A WOMAN has expressed "shock" at the decision of the Catholic Church to annul her marriage against her will.

She has been married for almost 40 years and has several children.

The decree of nullity was declared on psychological grounds after her husband applied for the annulment. The couple has been separated for more than five years.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she intended to appeal the decision to Rome.

"It has destroyed my life. The letter simply arrived in the door and gave no reason why the annulment was granted. It is declaring that my marriage never existed and against my will. I believe that it existed."

The nullity decision was made by the Cork Regional Marriage Tribunal and was confirmed by the National Marriage Appeals Tribunal. The head of the Cork tribunal, Fr Gerard Garrett, said that he could not comment on a particular case.

But he said his office always followed "clear principles of justice in dealing with all annulment cases".

"The respondent is always invited to agree or disagree with the proposed ground for nullity.

"He or she is always invited to personally appear before the tribunal to give evidence. In fact, if the person does not respond first time to the invitation, a second invitation will be sent out.

"But if the person does not wish to give evidence, or doesn't wish to appear, then the court has a right to proceed, even though a person doesn't want to cooperate."

However, he acknowledged that respondents should be informed in writing of their right to appeal a decree of nullity to Rome, and also be informed how to do so.

Fr Garrett said he understood many people would be shocked that a marriage could be declared null and void after so many years, but "if the evidence gathered from witnesses is sufficient to prove the nullity, than that is what has to be declared."

In 2002 the country's four regional marriage tribunals granted 371 decrees of nullity.

David Quinn
Religious Affairs Correspondent