Listeners Horrified With Jeremys Controversial Comments About Dead Beat Dads

·55 min·5 clips

Jeremy demands the absent father pay 26,000 euros before seeing his child, sparking outrage from listeners.

The episode of Opinions Matter focuses on a listener-submitted dilemma from a woman named Reba. Her daughter's father moved to Australia when the child was four months old and had no contact for 10 years; now he is back in Ireland and, via his sister, has expressed a desire to reunite. Hosts Adrian Kennedy and Jeremy Dixon open the topic for debate with their live audience. Jeremy argues that the 10-year-old child should be asked if she wants to meet her father, believing she is old enough to decide. Adrian strongly disagrees, calling it an adult decision that is too heavy for a child. The hosts play pre-recorded messages from other women in similar situations: Cuiva warns against it based on her own experience of a father reappearing and then disappearing again, and Sarah advises keeping the door open but letting the child guide the process. Jeremy then controversially states the father should first pay 26,000 euros in estimated backdated child maintenance, a position he frames as supporting single mothers. This provokes intense backlash from multiple callers, including Fiona, Nolene, and Queveen, who accuse him of putting a ransom or bounty on the child and blackmailing the father. Caller Danielle shares her personal story of allowing her daughter's father back after 7 years, emphasizing the need to separate finances from access and let the child decide, even though her daughter ultimately rejected the relationship. The debate broadens to include callers like John, who says the child is too young, and Tina, who argues mothers always have valid reasons for denying access. Queveen, a father who shares custody, passionately criticizes Jeremy's monetary stance, explaining how finances can be weaponized in custody disputes. The episode concludes with a final provocative question from caller Jason about whether a man should get a refund if he later discovers a child is not biologically his, and a listener threat to stop listening if Jeremy doesn't apologize.

As heard by us

A blunt live row about a father who vanished, returned, and wants back in.

Opinions Matter turns a listener message about a father who left for Australia 10 years ago and now wants back into his child's life into a blunt live debate about maintenance, absence, and whether a late return can make up for what went missing.

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Why you'd press play

You want a live row about a dad who disappeared 10 years ago, came back from Australia, and wants back in.

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