William O'Connell

They Took My Children And I Fought Back William O'Connell

I arrived home on a routine Friday evening and was surprised not to have been met at the door by my four daughters, aged nine to two years. I soon confirmed no one was home and stumbled a note from my wife that informed me she had taken the children and left. Within minutes there was a knock on the front door. Two local police officers advised me the family court had ordered my removal from the home and my family. I was given ten minutes to pack up the only possessions my wife identified could leave the house; all but a few days of clothing. I was instructed by the police not to return to the home unless ordered by the family court or I would be arrested.

In a state of shock, I was ushered from my home and the lives of my children.

What does a father do in such a circumstance? What would it take to right this wrong and save my children from their mother and a family court that did not care about them and even less about me? I fought back! I decided I would contest this system of family court justice and soon learned it was not what you would expect it to be. This is the story of a father's ten-year effort to regain custody of his children and take them back home to the house even the children would eventually flee. This is that story of ten years of too many court hearings to count; four arrests; five judges; nine lawyers; a bail hearing; four trials; two custody evaluations; lawsuits; appeals; fraud; deceit; and lies among the many things they could throw at me.

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