Madam, - Like Drs Zappone and Gilligan, my partner and I married in Canada, the only place where we could at that time formalise our sincere intention to live out our days together in mutual support and love within the institution of marriage.
Naturally, as an Irish citizen who simply wishes to have the same rights and access to protections as other citizens, I have followed the case of these two courageous trailblazers with great interest. I am deeply saddened and disappointed, if not surprised, by yesterday's High Court ruling.
Surely it is not just sour grapes on my part to be further insulted by the fact that the Government which energetically fought this case is preparing to announce details of an expert group to consider proposals to enter prenuptial agreements into Irish law.
At a time when the Government is vigorously defending - from the homosexual hordes? - marriage as a cherished institution enshrined in the Constitution, the irony of entering mechanisms into law to override the traditions of marriage in the interests of protecting the property of my already privileged heterosexual fellows is thoroughly galling.
This is a sad day, not only for those of us left out in the cold but for all Irish citizens who care for justice and equality. Perhaps the Government might consider changing the name of the relevant Department to "Bigotry, Inequality and Retrenchment"? - Yours, etc,
MARGARET O'FLANAGAN, Philipsburgh Avenue, Dublin 3.