Leeds United footballer and model get married in landmark wedding after winning court battle
Yesterday afternoon, outside of Belfast, Republic of Ireland midfielder Eunan O’Kane and model Laura Lacole exchanged vows in a ceremony.
After winning a High Court battle, a professional football player and a model tied the knot in Northern Ireland’s first lawful humanist ceremony. Yesterday, outside of Belfast, Republic of Ireland midfielder Eunan O’Kane and model Laura Lacole married the knot. About 200 people attended the wedding yesterday afternoon, which featured a hand-fasting ceremony where the couple’s hands were bound together with ribbons as a sign of their union as husband and wife.
In the past, humanist marriages were not recognized by Northern Ireland legislation, necessitating a separate civil ceremony for the couple. But a judge determined last month that this unfairly deprived them equality with religious couples.
For the bride, 27, and groom, 26, he issued an order granting temporary authorization to a British Humanist Association (BHA) celebrant to execute a legally binding and lawful wedding ceremony. The celebrant, Isabel Russo, stated: “It was a lovely ceremony with all the elements of a real humanist marriage, including family contributions and vows written by the couple themselves.
Despite the diversity of opinions and backgrounds represented in attendance, everyone agrees that it was a meaningful and touching event.” The pair was complimented by the British Humanist Association for “a lovely occasion that has been a joy for all in attendance”. As a guest at the wedding, Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK, remarked, “Laura and Eunan’s wedding today epitomises what marriages should be all about: beautiful, hand-crafted occasions that match perfectly to the deepest beliefs and values.” “We hope it proves to be the first of many such legal humanist ceremonies.”
Both Ms. Lacole and Mr. O’Kane identify as humanists, a nonreligious set of values that are centered on the welfare and experience of humans. Ms. Lacole had stated that she was the victim of discrimination in violation of the freedom of belief guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Humanists follow a scientific perspective on the world and think that people control their own fate. In addition, the 27-year-old model serves as vice-chair of the group Atheist NI.She had stated that the European Convention on Human Rights discriminated against her. The freedom of belief is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
