Kildare Walk To Highlight Those Affected By "Bruising" Family Court System

The walks are taking place in all 26 counties

People across Kildare are being invited to take part in a one-mile solidarity walk this Sunday (27 September) at 11am.

Walk In Our Shoes events are taking place in all 26 counties, in a nationwide call for a family court system that is "transparent, trauma-informed and trustworthy".

A national walk from the Four Courts will then walk to Leinster House on Wednesday 30 September.

The Law Society of Ireland has raised issues with the family courts system, describing it as "chronically underfunded".

It also believes that lawyers and judges are over-stretched, while noting an unsafe environment for vulnerable clients and inadequate security.

Speaking on Kildare Today, convenor of Walk In Our Shoes, Anna Kavanagh explained the reasons behind the walks:

"It's a very bruising system, I think the general public are aware that there's something not right with the family court system."

Anna is also a member of a court reform group that has met with Justice Minister Jim O' Callaghan recently as part of her work with them:

"He [the Minister] acknowledges that there is a need for change, he is active in trying to bring about that change and I have to say I was very impressed by him in that meeting."

"I'm saying to people, 'thank God you don't have to go through the family court system, but you never know the day or the hour it's going to happen to you'.

"If it would ever happen to you, you'd want a family court system that is transparent, trauma-informed and trustworthy."

Participants are being asked to wear black and carry a pair of children's shoes during the walks, Anna explains the symbolism behind it:

"The wearing of the black is symbolic of mourning, we all wear black to funerals, we're talking about parents who haven't seen their children in years because of decisions made in the family court.

"The children's shoes are symbolic of the lost childhoods, there will be quite a number of them emerging from the system who are going to suffer life-long adverse effects because of decisions made in the court that they were powerless over."

People will be invited to place children's shoes at the entrance of the Four Courts.

She added that the walk isn't about "mothers against fathers" and rather that the spotlight is on the children.

The walks won't feature any banners, posters, speeches, fundraising or registration.

Anna also asked people not to take photographs during the various walks, in order to protect the anonymity of those taking part.

The full interview can be heard below: