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GAZETTE
JUNE 1979
fickle spouse can afford to take less than seriously his
obligation to marital fidelity because there is no fear of
official censure. Do we encourage him to take the best of
both worlds?
No-one suggests that divorce solves the problem of
unstable marriages - the only real answer to that lies in
prevention through education and support. Nor can it heal
the wounds caused by two warring spouses. It cannot
replenish the wasted years or excise the damage but it does
permit a clean finish and a fresh start, with, hopefully,
lessonsjearnt and experience gained. There is no guarantee
of a happy ending but divorce does at least hold out the
possibility. Without it there remains the syndrome of break-
down, of frustrated people trapped in unsatisfactory
relationships, of children soured by their experience at the
hands of incompatible parents, of illegitimate children and
illicit relationships which have their own form of inherent
misery precisely because they cannot be legitimised.
We need to stop thinking of marriage as a rigid
structure alien to and isolated from the couple who make
it function. We must stop thinking of divorce as an
inhuman monster who creeps in through open bedroom
windows disseminating huge dollops of marital dis-
harmony. It is to cherish the nation's children less than
equally to expect and to coerce any one of them to live
out his or her life in a loveless and embittering union.
"Nothing less than love should hold us in the bonds of
marriage." I have never been a believer in the philosophy
that once you have made your bed you must lie on it —
many is the time I have to get out and remake it. In the
words of George Bernard Shaw — "Indissoluble
marriage is an academic figment advocated only by
celibates and by comfortably married people who imagine
that if other couples are unfortunate it must be their own
fault just as rich people are apt to imagine that if other
people are poor it serves them right — Divorce only
reassorts the couples, a very desirable thing when they are
ill-assorted."
(Sub-headings
did not form part of the
address).
REFERENCES
1. Rheinstein: Marriage, Stability, Divorce and the Law.
2. Eekelaar: Family Law and Social Policy.
3. Ibid.
4. Gayford: "Wife-battering - A survey of 100 cases"
British Medical
Journal,
1975 Vol. 1. Borland: Violence in the Family (M.U.P.
1976).
(The paper read to the Conference by Sean P. Bedford,
K.S.G. opposing the motion will be published in the next
issue).
Solicitors' Apprentices
Debating Society of Ireland
Committee for the 96th Session
Auditor:
John J. Reid
Treasurer:
Joseph M. Gavin
Records Secretary:
James O'Mahony
Correspondence Secretary:
Miriam O'Callaghan
Debating Captain:
Sean Meaney
Public Relations Officer:
Laurence Ennis
Social' Secretaries:
Maria T. Gillis, Anne O'Neill
Ordinary Committee Member:
Murrough O'Rourke
ex-Officio Committee Member:
Liam T. Cosgrave,
ex Auditor.
RETIREMENT PRESENTATION TO WILLIE
O'REILLY
4 APRIL, 1979
Members of the profession from all parts of the country
attended the presentation ceremony in the Society's
premises, Blackhall Place, to wish Willie O'Reilly well on his
retirement from the society after 33 years. The President,
Mr. Gerald Hickey, presented Mr. O'Reilly with a suite of
Waterford Crystal and the proceeds of a testimonial fund
from the members of the Society.
FORMING
A COMPANY?
Why Worry?
The Law Society provides a quick service
based on a standard form of Memorandum
and Articles of Association. Where necessary
the standard form can be amended, at an
extra charge, to suit the special requirements
of any individual case.
In addition to private companies limited by
shares, the service will also form —
• Unlimited companies.
• Companies limited by guarantee.
• Shelf companies, company seals and
record books are available at competitive
rates.
Full information is available from:
C O M P A NY F O R M A T I ON S E RV I CE
I N C O R P O R A T ED L AW SOC I ETY O F
I R E L A ND
B L A C K H A LL P L A C E, D U B L I N.
Tel. 7 1 0 7 1 1. Telex 3 1 2 1 9 I L AW EI.
98