‘I didn’t know Vegas wedding was legal’
changed during reviews in 2011 and 2013 but she signed declarations that she was not married or living with a partner.
However, they were later able to discover her marriage certificate. Social welfare inspector Helen O’Reilly previously told the court Ms Burke’s wedding certificate confirmed she wed her partner on November 6, 2010, at the Holywood Wedding Chapel in LA.
Giving evidence, Ms Burke said she had gone to America for a few days with a large group for a 30th birthday party. Questioned by her barrister about the wedding she claimed ‘we just thought it was funny to do it’ and it was for ‘for a laugh’.
‘I honestly didn’t think it was legal,’ she insisted.
Asked why she did not remember much about the ceremony, Ms Burke replied: ‘Because we were drunk.’
‘They were walking up and down the strip a few times and saying, “Do you want to get married?” We thought it’d be funny, like.’
Ms Burke insisted her partner was not living with her at that time but had since moved in and they claimed family allowance. Judge John Brennan had compared the case to the comedy film The Hangover, starring Bradley Cooper, about the antics of a group of men at a bachelor party in Las Vegas.
Ruling yesterday he said the marriage was valid. However, he accepted submissions from Matthew Holmes that his client, of Cappagh Road, Finglas, Dublin, could rely on the defence of ‘honest though unreasonable belief’.
Dismissing the case, Judge Brennan said he had studied Ms Burke’s demeanour when she testified and concluded that her evidence was effectively uncontroverted.