This is what the fathers rights movement has brought us to, folks. Daddies who are so entitled that they can threaten the mother's life (to a THIRD PARTY NO LESS), and still keep their custody rights!
The dad is MARK WILLIAMS. Of course, he has made the mother's life a living hell with his constant custody siege against her (I won't even call it a "battle"). This guy as 16 PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS.
Let's just admit it. It's just about impossible for a father to lose his "rights" now, despite all the whining to the contrary by the FR folks.
http://www.argus.ie/news/father-told-he-has-a-constitutional-right-to-see-son-2936596.html
Father told he has 'a constitutional right to see son'
SENTENCE IS SUSPENDED ON APPEAL
Wednesday November 16 2011
A DUNDALK father who told his doctor he could kill the mother of his child during an access battle for his toddler had his sentence suspended on appeal after a circuit court judge said he had a constitutional right to see his son.
Mark Williams (43), with an address at 109 Ard Easmuinn had pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm at his GP'S surgery in Dundalk on October 6th 2009. Judge Flann Brennan had given him a ten month jail sentence, which he appealed to Dundalk Circuit Court last Friday.
Judge Ray Fullam heard how Williams and his former partner have been embroiled in a family law case over his access to their toddler son. Williams initiated the court proceedings, but became 'frustrated and angry' with the system. He attended his doctor's surgery and spoke about the issue to his GP, whom he had been with for three years.
The doctor, who consulted his professional body before bringing the matter to the attention of the Gardai, said that Williams had told him that 'if he found no satisfaction with the proceedings, he may or would have to take the life of the mother of his child'. When the GP challenged him his remarks were 'unusual and unreasonable', Williams said he 'might have no other option'.
Gardai contacted Williams's former partner and she outlined difficulties she had been having with him since the relationship broke down. When Williams was arrested, he repeatedly denied the doctor's allegation. He also denied that contact he had with his former partner was having an adverse affect on her.
Solicitor Frank Mcdonnell said Williams had been 'waking early and smoking excessively' and had no intention of carrying out the threat. Williams, who has 16 previous convictions, told the court he couldn't remember uttering the threat to the doctor and added he wouldn't do anything to hurt his child or the mother of his child.
The court heard he had written a letter to his estranged partner in July this year and this was the first time he had said sorry to her for uttering the threat. He admitted he had not apologised to the doctor involved and said he is no longer his patient. Judge Ray Fullam was told that the family law aspect of the case had been suspended until the outcome of this appeal. Williams currently has no access to his child.
The judge said fathers have a constitutional right to access to their children which can only be taken away 'in exceptional circumstances'.
He reduced Williams's sentence to one of six months, suspended for a year, on condition that he has no contact, except through lawyers, with his former partner and that he writes, under his solicitor's supervision, letters of apology to his former partner and his former GP.