FOX News host Bill O'Reilly's petition seeking for custody of his 2 children was denied by New York appeals court. The court favored his ex-wife Maureen McPhilmy, granting full custody of the children. Still, Mr. O'Reilly is fighting against the verdict and is pursuing contempt of court charges against McPhilmy.
Bill O'Reilly long custody battle may now be put to an end after New York appeals court rejected the petition of the host. The court ruled full residential custody of the two children, Spencer (13 years old) and Madeleine (17 years old) to ex-wife Maureen McPhilmy, according to Daily Mail.
According to ruling by the Appellate Division Second Judicial Department court via Raw Story, "Viewing the totality of the circumstances, there is a sound and substantial basis for the Supreme Court's determination that it is in the best interests of the children for the mother to be awarded primary residential custody."
The source mentions that this marks the end of nearly four year custody battle, following O'Reilly's daughter's statement to a court-appointed forensic examiner that she saw his father dragging her mother down the staircase by her neck, reported by Gawker.
But Bill O'Reilly previously defended himself saying that all the allegations were false. He said to Politico, "All allegations against me in these circumstances are 100% false. I am going to respect the court-mandated confidentiality put in place to protect my children and will not comment any further."
In a report by Independent, the host is still fighting against the court verdict and is pursuing contempt of court charges against McPhilmy. It was also reported that Mr. O'Reilly believes that his ex-wife violated the court's instructions.
In March 2013, Bill O'Reilly was accused of running a smear campaign against McPhilmy of 15 years. He even tried to ban her from Catholic Church. In 2004, Mr. O'Reilly was also accused of sexual harassment by a former Fox news producer Andrea Mackris.
