Today, two gay couples won legal permission to challenge the ban on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
A judge at the High Court in Belfast granted Grainne Close, her partner Shannon Sickles, and Chris and Henry Flanagan-Kane to seek a judicial review of the current ban on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. The judge ruled that both couples had “arguable cases” and granted them the right to proceed.
Both couples, who entered into civil partnerships in 2005, say that not having access to civil marriage was a breach of human rights.
Their solicitor Mark O’Connor, “We are disappointed in these times of economic hardship and difficulties in access to justice that the applicants are forced to rely on the courts to ensure our politicians act without discrimination, without prejudice, and without bias.”
Following the ruling that the couples had an arguable case, Justice Treacy agreed to a further review in September. It is expected that the legal challenge will be handed over to another judge who is set to hear the Family Division action in November.
© 2015 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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