUDGES AND SOCIAL WORKERS CANNOT SAY OR DO THAT. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THEY CAN AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT - FOR THE MOMENT.
LET US HOPE THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE WILL
GET THE COURAGE TO SPEAK ABOUT THESE MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE. DURING THAT
WEEK I READ ABOUT A YOUNG MOTHER WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER A VISIT/SESSION WITH HER SOCIAL WORKER. I UNDERSTOOD HOW SHE MUST HAVE FELT -
ALONE , ISOLATED , BEATEN DOWN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. MY ONLY CONSOLIDATION
IS KNOWING THAT THE SOCIAL WORKER HAS TO ANSWER FOR THOSE ACTIONS ON HIS
JUDGEMENT DAY.
22-5-95
EMMA HAD TO ATTEND HOSPITAL TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SIGNS OF PHYSICAL
ABUSE. THE DOCTOR WAS EXTREMELY GENTLE AND FOUND EMMA INCREDIBLY STRONG
FOR HER AGE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT SHE WAS VERY HAPPY AND ENJOYED HEALTHY
FOOD - HER FAVOURITE - MASHED POTATOES AND REAL GRAVY.
29-5-95
I WAS FOLLOWED AGAIN BY A CAR - RIGHT UP CLOSE - TO TERRIFY ME.
1-6-95
MY SOLICITOR SPOKE TO WILLIAM FOR ABOUT ½HOUR AND AGREED THAT HE WAS VERY
ARTICULATE FOR HIS AGE AND THAT THERE WAS NO BRAIN WASHING INVOLVED. HE SAID
"IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST INJUSTICE IRELAND HAD EVER SEEN IF WILLIAM AND EMMA
WERE PUT INTO CARE".
2-6-95
I PHONED MY SOCIAL WORKER TO CONFIRM THAT GABRIEL WOULD NOT HOLD HIS BUISNESS CONSULTATIONS THAT WEEKEND IN HIS HOME.GABRIEL DECIDED TO MEET HIS BUISNESS CLIENTS IN A HOTEL IN DUBLIN.MR P(THE SOCAIL WORKER) WAS ON HOLIDAY SO I SPOKE WITH A FEMALE
SOCIAL WORKER WHO EXPLAINED THAT "IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE CHILDREN BY THE
SCRUFF OF THE NECK TO SEE A DURING ACCESS - YOU WILL GO TO PRISON FOR NON
COMPLIANCE".
I POINTED OUT THAT IF I DO TAKE THEM "BY THE NECK" I WOULD BE GUILTY OF PHYSICAL ABUSE. SHE SAID THE JUDGE DOES NOT CARE HOW YOU GET THEM TO SEE A AS LONG AS A GETS HIS RIGHTS.
THE CHILDREN HAVE NO RIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE.
7-6-95
ANOTHER COURT CASE.
BUT, SUDDENLY MY SOLICITOR DID NOT SHOW UP. THE CASE WAS ADJOURNED.
ON RETURNING HOME I NOTICED THAT SOMEONE HAD BROKEN INTO THE HOUSE AND
GONE THROUGH GABRIELS PRIVATE BUSINESS PAPERS. A FEW FILES WERE
REMOVED. HOWEVER AS MOST OF THE FILES WERE IN JAPANESE OR CHINESE THEY
WOULD BE OF NO USE TO ANYONE.
9-6-95
A DROVE UP AND DOWN PAST THE CHILDRENS SCHOOL. WILLIAM WAS REALLY
TERRIFIED - AS HIS TEACHER EXPLAINED TO ME WHEN I CAME TO PICK HIM UP. WE WENT
TO THE POLICE STATION TO MAKE SURE AN OFFICIAL NOTE WAS MADE OF THE
INCIDENT. WILLIAMS TEACHER REASSURED HIM THAT NO BODY GETS THROUGH THE
BOOR OF HIS SCHOOL. A POLICE OFFICER CALLED TO THE HOUSE TO TAKE A
STATEMENT. HE SUGGESTED THAT I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE C. E. O OF THE
HEALTH BOARD REGARDING MY SOCIAL WORKERS INTIMIDATION AND THREATS. I DID
THIS AND KEPT A PHOTOCOPY.
I MADE A PHOTOCOPY OF EVERY LETTER OF COMPLAINT THAT I MADE. I AM GLAD NOW
THAT I DID. I ALSO SENT THE LETTERS BY REGISTERED POST WITH CERTIFICATE OF
POSTAGE. I REALISED THESE DEPARTMENT WORKERS WOULD LIE WITHOUT HESITATION
IN ORDER TO GET THEIR WAY.
20-6-95
GABRIEL RETURNED TO MEET POLICE AND SEE WHAT FILES WERE MISSING. 2 FOLDERS
AND 2 PRIVATE DIARIES WERE MISSING. HE NEVER KEPT MEDICAL NOTES ON
PAPER. GABRIEL LOGGED EVERYTHING IN HIS OWN HEAD WHERE NO-ONE COULD
ACCESS IT.
21-6-95
YET ANOTHER DAY IN COURT.
MY SOLICITOR DID NOT DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME AS HE HAD MADE A DEAL WITH A'S
SOLICITOR TO ADJOURN UNTIL AFTER THE INDEPENDENT PSYCHOLOGIST
ASSESSMENT. BUT , WHAT A SURPRISE HE GOT. A'S SOLICITOR WENT INTO THE JUDGES
CHAMBERS BEFORE THE COURT AND THE CASE WAS ALLOWED TO PROCEED. MY
SOLICITOR STOOD THERE LIKE "A FISH OUT OF WATER" WITH NO PREPARATION
DONE, EXPECTING TO RETURN TO HIS OFFICE AFTER 5 MINUTES. HERE WE GO AGAIN -
ANOTHER BLUNDER FOR THE RECORD.
MY CHARMING SOCIAL WORKER POINTED OUT THAT WE HAD NO PERMANENT HOME AND WOULD THEREFORE PROCEED TO TAKE THE CHILDREN INTO CARE.
I DISAGREED WITH FAMILY THERAPY - AS I FELT IT WAS JUST MORE BULLYING LESSONS IMPOSED BY SOCIAL WORKERS. EVERYTHING HAD BEEN CAREFULLY PLANNED IN ADVANCE. IN THE END I HAD TO AGREE TO FAMILY THERAPY-AS LONG AS HEALTH BOARD ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS OUTCOME. THE JUDGE AGREED. HOWEVER I NEVER RECEIVED ANY ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN WRITING. I KNEW THE AFFECT THAT SUCH THERAPY WOULD HAVE ON THE CHILDREN AND MYSELF.
ALL THE SO CALLED PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR COULD COULD SAY AFTERWARDS WAS SORRY-I WAS NOT READY FOR THAT. SOLICITORS DO NOT DOUBLE CROSS EACH OTHER IN THE CITY. I POINTED OUT TO HIM THAT HE WAS NOW DEALING WITH COUNTRY PEOPLE WHO WOULD CUT YOUR THROAT IN ORDER TO WIN.
22-6-95
MY CHARMING CUT - THROAT SOCIAL WORKER CALLED AT THE HOUSE BUT THANK GOD I
WAS OUT. I FOUND A NOTE UNDER THE DOOR EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT I MAY BE
DEPRESSED AFTER THE COURT CASE. I WAS TOO BUSY AND ANGRY TO BE DEPRESSED.
28-6-95
I PHONED THE SOCIAL WORKER REGARDING WRITTEN ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY
DURING FAMILY THERAPY AS AGREED IN COURT ON 21-6-95.
OF COURSE HE SAID HE NEVER AGREED TO THIS IN COURT.
I SHOULD HAVE GOT IT BEFORE I LEFT THE COURT ROOM
4-7-95
I SENT A WRITTEN LETTER REQUESTING ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN WRITING
FROM THE HEALTH BOARD.
21-7-95
I WENT TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO GET A COPY OF THE HEALTH BOARDS
RECOMMENDATIONS AS PRODUCED IN COURT ON 21-6-95.
2-8-95
YET ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH MY SOCIAL WORKER, BY NOW I COULD HAVE TAKEN
UP RESIDENCE IN HIS OFFICE. I MADE IT CLEAR THAT I WAS NOT SITTING IN THE SAME
ROOM WITH HIM ALONE TO BE HARASSED AND BULLIED. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT I
WANTED ANOTHER SOCIAL WORKER PRESENT - ON THE ADVICE OF THE POLICE - HE
BECAME VERY ANGRY.
HE THEN BEGAN SNEERING ABOUT THE COURT CASE ON 28-7-95. HE KNEW I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. A'S SOLICITOR HAD GONE TO COURT TO GET A COURT ORDER PREVENTING ME FROM TAKING THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE JUDGES JURISDICTION.
HE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE 2/3 YEARS FAMILY THERAPY TO SORT THINGS OUT, EVEN THOUGH HE TOLD THE JUDGE THAT THE THERAPY WOULD BE FINISHED IN 5 MONTHS AT THE OUTSIDE. BY THIS STAGE I WAS GETTING REALLY ANNOYED AND FED UP WITH ALL THIS LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM.
I WOULD NEVER GET
AWAY WITH THINGS LIKE THAT IN MY PROFESSION. THEN THIS SAME SOCIAL WORKER
ASKED ME WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WILLIAM AND EMMA WERE TAKEN INTO CARE. I
CALMLY SAID - THEY WOULD DIE - IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. I KNEW WILLIAM
WOULD RUN AWAY AND EMMA WOULD REFUSE TO EAT ANYTHING,
I ASKED TO SEE A COPY OF HIS QUALIFICATIONS - ON THE ADVICE OF THE POLICE. HE
REFUSED.
8-8-95
THE COURT ORDER ARRIVED IN THE POST PREVENTING ME FROM TAKING THE CHILDREN
OUTSIDE THAT JURISDICTION.
11-8-95
THE CHILDREN AND I ARRIVED FOR FAMILY THERAPY. HOWEVER WILLIAM WOULD NOT
LEAVE THE WAITING ROOM AND GO ANYWHERE WITH THIS SOCIAL WORKER. WILLIAM
TOLD HIM "I DO NOT TRUST YOU ANYMORE" THE SOCIAL WORKER WAS REALLY
ANNOYED AS THERE WERE OTHER FAMILYS THERE. "DO NOT SAY THAT IN PUBLIC" HE
SAID. HE THEN ADVISED US TO GO HOME.
18-8-95
I WENT TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I TALK TO THE JUDGE
MYSELF.
29-8-95
DECIDED TO TAKE UP TOM'S OFFER AND TAKE THE CHILDREN TO HOLLAND FOR A WEEK
DURING THE HOLIDAYS. TOM WAS PAYING FOR EVERYTHING. HE SENT OVER THE
TICKETS.
I WENT TO THE POLICE TO GET THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS SIGNED FOR OUR
PASSPORTS.
30-8-95
AT 8:40 PM SOMEONE FIRED A SHOTGUN OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. I KNEW THAT UNDER
PRESSURE A WAS CAPABLE OF SHOOTING US.
1-9-95
I SENT A LETTER TO THE JUDGE POINTING OUT THAT I HAD NOT YET RECEIVED THE
WRITTEN LETTER ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE SOCIAL WORKER.
I SENT A LETTER TO THE SOCIAL WORKER POINTING OUT THAT GABRIEL HAD CANCELLED
HIS APPOINTMENTS FOR 2ND-6TH JUNE 1995 AND THAT I HAD PHONED HIS OFFICE TO
CONFIRM IT. OF COURSE HE DENIED THAT I PHONED HIS OFFICE ON THAT DAY. I KNEW I
HAD BECAUSE EVERY DETAIL WAS IN MY DIARY. I GOT A STATEMENT FROM THE PHONE
COMPANY CONFIRMING MY CALL TO HIS OFFICE LASTING 2 MINUTES.
9-9-95
I SENT A LETTER TO A - TO MAKE A START AT THERAPY BUT POINTED OUT THAT LYING
ETC WERE NOT GOOD EXAMPLES FOR WILLIAM AND EMMA.
I ALSO SENT A LETTER TO MY MOTHER. I SENT COPIES OF BOTH LETTERS TO THE JUDGE
AND KEPT A COPY FOR MYSELF.
11-9-95
I SENT A COPY OF MY APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO TAKE THE CHILDREN ABROAD
TO BY SOLICITOR.
12-9-95
2 DETECTIVES ARRIVED TO QUESTION GABRIEL REGARDING THE SOCIAL WORKERS
COMPLAINT OF AGGRESSIVE ASSAULT.
22-9-95
I DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NO POINT IN PAYING MY SOLICITOR TO APPEAR IN COURT
REGARDING PERMISSION TO TAKE THE CHILDREN ON HOLIDAY. ANYWAY IF HE WAS
INCOMPETENT AS HE HAD BEEN AT THE LAST HEARING I WAS WASTING MY TIME AND
MONEY.
I TOLD THE JUDGE THAT I WOULD REPRESENT MYSELF THIS TIME BECAUSE I WANTED HIM TO HEAR THE TRUTH FROM ME. I POINTED OUT THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SPEAK IN ALL THE TIMES I CAME TO COURT.
THE JUDGE WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TRAVEL TO HOLLAND BECAUSE TOM WAS A FRIEND OF GABRIEL'S. THAT WAS FINE. I ALREADY KNEW THE OUTCOME ANYWAY.
HE THEN POINTED OUT THAT I WAS NOT COMPLYING WITH FAMILY THERAPY. I POINTED OUT THAT I STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE HEALTH BOARD AS AGREED ON JUNE 21ST.
I THEN PROCEEDED TO HAND THE JUDGE A COPY OF MY TELEPHONE BILL IN ORDER TO PROVE THAT THE SOCIAL WORKER HAD LIED IN COURT ON JUNE 21ST 95.
THANK GOD I HAD THE PROOF TO SHOW THE JUDGE. THE SOCIAL WORKERS HAD BROUGHT THEIR SOLICITOR WHOSE COMMENT WAS - "NO COMMENT".
I THEN POINTED OUT TO THE JUDGE THAT THE SOCIAL WORKER HAD SAID THAT "HE HAD THE POWER", NOT THE JUDGE.
I ALSO TOLD THE JUDGE THAT THIS SAME SOCIAL WORKER HAD THREATENED WITH LOCKING THE CHILDREN UP AND GIVING THEM ELECTRIC SHOCK TREATMENT , ETC, ETC.
THE JUDGE WAS CONFUSED AND SAID HE WANTED THE TRUE FACTS.
THE HEALTH BOARD SOLICITOR SUGGESTED PUTTING THE CHILDREN INTO MY MOTHERS CARE. KNOWING HOW MUCH EMOTIONAL ABUSE I HAD SUFFERED AS A CHILD I OBJECTED STRONGLY.
I ALSO EXPLAINED TO THE JUDGE THAT THE POLICE HAD INDICATED THAT THE SOCIAL WORKER WAS GUILTY IF INTIMIDATION AND USING THREATS AND THAT I WOULD ISSUE PROCEEDINGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE JUDGE FELT THAT THE LETTERS TO A AND MY MOTHER WERE NOT CONCILIATORY ENOUGH. I COULD NOT THINK AT THE TIME - UNDER PRESSURE - WHAT THIS MEANT. HE BEGAN MAKING FUN OF MY LACK OF VOCABULARY. ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE ANYWAY.
AFTER THE COURT SESSION THE HEALTH BOARD SOLICITOR APPROACHED ME TO
CONSIDER LEAVING THE CHILDREN IN MY MOTHERS CARE UNTIL THE NEXT COURT
CASE. SHE SAID THAT THE HEALTH BOARD WERE GOING TO ISSUE PROCEEDINGS TO
TAKE THE CHILDREN INTO CARE AND THAT MY MOTHER HAD AGREED TO TAKE THEM. SHE
WOULD GET £80 A WEEK TO LOOK AFTER THEM.
Next (Epilogue)