METRO FREE Friday, December 11, 2009 Please see Page 15 A GAY sperm donor yesterday won a landmark court battle for access to see his son who is being raised by a lesbian couple. The Supreme Court ruled that, while he was not enti- tled to guardianship, he has natural rights over the three- year-old. Five judges unanimously found it was in the boys best interests to remain in contact with his biologi- cal father, overturning a decision by the High Court. The man had donated his sperm to the lesbian couple, who were his friends, so one of them could have a baby. The couple wanted the child to have knowledge of his father, while the donor, 41 wanted to be more of a favourite uncle. But their friendship deteriorated and he went to court when the couple planned to move to Australia for a year with the boy. Supreme Court judge Susan Denham found the sperm donor has rights as a natural father, adding he had formed a bond with the child. There is benefit to a child, in general, to have the soci- ety of his father, she said. I am satisfied that the learned High Court judge gave insufficient weight to this factor. The basic issue is the welfare of the child. The judge urged the parties to agree to terms of access before the case is dealt with back in the High Court. However, Justice Denham also found the lesbian cou- ple were not a family under the Constitution and said their relationship could not be weighed as such in the balance against the father. David Quinn, director of Catholic think-tank the Iona Institute, said the ruling respected the rights of both fathers and children, but said the Government must now regulate assisted reproduction to make it fully child centred. Gay-rights group Noise warned the ruling meant same- sex couples raising children had no legal protection, and called for access to civil marriage for same-sex couples. BY SARAH STACK Landmark win for gay sperm donor A member of the public takes a picture on the new Samuel Beckett Bridge after its official opening yesterday. Linking Guild Street on the northside to Sir John Rogersons Quay on the southside it will carry cars, bikes, pedestrians and eventually Luas trams across the Liffey. Full story: See Page 14 Picture: PA waiting FoR autos WIN! WIN! WIN! TICKETS TO BRAY ON ICE. SEE BACK PAGE insiDE toDaY see Page 11 waitress who slept with woods says sorry to his wife see Page 18 PLus MetroLife at the movies index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html