Dad jailed for naming his son

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There's got to be more to this story than meets the eye!

Quotes are from the DM (as usual)

'A father has been jailed at a secret court hearing for sendin a Facebook message to his grown-up son on his 21st birthday.

Garry Johnson, 46, breached a draconian gagging order which stops him publicly naming his son, Sam, whom he has brought up and who still lives with him.

The order silencing Mr Johnson ? which follows an acrimonious divorce eight years ago ? means he cannot mention either of his boys, 21-year-old Sam and Adam, 18, in public, even by congratulating them in a local newspaper announcement when they get engaged, married or have children in the future.'

Quite right

I don't know whether some cases should or should not be in private but I fail to see how it can be justified to have no appeals.

This does seem a very strange case, especially as the sons are very supportive of their father.

Some Family Court judgements are online www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=fo6, though those that involve children are anonymised. Occasionally the Family Court do make mistakes (some judgements are overturned on appeal), but they often have to deal with very complex cases and are under increasing pressures of workload.

I've read a number of those judgements, but I can't figure out why there should be a life-long ban on the father, nor why sending a Facebook message to his son should result in imprisonment for contempt of court.

This sound very bazzar.

Maybe this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back in terms of false allegations against men and the lack of any prosecution for attempting to pervert the course of justice when a false allegation has shown to have been made. Maybe someone will consider how Ghandi achieved great change by use of the principles of Satyagraha and non violent opposition. Maybe a lot of people will begin discussing these issues and read Ghandi's biographies and consider what they could do to achieve great change. Maybe you could spread the word. It's just a though. Keep it in mind.

To those who would consider making false allegations against men or have already done so, the process has already been set in motion. You are being watched and the principles of Satyagraha and non voilent opposition will be applied to hold you to account.

I expect that will be happening very soon, yes, dear.

I see you don't give a fuck about people making false accusations against women. Are they being watched?

It was wrongly written, but you cannot appeal against that, in the closed court, as you would in a criminal one

Not true. The fact the hearing is in private does not affect your right of appeal.

It might be a really bad, unfair order, but the father still has to appeal it rather than just ignore it. Ultimately court orders are there to be obeyed. Both parents sound like nightmares.

I meant that the way SS choose to not go down a criminal route (the CPS and police play a part also), has not right of appeal, as such.

There is an unfair difference in the way that family cases are conducted.

The gagging order, based on supposed harassment should not be handled by a family court, it doesn't need to be and especially the way that this has been worded.

It is the technicalities and some judgements that have no right of appeal, as a judgement in a criminal court has.

We (as a family) are due to attend a closed court this week, the whole process and the lack of communication to all interested parties, would mean that an adjournment would be ordered in a criminal court, but behind closed doors, those with the power get to control what happens.

Family courts have always handled non-molestation orders though. And I don't understand the no rights of appeal thing. There will be a right of appeal. The fact that it is a civil court does not mean the father cannot appeal the order. He might be too late, or have waived his right or something, but there will have been a right of appeal, or the right to apply to vary the order.

This is ridiculous!

The kids are 21 and 18!

Are they saying that they'll put this bloke in prison if he announces he's become a bloody great grandfather or something?

The children (well, not children now) can't they do something? Surely they aren't gagged in any way? Can't they talk about it or challenge it in court?

They are not gagged and they are the ones who gave the interview to the daily fail.

Birds have you actually seen this order or read the wording on it?

Hello I am Garry Johnson , the Facebook Dad and I have to say the majority of your comments are very fair...female friends suggested I gave you a update...within days of coming out of prison I went back to court and won my case...they admitted that because SAM and Adam were adults that I could legally name them - they even admitted the Orders should have run out when both boys became 18...for the record everything I stated about my situation is 100 per cent Kosher - this can be confirmed by Essex Police and Essex Social Services - when I came out of Hospital after being in a coma and on a life support machine - the Head Helen Lincoln sent me a letter admitting they did NOT properly investigate my claims against my ex and her boyfriend...also the boys have - apart from 6 weeks in 2007 - been with me every day since June 2005 to the present day - I was a single parent - but I was helped by a army of female friends I just wanted to put the record straight.

Why has it taken you since 2013 to post this, if it was sorted out within days of your realise.

Oh, what an unusual ending to this thread. I didn't notice the timelines.

Hello, it has taken me so long to answer because it was only recently that female friends who use Mumsnet mentioned I had been the subject of a topic...it is TRUE the court did rule in my favour EIGHT days after I came out of prison...the Gagging Orders were discharged...plus I had a major heart attack...went into a coma and spent 27 days on a Life Support machine...yesterday was the first time I knew about being on Mumsnet...if you want to read the complete story Google me - Garry Johnson The Punk Poet...there is also a book on Amazon.co.uk by Garry Jackson...I am also on Facebook...All the Best...

Glad common sense prevailed - albeit three years too late. I thought WTF Sam is a grown man.