PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO SIGN THIS PETITION!!!

[Beenleigh]

You may have heard the story of Fran Lyon. If not, then this is a simplified version.

Fran is currently 31 weeks pregnant with her first baby
When Fran was sixteen years old, she was the victim of a serious sexual assault, and as a result, she suffered from mental health issues. She received therapy for two years, one year as an inpatient, and less than one following her discharge. She has not received or needed any mental health therapy since that time, and the psychiatrist that treated her has explicitly stated that she has no concerns whatsoever for Fran's mental health.

Unfortunately, early on in Fran?s pregnancy, there was a difficult situation with her (then) partner, and Fran called the police. Due to the nature of the problem and combined with the fact that Fran was pregnant, the police referred the case to social services. Fran was completely honest and open about her past mental health issues, and clear that she no longer suffered from any such problems. However, a ball had started rolling out of control, and a paediatrician, who has never actually met or spoken to Fran, has inexplicably suggested that she may in due course suffer from Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. This has resulted in social services deciding that upon her birth, Fran?s baby daughter, Molly, will be taken away from her.

It is abundantly clear that Fran Lyon will be absolutely no danger to her baby, but we suggest that at the very least, Fran should at be allowed to stay in an assessment unit with her baby, Molly, pending an inevitable decision that she is capable of caring for her daughter independently.

Please take a few minutes to watch this clip of Fran being interviewed on This Morning: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2qHcH_Eaocg

Please please sign the petition here: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/539543596

Also, please could you copy and paste this post and send it as an email to as many people as possible, obviously feeling free to correct my crappy spelling and grammar!

Many Thanks

But how will we make sure anyone who has the power to do something about this - generally, I mean - hears about the petition? What's the plan?

Petitions on the no. 10 site obviously are seen by the government - do we have a mechanism to get this petition anywhere?

yes i'm not quite sure how it raises awareness if no one sees it...

perhaps we could send the list to journalists? Or email the link around?

I think it has been sent ot a number of papers/radio & TV proggrammes, Beeny did a blitz at the begining of the thread hang on I'll check!!

[[By Beenleigh on Fri 09-Nov-07 14:40:19
Following a post by Katiebird, here are a load of other things we can do if anyone fancies it:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here:

www.peteratkinson.com/record.jsp?type=requiredPage&ID=23&contact=contact

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk
   Observer: [email protected]
   Guardian: [email protected]
   John Sweeney: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4770498.stm

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: [email protected]
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: [email protected]

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4696703334

5. Post this on any other talk/message boards you are on: {i've cut the story here as it's on the first post if you want to send it on...}

Fran's website is here: franlyon.righttoreply.info/Home.html

She was recently interviewed on This Morning: www.fassit.co.uk/media/itvthismorningnov022007.wmv

A petition has been set up here. I have no idea yet exactly how to 'use' the petition, but in less than 24 hours there were over 250 'signatures' which shows the strength of public opinion about this matter. independent.co.uk0

here you are

Sorry that was a bit scrambled but there are lots of contact links/emails that you can use.

ok maybe I'm out of line here as I've been one saying there must be more to all this and do not intend to sign this petition, but ...

What is signing the petition meant to achieve? Who are you petitioning and what is going to happen to it once you've got your 1000 signatures?

A petition should state the aim, so i.e. "we the undersigned believe that Fran Lyon should be given the opportunity to prove her suitability as a parent by going into a supervised mother and baby unit.".. and then obviously go on to state details of the case etc, but should then go on to say something like "this petition will be delivered to on >".

But currently there is a petition on some random american website, where basically any tom dick or nutter can sign and insert totally unsuitable/irelevant comments, with no end or aim in mind.

Also, now that Fran has moved to a different part of the country, is this case not going to be passed on to a different department? and therefore we no longer know what the outcome of all this is going to be?

Not dissing the petition as such, although admittedly it's not for me, but I do think there needs to be a more definite aim with it if you want the media etc to take it seriously.

Wannabe as I said before to raise awareness!

This was posted by Beeny because it was felt the previously suggested one to downing street was a little too inflamamtory.

The aim (as I understand it sorry Beenleigh is off-line at present) was to get as many people as possible to talk about the case & be aware of it & get as many letters/emails as possible sent to MP's (who can support EDM's by John Hemming & others) the media, other chat-rooms anywhere to raise the profile of the case. This is not just for Fran but for the whole issue of secrecy in the Family Courts.

If an MP or a journo/TV /radio/producer can say "I've had over 300 (or whatever) emails on this subject let's talk about it some more, contact xy &z it MIGHT just help.

If you think the petition should have read better great, where were you when we were disscussing it & asking for advice early last week?

Easy enough to come on now & criticise

We were just trying to show Fran we & many others were behind her, the only thing we could collectively do that felt like something constructive.

For me personally I also don't want this to deteriorate into another MN arguement we were trying to keep this as a positive action/information thread, Fran has enough shite on her plate at the moment!! (& she does post regularly on here!)

Thank you for your comments.

Message withdrawn

ooh Millie what a choice little bit of info that is........snigger

ooh - had a reply from my MP:

"It is a strict Parliamentary convention that MP's do not become involved in dealing with problems that concern persons who do not live in the area they represent. Therefore, if Fran Lyon does not live in Mr Knight's constituency, I am afraid Mr Knight will not be able to look into this matter and she should, of course, contact her own MP."

He goes on to say that he feels that the case does need some further looking into and he promises to speak to John Hemming.

Hello all,

I just wanted to say a really brief thanks to everyone who's been sending their support. I really do appreciate it. I'll post more tomorrow as I'm exhausted tonight - but thank you all so very much!

Fran

Thanks Fran - get some rest we'll catch up when you're ready

Squonk that's great- in a brush-off kinda way!!

Am replying to MP and explaining that I do not want this happening in my name and he should be my representative to ensure that this gross miscarriage of justice does not go ahead (or words to that effect)

Thinking of you and Molly, Fran

Actually Squonk you could also say you are asking him to support John H's Early Day Motion about secrecy in the Family courts, the fact that Fran is not his constituent is balls.... YOU are!!

745 votes !!

waving to Beenleigh through the ether if you manage to hijack anyone else's PC & log on!!

Another way of using the petition would be to contact the Sunday Telegraph. They've covered the story before so they might be interested in doing a follow up.

MM

Thanks MM- I'll check back & see if we've done that,(wouldn't hurt to have more than one email eh?) that's just the sort of thing I meant earlier, follow-ups would be good!

Bump

bossybritches - those were almost my exact words in my reply!

I said that I did not want this happening in my name, and as such I hoped he would support JH's motion on my behalf.

Nice one Squonk!

A relevant exchange in the Commons yesterday
johnhemming.blogspot.com/2007/11/prime-minister-responds-on-adoption.html

PMQ Adoption link done properly

Hmmm interesting John.

my one word reply would be "targets".

772 votes!!