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Fathers Battling Injustice
Support does not affect Access RIGHT!
Posted By: Rockford
Date: Monday, 27 December 1999, at 7:44 p.m.
Monday, December 27, 1999
Mom gets 1st cheque
$250Gs support owed
By LAURA BOBAK, TORONTO SUN
Christmas has turned cheerier for a single mother of three whose ex-husband owes about $250,000 in family support.
Michelina Da Estrela, 38, received a payment of $1,000 from her ex-husband John in early December after Judge Joseph C. James of Oshawa's family court ordered him on Nov. 22 to pay $100,000 or go to jail.
Da Estrela used the money to pay off bills and buy groceries and presents for her kids Christina, 13, Michael, 10, and Alexander, 6.
"It was like someone just lifted a weight on my chest ... it made the difference for the kids and me," said Da Estrela.
Patricia Longlade, of the Family Responsibility Office, recently confirmed Da Estrela received the $1,000 payment, part of an interim court order by the Oshawa family court to make $1,000 monthly payments pending a court appearance Feb. John Da Estrela has said he can't afford the $4,000 a month in child support he was ordered to pay when he separated from his ex-wife in 1994. When the payments were ordered, Da Estrela said he owned his own business, which has since gone bankrupt.
The father also said he has bought his children clothing and groceries over the years, for which he doesn't receive credit, and said his ex-wife has denied him visits with the children.
"Another Christmas gone by and I haven't seen my kids," John Da Estrela said yesterday. "She's pleased (at the payment) but she's not pleased enough to let me see my kids."
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