I was talking to an old university mate the other night who’s having financial problems as a result of his ex, their spending and his access to his child. He’s living in Ireland, where his ex is from, just to be near his child, so doesn’t seem to have the problems we face in this country with the CSA, but he is having to pay huge sums of money through the family court.

His biggest problem is that he’s been asked to pay towards a loan that he and his ex took out together, despite everything that was bought with it remaining in her house, so he has none of the benefits of the loan. This means he’s paying maintenance for his child, and a loan on top of that.

The big difference between him and me though, and indeed him and most men, is that he’s having regular contact with his children, whereas I’m not.

I pointed this out to him, as it really should be the most important thing in his life. He’s seeing his daughter, no matter how much he’s having to pay as a result.

Clive Bellmore