Figures lead registrar to raise concerns over sham marriages

Concerns have been raised about a rise in sham marriages, with figures showing almost half of couples involving a non-Irish EU citizen and a non-EU citizen who gave notice of their intention to marry last year did not go ahead with their nuptials.

The scale of the numbers not proceeding with their proposed marriage has raised concerns about the growing problem at attempts to arrange marriages of convenience here.

Only 841 out of 1,585 proposed marriages involving a non-Irish EU partner and a non-EU citizen proceeded as intended last year, according to figures published by the General Register Office. It represents just 53% of all couples who had issued notification of intention to marry.