Judge backs retired solicitor in virtual court dispute over marriage

A RETIRED solicitor embroiled in a virtual Family Court dispute with his estranged partner benefited from the assistance of a “MacMicro” friend who could help him with the technology, a judge has said.

Rodger Mernagh, 66, and his estranged partner, Gerlie Padero Mernagh,

a nurse, were involved in the dispute.

Mr Justice Williams had been due to start overseeing a trial at a family court hearing in Leeds on March 30. But he staged the trial via Skype instead because of the coronavirus crisis.

The judge has explained, in a written ruling published online, how the virtual hearing proceeded with few hitches.

“All involved abided in the main by the ground rules,” he said.

“(Mr Mernagh’s) need for occasional assistance with the technology demonstrated the benefit of having a ‘MacMicro’ friend in easy reach.” It comes as hundreds of court cases are being held over video to minimise the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Justice Williams added: “I think both the wife and husband were satisfied that the remote hearing had allowed them to put their cases and give their evidence in a fair way.” Ms Padero-Mernagh, 47, who said she and Mr Mernagh married 15 years ago in the Philippines, where she was born, had filed for divorce and wanted a share of their marital assets. Mr Mernagh objected.

He said their marriage was bigamous and invalid because Ms

Padero-Mernagh was married to another man at the time of the wedding ceremony.

Mr Mernagh said there could therefore be no divorce.

He said the marriage should instead be nullified.

The judge ruled in his favour and issued a decree of nullity.