10-15% Of Irish Marriages Are "A Sham"

A leading marriage registrar has warned that more than one-in-ten marriages in Ireland are fake, and are being carried out purely for immigration purposes.

Denis Prior, superintendent registrar for the Health Service Executive east region, said he's seen ceremonies where two interpreters were required for a marriage, where "clearly the bride and groom couldn't understand each other".

He said registrars had limited powers to do anything about it.

16 people have been arrested so far this year for being involved in bogus marriages, with nine of those being deported.

Gardai say they have also intervened in 57 planned marriages, writing letters of objection because they believed they were a sham.

Typically what happens is this: a non-EU national, from Pakistan or India, seeks residency after marrying an EU citizen, often from an eastern European country like Latvia.

The EU national can be paid up to €10,000 to take part in the sham marriage.

Under EU-rules, which the Irish government fought in the European Court of Justice and lost, when an EU citizen marries, their non-EU spouse and members of his/her family are entitled to reside and move freely anywhere in Europe.

New figures show the numbers applying for residency rights based on marriage in Ireland rose from 1,207 in 2006 to 2,129 in 2009.

So far this year, 1,182 applications have been made on this basis - and it's likely to be even higher by the end of the year.

Pakistanis made 223 applications - the largest by any nationality - and almost a third of these are based on recent marriages to Latvian women.

There have been 131 applications from Nigerians and 71 applications from Indians.

There are worries that Eastern European gangs are organising these arranged marriages - and Gardai have received allegations of bigamy, human trafficking and false imprisonment.

Denis Prior says he gets "one or two requests a week" for help from registrars who suspect the marriage they are being asked to officiate at were bogus.

They cited indicators like:

• a man holding all the documents for a woman
• the bride and groom not knowing each other's address at the interview
• a bride having no friends at a ceremony
• the same people often attending different marriages.

Mr Prior works is in the eastern region, which carries out the most civil ceremonies every year - but the problem is thought to be a nationwide one.

The General Registry Office and the Social Protection Department are drawing up new guidelines, which may include a tougher interview process for prospective spouses.

It may include requirements to prove their life together by using photos, or asking where they first met or what they eat for breakfast if they have the same address.

Mr Pior says that would make a huge difference.

There have also been calls for changes to Irish law - at the moment it is not illegal to take part in a sham marriage for immigration purposes or to accept cash in return for getting married.