Activists welcome welfare decision for gay couple

GAY rights campaigners have welcomed a landmark decision by the Government to financially assist a gay man who was refused welfare payments while caring for his terminally-ill partner.

The Equality Authority said the case highlighted the inequities of the welfare system which would automatically have paid the man if he was in a heterosexual relationship.

The payments were made through the Department of Social and Family Affairs on a “ex gratia” basis, meaning it was not legally obliged to do so, and it said the decision would not set a precedent for other same-sex couples in similar situations.