Ten fathers jailed in recent months for non-payment of child support left Family Court yesterday as free men.

They were released after paying large sums on money they owed their children -- money earned while in prison.

Afterward, controversial Magistrate Carlisle Greaves explained the special "amnesty session'' was a "tradition'' begun last year. He goes on vacation next week.

But he had strong words for the men, telling them: "This is your last chance.

Next time, you go straight West (to Westgate Correctional Facility). Next time it's a committal warrant.'' He told the crowded courtroom, filled with inmates, mothers and prison officers: "We're here today to make some deals!'' Few of the men were hostile and almost all nodded in agreement when Mr.

Greaves said he had done much to protect men's visitation rights while clamping down on delinquency.

"If things work in your favour, you will be placed on our defaulter's list and expected to come in every last Friday of each month for a review,'' he said. "To you mothers, this court has a programme now where it is impossible to not pay one's child support. "The days are gone when a man can default for months and years on end.

"So today we (the Family Court panel) are going without lunch and we are going to give you an opportunity to get out.'' He added: "I'm not the one responsible for allowing these fellows to build up all these arrears but I'm mandated to fix that.

"I mean, I could allow them to pay $10 a week and not follow up. But what I'm asking now, ladies, is that despite all the hurt that you feel, let's write off some of these arrears and make them pay what they have earned.'' Under a programme worked out between the Courts and Prisons, men are first taken into Westgate for induction and evaluation.

Depending on their skills and familiarity with the prison system, they could be in a work release programme at the minimum security Prison Farm after a few days.

But they are subject to drug testing and a failure could see them back at Westgate.

Yesterday one man was ordered released, despite having failed a drug test, after it emerged he had accumulated $1,500 to give to the mother of his child.

Mr. Greaves warned another man from giving cash payments to a woman and encouraged him to pay extra money when he is earning to build credit.

As he left the court, the man said: "Mr. Greaves, I just want to say that you have made me a responsible man. I won't be going back.'' Another man owing $22,000 saw much of that written off. Next week two women will get $3,600 each that he has earned on work release with a painting company.

He told one unconvinced woman: "One of the guys from last year has been most ungrateful. He got a write off and then paid off what he has earned and then didn't pay once he was out.

"Oh! I can't wait for him,'' he added. "People say we shouldn't lock them up, but I'm asking if you would be considerate enough to take a chance on him.

"I've taken lashes in the media for this. I'm not comparing myself to a great man that helped the blind to see and the cripple to walk but they spat on him and they killed him. All I'm doing is trying to do my job,'' he added.

The woman relented, accepting a $1,400 payment and allowing more than $7,000 to be erased.

We're here to make some deals!' Judge Carlisle Greaves