A north-east father has launched an emotional online campaign in his battle to be reunited with his son.
Duncan Innes, originally from Fraserburgh, is petitioning Aberdeenshire Council to allow his son Jack to join him in Indonesia.
The 39-year-old said he was “going through hell” trying to persuade social services to conduct an overseas evaluation of his family which would allow a court to grant him custody.
Following difficulties with his mother, eight-year-old Jack was put into the care of his paternal grandmother, Marion Innes in Tyrie, near Fraserburgh.
But Mr Innes – a base manager for Owen Oil Tools in Balikpapan – said his son is desperate to join him, his sister Jennifer and stepmother Angel in south-east Asia.
And he has launched an online petition to try and convince the council to evaluate his case.
Last night Mr Innes, speaking from Balikpapan, said: “Words simply can’t describe how important it is for us to get him back.
“Jack means the world to us and we are simply incomplete without him here and I know he feels the same.”
Without a direct recommendation from social workers in Aberdeenshire, Mr Innes says a judge will not grant him full custody.
But, despite spending thousands of pounds on legal advice, Mr Innes has been unsuccessful in his attempts to have social workers consider his case for moving Jack to Indonesia.
He added: “Jack deserves a stable home environment where he can thrive and feel secure.
“The current situation where he is tossed pillar to post is unacceptable. Jennifer, who was raised by me, has done extremely well and was the school council president last year. I could help Jack do the same.
“In short, I am looking for an overseas evaluation or a direct recommendation by social services, so I can go back to court again to obtain custody of my son.
“This is what we both want.”
As of last night, Mr Innes’ online petition had been signed more than 400 times. His case has also been shared across social media sites in the Fraserburgh area.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said the authority did not wish to comment on an case currently being dealt with by the social work department.
