Coronavirus: Terminally ill man’s wedding wish granted as council uses ’emergency powers’

Des Codona learned in April that he may only have weeks left to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The 59-year-old told his children he had long wanted to marry their mother, Christine Meaney, but the time had never been right.

Due to restrictions on marriages during the coronavirus lockdown, he didn’t think it would be possible.

But as soon as their daughter Suzi learned of her father’s wish, she contacted Middlesbrough Council to seek special permission for her parents to marry in their home.

After a risk assessment, the council decided emergency powers could be used to fulfil their dream, even though weddings are currently suspended due to the pandemic.

On 30 April, with the legal paperwork done, registrar Dawn Galloway and her deputy Sarah Teece married the couple in their home in Hemlington, Middlesbrough.

Staff wore plastic gowns and visors throughout the ceremony.

The 60-year-old bride said she and her new husband were on cloud nine.

“Des is absolutely buzzing, it has really given him a lift. It has really picked him up and that has made me feel a lot better. It’s given him a real boost,” she said.

“He had been talking to our children Suzi, Michael and Katie… and Suzi got in touch with Dawn and it spiralled pretty quickly – that was on Tuesday and on Thursday we were married. It was very surreal.”

She said she was “over the moon” that the wedding staff “put their lives on the line to do something really good and kind”.

“They made us feel really at ease and relaxed and it was the best we could possibly hope for.”

Mr Codona said it was the best thing he had ever done.

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Applications received during the coronavirus lockdown for emergency weddings are called a Registrar General’s Licence, and Ms Galloway said they are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“In this instance, having spoken to the family and carried out a risk assessment, we felt it was something we could do for them,” she said.

“They are a lovely family and a lovely couple and we are really pleased that we were able to grant this wish and make it happen for them.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Terminally ill man’s wedding wish granted as council uses ’emergency powers’