Government

NH Baby Returned to ‘Oath Keepers’ Parents

A New Hampshire couple is celebrating today after their baby girl, who was taken from them by the state some 16 hours after birth last week, was returned to them yesterday.

Johnathon Irish, 24, and his girlfriend Stephanie Taylor, 22, both of Epsom, N.H, were reunited with their daughter Cheyenne Thursday afternoon following a closed door custody hearing.

The case gained national attention last week when the couple claimed their newborn girl was taken from them by the state because of Irish’s involvement in Oath Keepers, a national group that opposes unrestrained federal authority. The state, however, cited a history of domestic violence and child abuse as the reason for removing the baby.

In case documents, the state did reference Irish’s association with the “militia” Oath Keepers, however it also explained Irish has repeatedly been involved in domestic and child abuse cases and had failed to complete a state-mandated domestic abuse program. Taylor has two other children who have been removed from her custody due to similar concerns.

Details as to why the baby was returned are not available, as the judge in the case has issued a gag order.

Despite the parents’ joy, the day wasn’t without its drama. Protesters both in favor of and opposed to the couple rallied outside the courthouse. The Concord Monitor reports that tensions rose when Johnathon Irish’s father, John Irish, told a reporter within earshot of Johnathon Irish that his son had spent a portion of his childhood in residential juvenile facilities and had gotten in trouble with the law. He added that Johnathon Irish deserved to be scrutinized by the state.

“DCYF was acting properly to protect that child,” said John Irish to the Monitor, who said he’s been estranged from his son for at least five years. “There were two other children who were also taken from their home.”

That enraged Johnathon. He approached his father, standing inches from his face. “You were nothing. You were worthless,” Johnathon Irish said, trying to control his temper.

Things did settle down and Irish and Taylor were eventually handed their baby girl. “This restores my faith in the justice system,” said Nancy Haskell, Irish’s mother. “I’m ecstatic.”

Oath Keepers has demanded the reference to its organization be removed from court documents:

“There’s no reason his political affiliation should have anything to do with his ability to take care of a child,” Oath Keepers’ East Coast vice president Chauncey Normandin told the Monitor. “That’s offensive to us.”

Comments (53)

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  • jacobstroubles
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 5:14pm

    People should not jump quickly thinking that this guy was wronged by CPS… look at all the facts
    surrounding him. There were several articles & videos produced by Alex Jones that led viewers to believe that this guy and his GF had been wronged by CPS. Yes, CPS is incompotent, however, there is quite a history of Dom Violence with this guy. Dont be so quick to jump on the band wagon with people like Alex Jones.

    Remember people like AJ, have their agenda too, and it’s not for your
    benifit, even thought he has learned a few psychology/psychological warfare 101 tricks.
    People do some pretty incredible things at the exspense of others to obtain the gratification
    they seek.

    Gratification comes in a whole plethera of shapes too.

    Report Post »  
  • computerdweller
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:52pm

    From what I gather the baby was returned because it was another John Irish that had temper problems and run-in with the law. In short the entire grounds for taking the baby were wrong.

    The parents state that for some reason the state has a mandatory gag rule for these proceeding so they are not allowed to comment. They intend to fight this state law.

    Report Post »  
  • Alvin691
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:31pm

    Johnthan, you need to pray to God and thank him. Keep praying. You have a second chance to be a father to your little girl. Pray for Him to help you control your tempter. She deserves only your very best.

    Report Post »  
  • barrycooper
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:31pm

    To my mind, the story was that a State official feared a group whose only requirement is that they honor–in the case of military–an oath THEY HAVE ALREADY SWORN. All military personnel must vow to protect and defend the Constitution. The significance of this is that our system is very explicitly intended to deduct allegiance to individuals. Hitler’s troops swore allegiance to him.

    As far as the baby, it is inconceivable to me that a newborn is better off in the care of strangers than her mother. This process was reversed. They should have had the hearing, then if it appeared warranted, should have taken the child. This amounted to being declared guilty and only then given the chance to prove yourself innocent. When you have a newborn involved, that is absolutely the wrong way to go.

    If this was planned–as it must have been–then they should have told the mother that they were going to take the baby unless Irish would, say, complete his anger management training.

    As far as the custody, it was my understanding that no decision had been rendered on the two sisters. There was a trial, but the verdict was still pending. That would be an empirical fact which would be relevant in assessing the situation.

    As I assess this situation, here is what seems most likely to have happened: the child care worker really didn’t like Irish or his girlfriend. She feared for the safety of the baby, but she also knew that her empirical case was not strong enough to take a new born, so she sat down and listed as many negatives as she could come up with. When the “resume” looked a little weak, she padded it with “militia and guns”. After all, Big Sis has said anyone who thinks Obama is a radical must themselves be radical, and therefore suspect.

    Yet this case clearly highlights the importance of individual rights, and systemic checks on the power of the State. This babies first 5 days or so on Earth were spent away from her mother, and no concrete good of any sort has been accomplished, other than clearly showcasing the potential abuse of power when we stop adhering to the Bill of Rights.

    Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on October 16, 2010 at 10:53pm

      When our son was born, more than twenty years ago, the day before he was to be released from the hospital, one of the staff doctors overheard two relatives talking about the upcoming family picnic the following week. All of a sudden, there were “concerns” about releasing our son, lest he be taken to this family gathering. There was a discussion about keeping him in the hospital for another week. Fortunately, the primary physician was from a large family herself and did sign the discharge papers. We bundled our son into his car seat and got out of Dodge. Since one of the family members had 10 children and the other one had 9, we felt fairly confident that if we did take our son, there would be enough competent people around to care for him. Sad, though, that the staff felt they would rather keep our son for no really good reason rather than releasing him with us to go home.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
  • Les Better
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:27pm

    Let me guess….. DYS investigator Dana Bickford is a dyed-in-the-wool bleeding heart liberal Democrat/Progressive.

    People like Bickford need to be b*tch-slapped in the court of public opinion each and every time they pull these kinds of stunts. It is inexcusable and unacceptable that Americans, at least those in NH apparently, can have their children taken from them because a government agent unjustly and falsely labels a legal, constitutionally permitted organization such as Oath Keepers a “militia”.

    I am an Oath Keeper. I am also a staunch conservative, a Viet Nam era veteran and a retired police chief with 30 years service. I, as many others in this organization, stand for American values, liberty and freedom of association. We will not tolerate the Dana Bickfords of the world and will hold them up to public scrutiny at every opportunity.

    God save the great and wonderful constitutional Republic which is the United States of America!

    Report Post »  
    • Conservative Grinch
      Posted on October 16, 2010 at 11:47am

      Dana Bickford deserves prison time for what she did. It is not enough that the state pay the victims a settlement in lawsuit. The State of NH needs to file criminal charges against Dana Bickford. “We the People” must demand that the State of NH files the appropriate criminal charges or else! Justice demands it!

      Report Post »  
  • tjdavid21444
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:18pm

    My mistake, I meant to say New Hampshire instead of Maine.

    Report Post »  
  • tjdavid21444
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:17pm

    The State feels threatened by people daring to assert their constitutional rights, and those trying to hold the State to its constitutional limits. So they will attempt to intimidate, either overtly or in more subtle, association-chilling ways such as this. It was no accident that Oath Keepers was mentioned. The investigator has a bias that she put in, and the State (Maine this time) agreed. They should all be held accountable for their unconstitutional behavior. Yes, attempting to chill freedom of association is unconstitutional.

    Report Post »  
    • Conservative Grinch
      Posted on October 16, 2010 at 11:40am

      The investigator committed the crime of kidnapping and “We the People” should demand that she faces criminal charges!

      Report Post »  
  • Constitutional_Patriot_in_SC
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:09pm

    I am so tired of this crap.
    When will this change? 2010 elections?
    What will be our “Stamp Act” and when?
    Did we take this much from King George?

    My wife and I are expecting our first so will Tea Party members be next?
    How about people who post on “The Blaze”?

    I am so glad they got thier child back but it should have never happen in the first place.

    My Fellow Patriots…. Find your Liberty Tree and start meeting under it. It is getting bad.
    We need to find out what we can do to insure this never happens again if we survive this.

    Report Post » Constitutional_Patriot_in_SC  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 1:52pm

    ok so im glad mom has the baby back however if daddy is an abuser he should be kept away.. if his own father says look at him maybe they SHOULD

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • NE Cowboy
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 1:50pm

    Hmmmmmmm why the ‘change’ of heart NH??? With all the free staters up there why did that couple have such a small amount of people up there backing them?? This should have NEVER happened in this country and using the Patriotic group called “The Oath Keepers” as one of the reasons for taking that child, well I guess we’ll probably see more of this in our near future! People should be scared……

    Report Post »  
  • KortJester
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 1:15pm

    I think there was plenty of reason to protect the child.
    I do not think you NEEDED any reference to any “militia”.
    They got the child back.

    Now here is my question for Mr Beck How much of this crap is going to show up here?
    To me a suburban white guy this is as insulting as playing the “race card”.

    What is starting to bug me is when did “militia” become a dirty word?
    Why have “We the People” surrendered it to crazy people?
    We have a system to work peacefully to change things. We have had peacefully transferred power for over 200 years. I hope for 200 more! However if lets say Canada rolls tanks into down town Duluth. I am now one of the “militia” !
    I am not going to blow you up because I do not agree with you, or you don’t belive what I belive.
    In fact if the people who WANT to blow YOU up for those things try it in MY town, I just became a member of the “militia” again. But you feel better about it this time:)

    Report Post »  
  • Goohuman
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 1:11pm

    Let the man be judged on what he does. The state should have no powers like what they did here. Far more horrible crimes are committed by people the state endorses. Clean up your own house first.

    Report Post » Goohuman  
  • GlobalPoliticalAwakening
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:56pm

    The truth is that Jonathan Irish did NOT have a domestic violence record; To read more, please visit us at http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2010/10/irish-family-baby-returned-to-family.html

    Report Post » GlobalPoliticalAwakening  
  • STANDUPANDSPEAK
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:54pm

    Ummm… Oath Keepers Today… Tomorrow are you a member of the Tea Party… Will take you kids too :)

    Report Post » STANDUPANDSPEAK  
    • NE Cowboy
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 1:57pm

      I was thinking the same thing you posted. Where will it end? I guess ANY organization or ‘group’ the government feels is ‘threatening’ will be targeted and those in it arrested for being a domestic terrorist. My god, what the hell has happened to this great country??

      Report Post »  
  • GlobalPoliticalAwakening
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:52pm

    Another article which attempts to defend the establishment, Read the following article to learn more: http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2010/10/irish-family-baby-returned-to-family.html

    Report Post » GlobalPoliticalAwakening  
  • Contrarianthinker
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:44pm

    Congratulations to all. Hold judgement and conclusions until you KNOW the facts. Since I’m a member of OathKeepers, I’m glad they taught action to stop the smear.

    Report Post »  
  • Jezreel
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:41pm

    Here is a better new report on what happened. Alex Jones spent his own money on an investigation on the guy.
    http://www.infowars.com/irish-family-baby-returned/

    Report Post »  
    • Libertyluvnmomma
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:00pm

      what do you make of Jones’ claim that Beck is pirating his material?
      They accuse Beck of drawing the wrong conclusions and spreading disinformation. Which I think is a little bit true.

      Report Post » Libertyluvnmomma  
    • Jezreel
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 7:43pm

      Something is very wrong. Alex Jones is definitey not in it for the money and he may rant and rave a bit too much more than what I like but in the end, the truth will come out. I admire men and women in the Oathkeepers. Glen Beck don’t seem to like them. He cannot stand up for controversial things no matter how true they are because it is a threat to his income. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike Glen Beck at all. I am just not fooled by him even though he is being used by God for other serious matter. Maybe one day, just as he wants to expose corruption in the government, when he truly comes to God he will expose corruption in the Mormon church and its false doctrines. I often wonder if he got into the Mormon church through marrying a woman that was mormon first. That is how the women in the Mormon church operate. They unduct men into the sect through seduction.

       
  • Jezreel
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:37pm

    This is not correct reporting. Shame on you Blaze! They got the man’s name mixed up with a different person with the same name.
    This is not good honest reporting. The Blaze is just another news source that is pro republican.
    Alex Jones spent money to do a criminal investigation on the man and NOTHING WAS FOUND.

    Report Post »  
  • quarter horseman
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:04pm

    Thank you BOB_R_!!!

    Report Post » quarter horseman  
  • TPaine
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:03pm

    As said all the others, Oathkeepers has no business being mentioned in this case. And it was the STATE which did so. I smell ‘lawsuit’ and it would be true justice for the Oathkeepers to take the state of Maine to court. But being the gentlemen (and ladies) that they are, they’ll probably settle for a retraction and redact/removal of their org’s mention from the papers.

    Report Post » TPaine  
  • Bob_R_OathKeeper
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:50am

    We Oathkeepers are Police Officers, Military, Fireman, etc. who reaffirm our Oath to the Constitution and will protect it no matter what.

    Report Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:03pm

      Please get your act together and take it to Washington DC and protect the Constitution NO MATTER WHAT!

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:40am

    People without all the facts should not come to any conclusion. However, his being a member of Oath Keepers should have absolutely nothing to do with this case. Oath Keepers is a legitimate group of concerned citizens, not a negative.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:38am

    http://www.youtube.com/user/MaineWebNews

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • itasca
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:23pm

      Thanks the video brought tears to my eyes.

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:37am

    domestic abuse is not something you mess around with.

    the oathkeepers angle strikes me as disingenuous and non-sequitur. Even the guys old man said he “deserved” to be investigated.

    the xmas day bomber’s dad said the same thing and no one listened….

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:47am

      You do not know WHO was actually abusive here. There is a gag order, so no one can speak. There is another man involved in this dispute, the husband who will NOT give the mother a divorce. The state MADE the mother put the husband’s name on the birth certificate, since they are still married. That seems like it would be another reason to take THIS child, too? We just do not know all the details, but IF that child was in SUCH imminent danger, WHY on earth do you think it is BACK with both birth parents?

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:49am

      The problem with that is that the state made the issue of it. They cited it as part of the justification for removing the child from the home. If they would have just left that out of the report then it would have just been another neglect/cutody case. The fact they they thought his membership in the group was relevant to the case is why it became an issue.

      Nobody has any idea what the specifics of the abuse/neglect charges are so it’s hard to gauge whether returning the child was appropriate.

      Report Post »  
    • MrButcher
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:51am

      i don’t know. i plead ignorance.

      no one knows all the details. so anything we say about the case is hot-air conjecture.
      but the broader subject can be commented on.

      Report Post » MrButcher  
    • Prospero
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:32pm

      “the husband who will NOT give the mother a divorce”

      There is no such thing as “giving” a divorce. Nobody but the courts can stop a person from divorcing another person in America. Your consent is absolutely unrequired if you are male.

      The divorce will proceed, it will be finalized, you will be assessed support. Period.

      Report Post » Prospero  
    • itasca
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:16pm

      I agree with you . But I would also like to add that perhaps Mr. Irish failed as a father. I now young men who were trained by their parents to steal for them. And the same boys had lit cigarettes put out on their bodies by their step father. The young man I alluded to asked me yesterday when are they going to start punishing the parents for what they have done to us?

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:38pm

      We’ll all be glad for the Oathkeepers when Obama decides to “blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.” The take an oath that they won’t help with that. Some people say that Obama might do that to any region of the country that votes for tp candidates in the election.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • USAMama
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 2:48pm

      That is precisely their point, as I read it. They are saying this man may have had many reasons for the child being taken away, there is no reason whatsoever to mention the Oath Keepers and to refer to them as a “militia”. I agree, they should demand their name is removed from the documents as it is a smear to them and nothing more.

      Report Post » USAMama  
    • ElishaShemuel
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 5:16pm

      No matter what it is witchcraft to foretell what may or may not be done before it is done. Until that child had been abused physically, then proven in court then and only then could the grandparents, or other family members be awarded custody first before a child ring court ordered foster system. The child in this case was taken, was a planned take, before the child was born by the sex ring, for sex a child sex ring. The child was found with blood in its diaper and screaming when they tried to change its diaper on a supervised visit with the true parents and the child was taken into custody by the sheriff taken out of the hands of the sex ring from the child sex ring DCYF “ie” infant new born sex ring foster homes Alex Jones video” alex jones OATH KEEPERS youtube oct 13 2010
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkSoyHE1brE

       
    • Conservative Grinch
      Posted on October 16, 2010 at 11:06am

      EqualJustice

      Ya, that Gag Order only exists to protect the state from its illegal actions. The judge should rescind the Gag Order or be removed from the bench.

      Report Post »  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:37am

    Who should pay for this family therapy?

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • solaveritas
      Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:30pm

      I prosecuted child abuse cases as an Assistant District Attorney. You DO want to protect the child. You DO want to reunite the child with the family when it is safe. You DO NOT want the government interfering unnecessarily.

      Including the man’s political membership in this petition actually WEAKENED the credibility of the case, and shouldn’t have been done, as it unnecessarily angers the parents, and damages their trust in the juvenile justice system.

      A judge once told me, “It is not enough for us to administer justice, but we must work to have the parents acknowledge that justice was done, for they are the ones who must go forward, without bitterness, to care and raise the child.

      This type of sloppy prosecution smacks of BIG BROTHER, and must be refined out of the system whenever it tries to creep in.

      And, by the way, PRAYER (every night on our knees, Glenn Beck says) is a good thing.

      So, HERE is a news article for the Blaze to print!!!

      African network praying for America’s spiritual awakening (Prayer Rally on the Washington Mall, Saturday, 10/16/10)
      http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=215773

      This is in keeping with the 8/28 theme of Return to God. I hope Glenn gives this “prayer rally” a boost on his program. It will end up being bigger than the 10/2 or the 10/30 rallies, …. and do more good!!

      I hope the Blaze reads these comments!!! DO YOU HEAR ME BLAZE GUYS???????

      Report Post » solaveritas  
    • Conservative Grinch
      Posted on October 16, 2010 at 11:01am

      solaveritas

      Should the case worker be charged with felony kidnapping in this case? I think he or she should. The government has no inherit right to kidnap a child from her parents.

      Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on October 16, 2010 at 10:33pm

      SolaVertias,

      There is actually a link in the lower right hand corner of the front page of the site to contact the Blaze staff with a tip or a breaking news article. The Drudge Report also has one in approximately the same location.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
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