I gave evidence at a family fact-finding hearing which has been going on for some time and is long and complicated.*
I was denied legal aid as I work full time and have savings. All other parties in the case got legal aid.
I was placed in the position where I must either pay a lot of money for legal representation to ensure I am fairly represented and all of the facts are presented and obtained by the court, or self-represent which has led to the full and relevant facts not being heard.
I am absolutely 100% certain that the one person found to have possibly harmed a child did nothing wrong as I was present throughout.
However I was unable to cope with representing myself and I was unable to concentrate and recall events accurately when giving evidence.
The end result of my poor evidence is that an innocent mother is now separated from her children.
I never made the court aware of my difficulties in giving evidence, since I do not know the mechanism for doing so and I had no legal advice on the matter.
Judgement in the case has now been given and an appeal was dismissed.
This is very troubling for me, and I am at a loss as to what I can do to right this wrong.
What further recourse is there now, if any?
I was denied legal aid as I work full time and have savings. All other parties in the case got legal aid.
I was placed in the position where I must either pay a lot of money for legal representation to ensure I am fairly represented and all of the facts are presented and obtained by the court, or self-represent which has led to the full and relevant facts not being heard.
I am absolutely 100% certain that the one person found to have possibly harmed a child did nothing wrong as I was present throughout.
However I was unable to cope with representing myself and I was unable to concentrate and recall events accurately when giving evidence.
The end result of my poor evidence is that an innocent mother is now separated from her children.
I never made the court aware of my difficulties in giving evidence, since I do not know the mechanism for doing so and I had no legal advice on the matter.
Judgement in the case has now been given and an appeal was dismissed.
This is very troubling for me, and I am at a loss as to what I can do to right this wrong.
What further recourse is there now, if any?
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