A chara, - Mary T. Cleary's letter on access for fathers at Christmas (December 22nd) is generalised and blames mothers only.
She will be aware that many fathers and some mothers are denied access by the courts because they have assaulted their partner or children. There may indeed be some mothers and fathers who will defy a court order for access because their ex-partner will seek to undermine them during the access visit, or because he or she will use the opportunity to create more mayhem at this sensitive time of the year.
Perhaps Ms Cleary will outline the "necessary steps" that the courts should take to enforce the court orders. Most people would find the idea of a garda dragging a distressed child from its mother or father unacceptable.
There is no given right to see one's children if the previous history is one of violence and hate. The right to see one's children has to be earned in those circumstances.
The message for this Christmas is that if a parent does not see their children, then they should work harder on anger management and on their relationship with their ex-partner, and negotiate with them in 2005, thus building up the necessary trust so that Christmas 2005 is a happy one for the whole family.
Ms Cleary's handful of men should learn to stand on their own two feet, and complete the father job that they started when they helped produce a child. - Yours, etc.,
MUREDACH DOHERTY, Lower Beechwood Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.