‘Daft’ law invalidates couple’s marriage

Date Published: 01-Aug-2008

A COUNTY Galway couple are outraged over the fact that their marriage is not recognised by the State — despite them being recently married in a Catholic church.

It is all to do with a law dating back, ironically, to the reign of King Henry VIII which prevents a man marrying his late wife’s niece, and the couple are hoping that a challenge to the Constitution will be made so that their marriage is recognised in law.

The man, who is in his 60s, suffered a bereavement when his wife died four years ago. Late last year he married his late wife’s niece, who is in her early 30s, in a church ceremony. However, they discovered to their horror that the State would not recognise their union despite the fact that there is no blood relationship between them.

They say that the law has extreme consequences for them, particularly as far as inheritance is concerned. East Galway TD Paul Connaughton has asked the Minister for Justice to review the laws which prevent such marriages being recognised in law. He said that most people would acknowledge that a …….