jwoody

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3652502.stm



Campaign staged on palace balcony


A Fathers 4 Jusitce campaigner dressed as Batman is staging a protest on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Jason Hatch, 33, entered the grounds and scaled a wall at 1500 BST, said group spokesman Matt O'Connor.

A stand-off developed as police cordoned off the area and tried to coax the protester down.

Mr O'Connor said: "We've got a guy dressed as Batman who's on Buckingham Palace on a balcony. He legged it past the armed guards."

The protester, from Gloucester, stood on a ledge to the right hand side of the main balcony and unfurled a banner which read: "Super dads of fathers 4 justice".

Also on the banner are the words: "Fighting for your right to your kids".

He said the incident was to highlight Monday's court appearance of Patrick Davis, who allegedly staged a flour-throwing protest in the Commons.

Fathers 4 Justice was set up by fathers who have either no access, or very limited access to their children, and feel they have been treated unfairly by courts.

Other high-profile stunts by the group have happened at Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the Church of England General Synod in York.

BBC News Online's Finlo Rohrer, at the scene, said there were about 200 people watching, including some protesters, behind a police cordon about 30 yards from the Palace gates.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "There's a man there, but it's a police matter. I'm not sure where he is but I can hear him shouting."

The Queen was not at the Palace as she is at Balmoral in Scotland, the spokeswoman added.

The Daily Mirror's former royal correspondent James Whitaker said palace staff were "gobsmacked" and Home Secretary David Blunkett had to take responsibility.

He told BBC News 24: "It's absolutely incredible that someone's managed to do this. This is the balcony where on the great days of state and when someone gets married in the family, they stand on this balcony and wave to everyone.

"It's a bit of a holy of holies there and if the Queen has heard about this, she would be absolutely livid."

John O'Connor, a former Scotland Yard Flying Squad commander, said this breach was an "absolute disgrace".

"They are more concerned about the changing of the guard and all the ceremonies than taking security seriously. No-one there seems to have the ability to stop intruders," he told BBC News 24.

Royal security was reviewed after Daily Mirror reporter Ryan Parry got a job at Buckingham Palace as a servant before President Bush stayed there last November.

A report was published a year ago into the breach of security during Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.

Comedian Aaron Barschak set off six alarms and appeared on CCTV several times without sparking a response when he gatecrashed the party at the castle, it found.


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This story has it all. Comedy, drama, a man on the edge and the Queen of England.

Xiangsu

Too bad he dressed up like the old school batman, if he had one of the newer costumes he could have put fear into the hearts of...parliment.

duckduck

Quote for truth.

Now we just need to see the tussle as the guards take him away complete with "BHAM!" and "Kazow!" exclamations popping out everywhere.

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Kirgar

there's many ways to get attention...

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Pacifier

Luckily for him that the Queen was not home. Otherwise he would have been shot.

__________________
"It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere. Science has been charged with undermining morality, but the charge is unjust. A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death
— Albert Einstein

Soggybagel

Yeah I saw this on CNN earlier today. I should have posted it. Great fun. I want a pic of him with Robin too though

K-Wise

Asta!!

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"I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project

It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys! - Asta!!

Gortexfogg

Yea, I saw this on CNN the other day. Just think, if some crazy protester dressed up as Batman can get on a balcony at parliment, just imagine what a trained terrorist could do. Anyway, he's still hilarious.

Konichiwaneko

Fathers should have more rights with their children

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ObieX

he looked like he was having a great time

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We Must Dissent.

Blackthorn

Batman Suit - $40.00
Batman Cape - $15.00
Batman Mask - $12.00
Banner for Super Dads @ Kinko's - $17 w/ discount coupon
British Dental Work to get the perfect smile for this stunt - $329.00

Climbing the walls to Buckingham Palace in broad daylight while wearing the Batman suit and managing to keep HRM's Security detail bitterly at bay for over 5 hours while yucking it up from a ledge....

ABSOLUTELY PRICELE$$!!!!!

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What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want?

inharmony

[QUOTE=kjroh]Batman Suit - $40.00
Batman Cape - $15.00
Batman Mask - $12.00
Banner for Super Dads @ Kinko's - $17 w/ discount coupon
British Dental Work to get the perfect smile for this stunt - $329.00

Climbing the walls to Buckingham Palace in broad daylight while wearing the Batman suit and managing to keep HRM's Security detail bitterly at bay for over 5 hours while yucking it up from a ledge....

ABSOLUTELY PRICELE$$!!!!!

That's too funny

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Ghandi

"Things do not change: We change"
Henry David Thoreau

MageB420666

That's funny. If I had a Robin suit and was in Britain, I would have been right there with him, even though I don't have kids and don't want any. It would have just been really fun to do.

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Apathy: The best outlook this side of I don't give a damn.

whocarz

That guy rocks. Free Batman!

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If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

TheBrit

WTF? Don't you know that Batman has a bullet-proof suit?

Another little known story, Windsor Castle was also compromised on the same day. The press couldn't get any photos though, the police failed to catch The Invisible Man.

CSflim

One of the founders of Fathers 4 Justice has been divorced by his wife. Apparently he spent all of his time working with the organisation, at the expense of ever spending time with his daughter!

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Himbo

I think most posters here need to actually look into what F4J are all about. Some of these men have been kept away from there children for years. From a bias family court system. google "men's rights" or "fathers rights". Its sad.