Foy v an T-Ard Chlaraitheoir and Others
| Jurisdiction | Ireland |
| Court | High Court |
| Judge | Justice William M. McKechnie |
| Judgment Date | 09 July 2002 |
| Neutral Citation | [2002] IEHC 116 |
| Date | 09 July 2002 |
[2002] IEHC 116
THE HIGH COURT
BETWEEN
AND
AND
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
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
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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REGS FOR THE DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS DEATHS & MARRIAGES 1881 REG 38
BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S8
BIRTHS & DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT (IRL) ACT 1880 S25
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KENNEDY V IRELAND 1987 IR 587
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KELLY IRISH CONSTITUTION 3ED 455
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GARVEY V IRELAND 1981 IR 75
CONSTITUTION ART 50.1
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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)
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CONSTITUTION ART 41.2
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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
BREEDLOVE ANOTHER IMPORTANT ORGAN NOVEMEBER 1995 (378) 15 (NATURE)
O'B V S 1984 IR 316
DE BURCA & ANDERSON V AG 1976 IR 38
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HYDE V HYDE & WOODMANSEE 1866 LR 1 P& D 130
FIFTEENTH AMDT OF THE CONSTITUTION ACT 1995
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.
9th day of July 2002 by Mr. Justice William M. McKechnie
(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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