Global Feminist Daily News Wire
February-27-97

Ireland Permits Divorce for First Time in 76 Years

For the first time since 1921, Ireland has made divorce permissible by a Constitutional amendment. The predominately Roman Catholic country had banned divorce when Ireland gained independence from England. A similar attempt to legalize divorce was defeated in a 1986, but in a stunning blow to a scandal-ridden Church, the referendum passed in 1995. The procedure will be fairly complicated, involving a four year separation, filling out multiple forms and disclosing financial and other information before a hearing is set. Of the country's 3.5 million citizens, approximately 90,000 couples are currently separated.

Media Resources: The Nando Net - February 27, 1997

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