Foy v an T-Ard Chlaraitheoir and Others

JurisdictionIreland
JudgeJustice William M. McKechnie
Judgment Date09 July 2002
Neutral Citation[2002] IEHC 116
CourtHigh Court
Date09 July 2002

[2002] IEHC 116

THE HIGH COURT

No. 131 JR/1997
FOY v. AN T-ARD CHLARAITHEOIR & ORS

BETWEEN

LYDIA FOY
APPLICANT

AND

AN T-ARD CHLÁRAITHEOIR, IRELAND AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
RESPONDENTS

AND

JENNIFER AND CLAIRE FOY
NOTICE PARTIES

Citations:

MARRIAGE (IRL) ACT 1844

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS & DEATHS (IRL) ACT 1863 S4

MARRIAGE LAW (IRL) (AMDT) ACT 1863

MARRIAGE LAW (IRL) (AMDT) ACT 1873

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES & MARRIAGE LAW (IRL) (AMDT) ACT 1870

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES & MARRIAGE LAW (IRL) (AMDT) ACT 1871

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S1

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS ACT 1996 S4

CIVIL LEGAL AID ACT 1995

REGS FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE DUTIES OF REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES IN IRELAND & OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY & INTERIM REGISTRARS 1880 REG 168

CONSTITUTION ART 40.1

VITAL STATICSTICS & BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1952 S3

VITAL STATICSTICS & BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1952 PART II

VITAL STATICSTICS & BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1952 S30

VITAL STATICSTICS & BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1952 S30 FORM A

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS ACT 1996 S1

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS ACT 1996 SCH

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS ACT 1996 S1(7)

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S5

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S4

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS & DEATHS (IRL) ACT 1863 S30

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS & DEATHS (IRL) ACT 1863 S8

VITAL STATICSTICS & BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1952 S5

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S27

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S27(2)

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S27(3)

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 SCH I FORM A

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 SCH I FORM B

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 SCH I FORM C

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 SCH III FORM C

VITAL STATICSTICS & BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1952 S6(1)

SHORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE REGS 1953 SI 215/1953 PAR 3

SHORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE REGS 1953 SI 215/1953 SCH PART I

SHORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE REGS 1953 SI 215/1953 SCH PART II

SHORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE REGS 1953 SI 215/1953 SCH PART III

SHORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE REGS 1953 SI 215/1953 SCH PART IV

SHORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE REGS 1953 SI 215/1953 SCH PART I PAR 5

VITAL STATISTICES REGS 1954 SI 280/1954

VITAL STATISTICS (STILLBIRTHS) REGULATIONS, 1994 SI 427/1994

ADOPTION ACT 1952 S22

STATUS OF CHILDREN ACT 1987 S49

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S7

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S7(A)

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS REGS 1988 SI 123/1998

REGISTRATION of BIRTHS & DEATHSACT (IRL) ACT 1863 S11

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S34

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 22

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 33

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S1

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 62

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 63

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 64

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 65

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 66

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 67

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 68

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 69

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 70

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 71

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 72

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 COLUMN 3

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 COLUMN 4

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 159

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 160

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 161

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 168

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 169

REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 170

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BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S8

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S25

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS & DEATHS (IRL) ACT 1863 S52

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KENNEDY V IRELAND 1987 IR 587

WARD OF COURT, RE 1996 2 IR 79

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KELLY IRISH CONSTITUTION 3ED 455

QUINN, STATE V RYAN 1965 IR 70

GARVEY V IRELAND 1981 IR 75

CONSTITUTION ART 50.1

OSHEKU V IRELAND 1986 IR 733

CONSTITUTION ART 40.3

GRIFFITH V GRIFFITH 1944 IR 35

SHATTER ON FAMILY LAW 4ED 182

CONSTITUTION ART 41.1.1

WESTERN HEALTH BOARD V AN BORD UCHTALA 1995 3 IR 178

F (T) V IRELAND 1995 1 IR 321

NICOLAOU, STATE V AN BORD UCHTALA 1966 IR 567

CIVIL LIABILITY ACT 1961 PART IV

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SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1967 S5 (UK)

BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT 1953 S29(3)

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CONSTITUTION ART 50

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EDUCATIONAL CO V FITZPATRICK (NO 2) 1961 IR 345

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RYAN V AG 1965 IR 294

DUDGEON V UK 1981 4 EHRR 149

KENNEDY V IRELAND 1987 IR 587

CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE

ART 26 OF THE CONSTITUTION & OFFENCES AGAINST THE STATE (AMDT) BILL 1940, IN RE 1940 IR 470

CLARKE, RE 1950 IR 235

MCKINLEY V MIN DEFENCE 1992 2 IR 337 1992 DULJ 115 1992/8/2337

DONOVAN V MIN JUSTICE 1951 85 ILTR 134

MURRAY V AG 1985 IR 532

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 12(2)

X Y & Z V UK 1997 24 EHRR 143

REPORT OF THE XXIII RD COLLOQUY ON EUROPEAN LAW TRANSSEXUALISM MEDICINE & THE LAW COUNCIL OF EUROPE 1993

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O'B V S 1984 IR 316

DE BURCA & ANDERSON V AG 1976 IR 38

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FAMILY LAW (DIVORCE) ACT 1996

B V R 1995 1 ILRM 491

Synopsis:

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Register of Births

Gender identity disorder - Personal rights - Whether entry under sex in Register of Births ought to be corrected - Whether applicant's constitutional right to privacy, dignity, equality and marriage violated - Marriage (Ireland) Act 1844 - Registration of Births and Deaths (Ireland) Act, 1863 - Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland), 1880 - (1997/131/JR - McKechnie J - 9/7/2002)

Foy v An T-Ard Chlaraitheoir

The applicant was born in 1947 and registered as of the male sex with the chosen Christian name of Donal Mark. He sought a finding that at birth he was born female but with a congenital disability which was both unidentified and undiscovered. Pursuant to such a finding, if granted, he sought an order, in effect correcting the original entry in the Register of Births to record under the heading "Sex" the letter "F" for female instead of "M" for male and under the heading "Name" "Lydia Annice" instead of "Donal Mark". In addition to an order rectifying the errors in the Register the applicant sought other reliefs including those reflective of an alleged infringement of constitutional rights such as privacy, dignity, equality and marriage.

Held by McKechnie J. in refusing the relief sought that, given the medical and scientific evidence, he was of the opinion that the applicant was at birth a male. The Registrar General was correct in the entry in the register in respect of the applicant. In the circumstances, the Registrar had no power or authority to make any corrections. The applicant's constitutional rights had not been violated.

1

9th day of July 2002 by Mr. Justice William M. McKechnie

Justice William M. McKechnie
INTRODUCTION:
2

(1) On the 23rd day of June, 1947 there was born, in Athlone in the County of Westmeath, to one Ernest Mark Foy and one Annice Mary Foy, a child, whose mother as a "Qualified Informant" had her newborn, with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registered as of the male sex with the chosen Christian name of Donal Mark. Now, more than 50 years later, that person, a dentist by profession and judicially separated from his wife...

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5 cases
  • M.R and Another v an tArd Chlaraitheoir and Others
    • Ireland
    • High Court
    • 5 March 2013
    ...2 IR 321; WOR v EH [1996] 2 IR 248; D (a minor) v Ireland [2010] IEHC 101, (Unrep, Dunne J, 26/3/2010); Foy v An tArd Cháraitheoir [2002] IEHC 116, (Unrep, McKechnie J, 19/10/2007); Independent News Media Limited [2010] 1 WLR 2262 and Re Ward of Court [1996] 2 IR 79 considered - Status of......
  • O.R v an tArd Chláraitheoir
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    • 7 November 2014
    ...or helpful in the resolution of this case. The judgment also referred to the important observations in Foy v. An t-Árd Chláraitheoir [2002] IEHC 116. That case had certain points of similarity with the present in that it involved a claim by a person, in that case a transsexual, to have a bi......
  • Habte v Minister for Justice and Equality
    • Ireland
    • Court of Appeal (Ireland)
    • 5 February 2020
    ...identity details, generally, has been examined before by the Irish courts in a number of cases, including, Foy v. An tArd Chláraitheoir [2002] IEHC 116, [2007] IEHC 470 and in Caldaras v. An tArd Chláraitheoir [2013] IEHC 275, [2013] 3 I.R. 310, and, most recently, in O.R. v. an tArd Chlára......
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    ...Kingdom [2002] 35 EHRR 447 and comprehensively deals with the jurisprudence in this jurisdiction including, Foy v an tArd-Chlaraitheoir & the Attorney General & Ors (Nos.1 & 2) [2007] IEHC 470, [2012] 2 IR 43 . It is noteworthy that subsequently in Eweida & Ors v United Kingdom [2013] IRL......
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2 books & journal articles
  • The changing face of family law in Ireland
    • Ireland
    • Irish Judicial Studies Journal No. 1-5, January 2005
    • 1 January 2005
    ...within the context of a reproductive technology mechanism. In brief, this could involve such persons as: 5 (1866) LR 1 P & D 130. 6 [2002] IEHC 116, 9 July 2002 at p. 130. 22 [5:1 (a) an egg donor (b) a sperm donor (c) a womb provider, and (d) one or more others who might claim to have cust......
  • Same-Sex Marriage
    • Ireland
    • Hibernian Law Journal No. 11-2012, January 2012
    • 1 January 2012
    ...with Bunreacht na hÉireann” (2010) 1(2) I.J.L.S. 29. 5 Zappone , supra note 3, paras 76–79 6 Foy v An tArd Chlaraitheoir et al [2002] I.E.H.C. 116, para.175 7 Zappone , supra note 3, paras 76–79; Friedman identifies theses state interests as: 1. encouraging procreation; 2. protecting childr......

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