Thanks for helping me out have sent it now - just in case you are interested this is what I wrote - have also posted on the Roy Meadows thread.
Dear Mrs Hodge
The Roy Meadows situation distresses me enormously. I can't begin, though, to imagine how distressing it must be for the parents involved. I have been listening carefully to two specific cases relating to this debacle and have the following points to make:
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This subject is, I consider, one of the greatest miscarriages of justice to take place in our country in recent times.
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The Government, and you, are not acting proactively enough to ensure a swift and full inquiry into all the cases concerned.
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It is inequitable in the extreme to deny those parents of children who have been adopted proper access to their children. This I consider to be a gross abuse of these parents' and their childrens' human rights.
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In reaching the decision not to review 'settled' cases you are making sweeping assumptions about the happiness of the children within the adoptive family. Many adopted children do not lead lives of bliss in their new families, more so when they have been told that they were removed from their parents because they were deliberately harming them.
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There is no equitable solution for all in this distressing situation. However, one must strive harder that you to find compromises that satisfy the needs of all parties.
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You cannot and must not wipe your hands of the families who have suffered terribly as a result of the flawed expertise of this man. Justice must be made available to all, including settled cases. The children and parents deserve this. Just because something falls into the 'too difficult box' doesn't absolve those in power, i.e. you, from addressing it.
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Not specifically a point for you, but it is vital that the modus operandi of the family courts is reviewed and radically overhauled as a matter of priority. This should include performance evaluations of those judges sitting in those cases where despite strong evidence to the contrary, over reliance was placed in Mr Meadows opinion in reaching their judgement. Steps to be taken to ensure these judges do not sit on family court matters in the future.
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The Court Orders prohibiting those parents affected by these cases should be withdrawn with immediate effect. The parents should be advised to apply to the court immediately to have them overturned. Only then can a full and transparent debate be allowed.
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In those cases where children are settled with their adopted parents, as an initial step, parents should have the right to write to their children explaining in an age appropriate way that there has been a miscarriage of justice in their case.
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Once the cases have been reviewed those that are found to be sullied and tarnished by Mr Meadow?s opinions should be given special status. The parents involved in these cases should be given access rights to their children similar to those of non-resident fathers (or parents). I suggest building up over a period of not more than a year to one weekend every fortnight and half of the holidays. This is not viewed as disruptive to a child?s life in the case of contact orders so I presume it will not be viewed as disruptive for a child to spend time with their natural parents. Caseworkers need to be involved in ensuring this is handled sensitively but firmly.
So to summarise. I consider that the Government is attempting to evade its responsibilities to parents of children affected by the flawed evidence of Roy Meadow. Those parents of children in settled cases require a settlement that is equitable to them but sensitive to the new adoptive family. My proposals as set out above will enable this to happen.
I would like a response to my email, I appreciate you will probably be receiving quite a few emails of this sort at the present time, but I do consider responding to communication from ones electorate only basic courtesy.
I look forward to hearing from you.