The protest outside the Four Courts - during which many of the men dressed as Santa Claus - aimed to "put the father back into Father Christmas" and was organised by the Unmarried Fathers of Ireland group.

Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, the group's leader Ray Kelly said: "We are trying to make the government and mothers aware about how lonely a time Christmas can be for fathers who don't get access to the children.

"During the first world war, soldiers got out of the trenches and had an amnesty on Christmas Day. We feel there is a need to stop the bitter war between parents for Christmas Day in the interests of children.

"We are also calling on the Irish government to intervene on in-camera proceedings and deal with the laws that facilitate discrimination against fathers.

"This issue is a festering wound and all the Irish government is doing is putting sticking plasters on it - while we call for radical surgery."

The protesters threw four wreaths into the Liffey in memory of four of their members who took their own lives in the last two years at Christmas because they were lonely and could not see their children.

Kelly added: "In a lot of cases, mothers allow their former partners access to their children on Christmas Day, but a lot of other fathers only get access on weekend days. With Christmas falling on a Monday, a lot of court orders do not permit access for the father.

"We are asking the mothers of this country to recognise the role of the father, and put their differences aside and rejoice the fact that their child is enjoying Christmas."