Mayo woman Margaret Loftus' experience 'shows flaws of family courts secrecy'

A Mayo Oireachtas member has called for reform of the in-camera rule in the family courts which he says is limiting the ability of women who feel aggrieved in their experiences of the courts to discuss their grievances.

Deputy Paul Lawless said: "The Independent Technical Group in the Dáil of which I am a member brought forward a motion to reform the in-camera rule in the family courts this week.

"I commend my colleague Deputy Paul Gogarty for his work in the area. Too often have I come across situations where people - primarily women - have had horrendous experiences in the family court.

"Where perhaps they have their children taken into State care, feel that there were huge flaws in the free legal aid package they received, where they were poorly represented, or where wrongdoing occurred in the court room.

"These women sometimes are left feeling that they can't talk to a psychologist, a guard or a TD about their experience because of the heavy handed nature in which the "in-camera" rule is applied within the courts".

Deputy Lawless continued: "We're all familiar with the horrific abuse endured by Mayo woman Margaret Loftus and the brave way she spoke out against domestic abuse and the barriers she faced in the system.

"She told the Oireachtas Justice Committee last week that the in--camera rule prevented her from using the same evidence she presented to the family court in the criminal court.

"This shows a complete over-reach of the rule. She relayed some of the horrific attitudes she experienced in the family court but couldn't go into detail, even under Dáil privilege because of the in-camera rule".

"There are huge problems in Tusla, and huge issues with some of the court appointed 'experts' who play such a massive role in cases before the family courts, custody cases, child protection cases and so on.

"The secrecy in that court is preventing TD who are the policy makers and law makers in this country from even getting an understanding of what's happening in these courts.

"How are we supposed to legislate around it or fix the problem when the in-camera rule is prohibiting parents and children from telling us what the problem is.

"There have to be reforms in line with what has been done in Britain. There have to be supports and complaints mechanisms from people who feel wronged by the family courts, and counselling support for women and men who have their children taken from them", added Lawless.