Hansard

The Convener (Michael McMahon): Lab

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Public Petitions Committee's sixth meeting in session 2. We have a full agenda, as usual.The first six petitions t...

Duncan Shields (International Men's Organisation and Fathers Fighting Injustice):

We thank the committee for hearing the petitions, which were submitted by our organisations over a period of a year. However, we believe that trying to compr...

The Convener: Lab

I will give you a bit more leeway, Mr Shields. You have a couple of minutes before you bring in your colleagues.

Duncan Shields:

The last thing that I want to say, convener, is in respect of individual cases. We read in the Parliament's business bulletin about the motion that Frances C...

The Convener: Lab

Do you want your colleagues to join you at this point?

Duncan Shields:

If that is okay.

The Convener: Lab

You have a further three minutes, Mr Shields.

Duncan Shields:

Mr Farquhar would like to speak.

George Farquhar:

My name is George Farquhar. I am the founder of Project Freedom—Child Rights Watch. I am an investigator, researcher and campaigner, dedicated to the mass pu...

The Convener: Lab

Thank you for that evidence. We will start with petition PE593, on which I invite any comments, questions or recommendations from members. I remind members t...

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): Lab

I would be interested to hear if the petitioner can provide any evidence of such cases and thereby demonstrate the need for carrying out an investigation as ...

Duncan Shields:

I refer you to my evidence and statements. We have already provided numerous petitions with evidence and statements and we would not want to comment any furt...

The Convener: Lab

I will explain why Helen Eadie asked that question. You suggested in your introductory comments that you had submitted evidence. The committee has to have so...

Duncan Shields:

I refer you to our evidence and statements. We have proved today, in relation to a criminal charge, that the due process of law was undermined with respect t...

The Convener: Lab

With all due respect, Mr Shields—

Duncan Shields:

Well, if they do it with a criminal charge—

The Convener: Lab

Could we stick specifically to—

Duncan Shields:

You have asked me for evidence. It is evidence enough that the due process of law has been undermined.

The Convener: Lab

Mr Shields, you have made some claims; you have not provided any evidence, and I think that the committee—

Duncan Shields:

I am sorry—I do not want to comment further. I refer you to our statements and evidence. I have given you notice of circumstances that are potentially leadin...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): Lab

Welcome to the committee, Mr Shields. I have listened very carefully to what you have said. I have read the papers that you presented—and, indeed, the previo...

Duncan Shields:

This is not only about me. I speak on behalf of organisations. The suggestion that we are talking just about an individual is common practice when we come to...

Jackie Baillie: Lab

I am looking at petition PE593. The issue for me is the sufficiency of evidence that you say exists. That evidence is not necessarily sufficient in my or the...

Duncan Shields:

Unfortunately, you still have to give us information as to why due process of law was undermined in our member's case, as in the cases of many fathers in civ...

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): SSP

I do not have any illusions about the judicial system. I am well aware that the law is not equal for poorer people, particularly women. You made serious alle...

Duncan Shields:

There are umpteen instances. In petition PE633, we have cited 10 cases of child deaths when fathers have been separated from their children. There was a rece...

Carolyn Leckie: SSP

To be frank, what I have read does not demonstrate that any inquiries found that any of the deaths were linked to custodial arrangements, so that allegation—

Duncan Shields:

I am sorry, I disagree with you.

Carolyn Leckie: SSP

Will you let me finish, please? On that particular allegation, I would like you to provide specific evidence beyond what you have put in front of us today. I...

Duncan Shields:

I do not want to get into that. As I said, we have already given sufficient evidence and statements, but you are trying to undermine that by what you are say...