Hicks family row on kids' TV deal

DAVID Hicks's family is already bickering over the spoils of his notoriety, delaying a longed-for reunion with his children.

Backers of the newly freed terrorism supporter yesterday lashed out at his former wife, Jodie Sparrow, for trying to cash in with her own media deal covering Hicks's contact with histwo teenage children, Bonnie and Terry.

Hicks had wanted his children to be among the first people he saw after his release from Adelaide's Yatala prison on Saturday.

But his lawyer, David McLeod, told The Australian that Hicks had shied away for fear the emotional reunion would be filmed.

"He was still anxious, he was trying to get in touch with his children," Mr McLeod said. "He's worried about being setup."

In a paid deal with the Nine Network, Ms Sparrow made the children available to 60 Minutes in May ahead of their first visit to the jail to see their father. Hicks, 32, had just been returned to Australia from the US military's controversial detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Ms Sparrow's agent, Howard Whelan, yesterday denied that Hicks had been prevented from seeing Bonnie, 14, and Terry, 12.

"My understanding is that (a reunion) may not happen for a while," Mr Whelan said. "From Jodie, personally she is not the one who's making it difficult."

Ms Sparrow's father, Dennis Sparrow, has previously said he did not want his grandchildren to see their father.

1 posted on 12/30/2007 1:16:15 PM PST by naturalman1975

"He's worried about being setup."

He sounds like a man who should look nervously over his shoulder for the rest of his days...

2 posted on 12/30/2007 1:36:48 PM PST by rockrr (Global warming is to science what Islam is to religion)

All due respect if I was his ex wife or girlfriend I would get court order he could see the kids but be under supervision he be the type I think would kidnap our children go back to Arabia or Middle East

3 posted on 12/30/2007 2:01:59 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")

Probably just worried about how he’ll look on TV. They say that the camera adds 30 lbs (13.6 kgs in Oz-speak) and he’s already porky enough from all the good grub at Club Gitmo.

4 posted on 12/30/2007 5:58:01 PM PST by BfloGuy (It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect . . .)

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