Gibraltar government are raising legal marriage age due to ‘Irish gypsy gangs'
GIBRALTAR'S government are bringing in legislation to increase the legal age for marriage to 18 amid fears 'Irish gypsy gangs' have exploited their system.
At a budget speech this week, Chief Minister Fabien Ricardo announced plans to increase the minimum age for marriage from 16 after a warning from their Civil Status & Registration Office officials.
He said the UK raised the minimum age in February 2023 to 18 in England Wales and that it had not been 'a live issue' in Gibraltar.
'Recently, however, the diligent senior members of the CSRO have noticed a marked increase in marriages involving predominantly girls between the ages of 16 and 18.'
'Whilst each case is rigorously assessed it has become increasingly evident to the government that certain groups, I won't disclose which, are seeking to exploit our lower legal age for marriages.'
In a later interview with GBC News he said the group involved are of Irish heritage.
'We've detected that there are Irish gypsy gangs coming to Gibraltar to have marriages carried out involving girls predominantly under the age of 18.
'We're not going to tolerate Gibraltar being used to abuse those who might not be able to make the right decision to enter into a marriage.'
He told the Gibraltar Parliament this week that he has given instruction that no marriage licences should be approved for anyone under 18 until the legislation has been considered.
'This is not a trifling matter it's a matter that can affect the reputation of our jurisdiction and which can permanently like the life of an exploited minor.'
'Gibraltar will have no role to play in such abuse, Madam speaker.'
Asked in his interveiw with GBC New how many people have been involved he said:
'I can't tell you an exact number I can tell you that the head of CSRO is concerned by an increasing number and a trend.'
'Look, just one person becoming victim to a marriage which is not the sort of choice that they should be making is sufficiently concerning for the government of Gibraltar to have to act.'
He said officials got in touch with his office last week after the trend came to their notice in recent 'weeks or months'.
'It's very concerning Gibraltar doesn't need to be in that space.'
'Of course, we promote Gibraltar as a place to come and married but not where there is something suspect about the potential marriage.'
The Chief Minister's Office in Gibraltar and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs have been contacted to find if they have been in contact with each other on the issue.
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