According to Gawker, Bill O’Reilly’s 17-year-old daughter told a court-appointed medical examiner that she witnessed her father drag her mother down a staircase, was an absentee father, and expressed little interest in developing a relationship with her. She described him as “temperamental” as well. The Fox News host will still have visitation rights with his kids on alternating weekends and some holidays. Said decision, however, was appealed by O’Reilly, who unfortunately lost his appeal in a unanimous court decision on the grounds that the children preferred to live with their mother and the “quality of the home environment” which the mother can give.
Advertisement
The ruling states “the record supports the court’s finding that if either parent were awarded sole decision-making authority, there would be a danger that it would be used to exclude the other parent from meaningful participation in the children’s lives”.
According to the New York Daily News, O’Reilly did not win custody of his 16-year-old daughter or 12-year-old son.
O’Reilly released a statement denying the accusations.
Bill O’Reilly had a rough day in court.
O’Reilly has since said that these allegations are “100% false”.
Past year the web site, citing documents leaked from the confidential custody battle, reported that the firebrand talk show host allegedly assaulted McPhilmy in front of their daughter. It is not known why he believes Ms McPhilmy has violated the court’s instructions.
Furthermore, the Second Department’s opinion seems to discourage O’Reilly from pursuing any further appeals.
The couple divorced in September 2011.
McPhilmy was reprimanded by her local church after O’Reilly reportedly told church leaders that even though she was a divorcee, she was still receiving communion, which is frowned upon in the Catholic Church.
Advertisement
In March 2013, Bill O’Reilly was accused of running a smear campaign against McPhilmy of 15 years.
