Sir, As the author of Fathers Matter and a specialist in child law, I was alarmed by the Court of Appeal’s recent decision to support a mother who wanted the father never to know that he has a daughter because, as “a one-night stand”, he does not fall within the definition of family life required by Article 8 of the Human Rights Act.

Consequently, he has no rights under that Act and as a result is denied both the option and opportunity to play any part in his child’s life.

It should be noted that, had the mother in this case decided to keep the child, rather than put her up for adoption, and then pursue the father for a claim for financial provision under the Children Act 1989, the fact that the child was the product of a one-night stand would be no bar to the mother proceeding with a claim against him and an order being made for him to provide for the child.

In a week where the House of Lords has been considering whether, in the case of lesbian parents, the father’s name may be replaced with that of the birth mother’s partner, a decision by the Court of Appeal to prevent the biological father from even knowing of the existence of his child is indeed another nail in the coffin for fathers.

Celia Conrad
London W11

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