When Is a Father’s Love Not Enough?

CAMEROON, IRELAND – A man whose wife died suddenly lost custody of his daughter after a judge decided to give her away to a maternal aunt and uncle who live in the United States. The judge concluded that the man was ‘heartless’ after he responded to a question about how the girl had been through a lot in her short life by responding: “me too.”

Follow TLR on Google+

“I do not doubt that in his own way he deeply loves [his daughter],” the judge said. “Most importantly, there is the extent to which this father can meet the emotional needs of this child. He may love her, as he did frequently say he loves her. Sadly, in life that is not enough. This child needs to have her emotional needs recognised and met. She needs to be the centre of attention so that her needs are not missed. I regret to find that the father does not begin to evince any understanding of what those needs are nor does he evince any ability to meet them.”

The judge also stated that the father did not understand his daughters needs. “It is a powerful and illuminating example of the approach of this father to this matter, which is to his needs and his rights and what he wants, and coming a very poor second is what this precious little girl needs” the judge said.

Attorneys speculated that the man lost custody because he took a new partner 10 months after his wife died.



