Real Fathers For Justice (RFFJ) activists and similar groups have previously carried out a number of high-profile stunts in England involving frustrated dads dressed as superheroes.

Protestors have famously scaled the Royal Courts of Justice and Buckingham Palace in London unfurling banners, and others have pelted Tony Blair with flour in the House of Commons.

Local protests have been much more low-key but that could be about to change. Peter Morris is the RFFJ's regional coordinator in Northern Ireland and feels the "softly, softly" approach has had a limited impact.

"Up until now we've lobbied all the main players in the UK Government, the Stormont Assembly, the legal system and various equality bodies but no-one is listening," he said.

"The system in this country, particularly the courts, remains heavily weighted in favour of mothers when family units break down for whatever reason."

Mr Morris is dismayed at what he describes as "disgraceful discrimination" against fathers and warns of a number of "media events" in the New Year to raise awareness.

"The situation as it stands is ridiculous. Good fathers can be excluded from their children's lives by a vindictive mother at a secret court hearing. Fathers can often wait months to get a say and in that time a lot of parental alienation can take place.

"Another major problem is that some mothers are blatantly ignoring 'contact orders' when the courts do make arrangements in disputed cases. No one in authority wants to penalise the mothers involved so the fathers and, more importantly, the children are suffering because of it."

Various high-profile figures such as Conservative politicians Iain Duncan Smith and Shadow Children's Minister Tim Loughton have spoken out in an attempt to get fathers a better deal.

But Mr Morris claims that most local politicians have refused to engage, or in some cases even respond to emails from RFFJ. The PUP and TUV have, however, promised the group an audience at a future date and, in a minor breakthrough, the SDLP Assembly party has made arrangements for a meeting at Stormont.

The Northern Ireland Court Service has rejected claims of bias against fathers. A spokeswoman said: "When a case involving children comes before the family courts, the paramount consideration is the welfare of the children."

In response to the allegations that mothers are rarely, if ever, prosecuted for contempt of court if they breach contact orders, the spokeswoman said the courts "recognise the important role that both parents can play" and added: "All breaches will be taken seriously but the approach taken will depend on the circumstances."