A man marries a woman. They are both self employed earning the same money. They both decide to work three days week so they can look after their new born son. Prior to the marriage, the man built up a substantial property portfolio in the UK by remortgaging the house that was to become the family home. Most of the properties are now in substantial negative equity. 

Problems occur. Mother will not allow father to have anything other than a minimal input into looking after their son. She leaves home. She moves in with her mother in a mortgage free house registered in her name. 

What do you think will be a fair outcome? 50/50 on everything? I am only giving you a very potted history here but I couldn’t blame you for thinking that this should be a good example where in 2013 there is a degree of equality between the sexes both in relation to parenthood and in relation to financial assets. 

All wrong. The woman gets the mortgage free house free of any claim of the man. The man gets all the debt ridden properties. The one that has the heaviest negative equity is ordered to be transferred into the sole name of the husband so he now has to look after this property which is unlikely to become an asset for about 15 years. 

The children’s allowance was to be used to fund the child’s third level education. It now goes to the mother. 

Please don’t be shocked or surprised. This is just a day in the life of the Dublin Circuit Family Court.