This article is from page 3 of the 2008-03-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE number of people who secured a divorce in Clare last year increased by 21 per cent on the 2006 figure.
Provisional figures from the Circuit Court office in Ennis show that 100 divorces were granted in Clare year, up 18 on the 82 divorces granted in paul eter
The 2006 figures, in turn, were a 26 per cent drop on the 111 divorces granted in 2005.
The numbers securing divorces
have increased since the start of the decade.
In 2002, 49 divorces were granted; this increased to 64 in 2003. The fig- ure for 2004 was 79.
The provisional figures for last year show that the number of judicial sep- arations sought remained static at 22 when compared to the 2006 figure.
In order for individuals to apply for a divorce, a couple needs to be living separately for four of the previous five years.
Divorce was introduced in Ireland
11 years ago after a narrow majority voted in favour in a referendum.
Speaking on the issue last year, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh stated that he had “no difficulty with hs U CEA VO neome
Dr Walsh said, “I have no difficulty with the State providing a service for people whose relationship has bro- ken down. | have no difficulty with his U EA nees
“T would still maintain that the ideal of marriage of being a life long lov- ing relationship is what people want
and I will not stand in judgement on people for whom that hasn’t proved possible.
“I don’t know their story and I would not stand in judgement on them so I don’t have difficulty with the State providing a service to people whose relationship has broken down
‘In the past, people stayed in dread- ful relationships, where there was a great deal of violence and no person should be expected to stay in a rela- tionship which is highly abusive in relationship to violence.
‘No person should be expected to stay in a relationship like that. None- theless we can’t deny the fact that the best place is a lifelong loving rela- tionship.
He added, “I still believe that 99 per cent of people entering marriage want to have a life-long relationship. I don’t accept what sometimes people say that ‘people walk out of marriage today without thought’.
‘There may be a very, very tiny mi- nority who walk out of marriage very easily.”