Courts / Cork / Report

'Very much in love' couple bring action aimed at allowing them marry

Date
2020-06-16

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

Junaid Manzoor, an Indian national, and Tara Wrenne, an Irish citizen, have brought High Court judicial review proceedings against the Registrar of the Civil Registration Service, Cork, the HSE, and the Registrar General. The couple, represented by Colm O'Dwyer SC and solicitor Wendy Lyon, claim the Civil Registration Service has unlawfully failed to permit them to marry or make a decision on their application, which was lodged in November 2018. They allege that the requirement for a second interview to determine if their union constitutes a marriage of convenience, triggered solely by Mr Manzoor's non-EU status, is discriminatory. Mr Manzoor, who arrived on a student visa that expired in 2015 and faced a deportation order in March 2020, and Ms Wrenne deny any such intent. The Civil Registration Service stated it could not proceed until the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service resolved Mr Manzoor's status. The applicants seek an order compelling the Registrar to make a decision, along with declarations that the service acted unlawfully and in breach of their rights. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis and made the matter returnable to a date in July.