Ireland recorded its first divorce today, although legislation permitting divorce and remarriage in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country has not yet taken effect.
The High Court granted a divorce sought by a man who was not identified but was reported to be terminally ill. He had been separated from his wife for several years.In November 1995, voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment permitting divorce for the first time in the nation's history. Enabling legislation becomes effective Feb. 27.
Justice Henry Barron ruled that the court had the jurisdiction to grant a divorce under the constitutional amendment.
Ireland was the last European country to legalize divorce. The referendum permits divorce when marriages have "irretrievably" broken down and the couple has been separated for at least four years.
There are some 80,000 people in Ireland, many living with new partners, waiting to get divorced.
The Catholic Church, which claims the allegiance of more than 90 percent of Ireland's people, has said it will not recognize remarriages of divorced Catholics.