Press Release

High profile barrister sentenced to 12 months for attempting to pervert the course of justice

 

·              Bruce Hyman, barrister and radio/TV producer, receives 12 months prison sentence, following his attempt to frame an innocent father and Families Need Fathers (FNF)

 

Bruce Hyman, a barrister who attempted to pervert the course of justice in a child residence case in the family courts today received a sentence of 12 months, but will serve 6 before being released on parole.

 

Hyman attempted to pervert the course of justice, damage the good name of a well-respected and established national charity and most seriously of all use false evidence to prevent a father continuing a relationship with his child.

 

However the real issue that is in danger of being overlooked in all of this is the corrosive secrecy surrounding the Family Court system. Bruce Hyman could have been protected by this cloak of secrecy had it not been for the prompt action of the father involved, without which this crime might well have gone unnoticed.

 

Much goes on in family courts that would be unacceptable if more widely known. The government has recently accepted much of this argument. The Ministry of Justice consultation ‘Confidence & Confidentiality: Openness in Family Courts’ proposes to increase the information coming out of the courts, but fails to allow greater access into the courts. We will be submitting our response to this and it will be available to read on our website by the end of the month.

 

John Baker, FNF Chair said: “This case should act as an urgent call for change lest more injustices of this sort are overlooked.”

 

-  ENDS -

Note for editors: Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

 

 

 

 

Please see Families Need Fathers ‘programme for change’ Father’s Day Manifesto