Lesbian couple with child 'a de facto family'
C
THE HIGH Court has ruled that a lesbian couple living together
in a long-term committed relationship with a child can be regarded
as a de facto family enjoying rights under the European Convention
on Human Rights
In a judgment that will have an impact on the debate about
legislating for same-sex couples, Mr Justice John Hedigan has said
that the best interests of a child lay in remaining with his mother
and her female partner, denying guardianship and access rights to
the child's biological father, who donated the sperm to the
mother
The father, a gay friend of the couple, yesterday lost his High
Court bid for guardianship and access rights
Mr Justice Hedigan said there was nothing in Irish law to
suggest that a family of two women and a child "has any lesser
right to be recognised as a de facto family than a family composed
of a man and a woman unmarried to each other"
Legislation to protect the rights of cohabiting couples
clipped from: www.ireland.com