Woman wants to marry brother of ex-husband - but outdated law is preventing it

A DIVORCED woman and her former husband’s brother who wish to marry each other have brought a High Court challenge to early 20th century legislation which, they claim, prohibits such a marriage.

The action has been brought against the State by Maura O’Shea, aged 44, of Ballybraher, Ballycotton, Co Cork, and Michael O’Shea, aged 49, also of Ballybraher, Ballycotton.

Niall O’Driscoll, for the plaintiffs, brought the judge’s attention to a newspaper report which appeared yesterday indicating that the Government had decided that more than 2,000 acts, all over 200 years old, are to be repealed after a consultation process.