Barry McNeany, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, (NICCY), is trying to force the government of Northern Ireland to revise child abuse laws to make it criminal for parents to spank their children.
McNeany has been granted leave for a judicial review on legislation designed to protect children from “abuse” and wants the law to be further tightened to prevent parents “assaulting” their children while disciplining them.
McNeany filed papers with Ireland’s High Court on Monday and a judge will decide if there are grounds for a review.
The NICCY would like to see it made illegal for a parent to strike their child in any circumstances.
Colin Reid, spokesman for NICCY, said, “We would support a call for an outright ban on physical punishment,” he said. “If we are to fully protect children, we must develop a culture where they are treated equally to adults in respect of the law.”
“Of course children need discipline, but there are ways that do not involve physical punishment which aim to promote positive parenting,” he added.
The government-funded agency is only too happy to dictate to parents how they should raise and discipline their children. “Parents,” said Reid, “must be offered education and a much more extensive range of support to develop their skills in finding alternative ways to discipline children.”
The move is opposed by Mary Russell from the Family Education Trust who says it is an attempt to wrest control of children away from parents.
“What we're talking about is can parents be entrusted to smack?” Mrs. Russell told the BBC. “What these children's rights people are saying is ‘No, they can't’.”
(This article courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
