John O’Meara challenged refusal to allow him to receive the contributory welfare payment after his partner died
John O'Meara, an unmarried father of three, successfully campaigned for a law change in Ireland to allow unmarried bereaved partners access to contributory pensions. His Supreme Court case, triggered by the death of his partner Michelle Batey, led to the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill. This bill grants qualifying cohabitants access to contributory pensions, the Bereaved Parent's Grant, and the Bereaved Partners Non-Contributory Pension, with payments backdated to the date of the Supreme Court judgment.
