A lesbian couple have lost their landmark legal attempt to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland.
Dr Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan had argued that the State's refusal to recognise their marriage was a breach of their human and constitutional rights.
This has always been about our fundamental rights to marry just like any other couple.
The High Court ruled today that marriage within the Irish Constitution does not include same-sex marriage, and that this does not conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights. Justice Elizabeth Dunne said that the definition of marriage had always been understood as opposite sex marriage and said that there was no evidence of a changing consensus on this issue.
Speaking following the hearing, Dr Katherine Zappone said that the couple have been together for 25 years and for the last three years they have been a married couple. The couple married in Canada. She said that they believe they took the case so that the human right to marriage would be extended to them. The couple have yet to decide if they will appeal the judgement.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 December 2006. The reporter is Bethan Kilfoil.
