Craig and Alistair unite in civil partnership

They were both married before – but now Craig Truesdale and Alistair Crossey have done “the open and honest thing” and have been united in a civil partnership.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Aug 2015, 14:06 BST
The civil partnership at Darver Castle in Dundalk - left to right - Craig's mother Agnes, he happy couple Craig Truesdale and Helen and William Crossey, Alkstair's parents, and Johnathan Crossey, Alistair's son from his previous marriage.The civil partnership at Darver Castle in Dundalk - left to right - Craig's mother Agnes, he happy couple Craig Truesdale and Helen and William Crossey, Alkstair's parents, and Johnathan Crossey, Alistair's son from his previous marriage.
The civil partnership at Darver Castle in Dundalk - left to right - Craig's mother Agnes, he happy couple Craig Truesdale and Helen and William Crossey, Alkstair's parents, and Johnathan Crossey, Alistair's son from his previous marriage.

Their former marriages were “conventional”. Alistair was wed for 10 years and Craig for eight.

Said Craig, “We met by chance on Facebook. Alistair is from Hillsborough and I’m from Craigavon, and we had our first date in a Portadown pub.

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“We were totally at ease with one another, it developed into love and we decided to take the plunge.”

It was a civil ceremony at Darver Castle in Dundalk which their parents attended.

“I suppose it’s a bit ironic that the ceremony was south of the border, where same-sex marriage will be legal from September. Civil partnerships are legal in the north, but we felt more at ease down south,” Craig continued.

“We won’t be going for full marriage in a ceremony in the Republic, as it would be pointless – it would not be recognised in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want any problems.

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“We want to remain happy, and hope and pray Northern Ireland will follow suit.

“Supporters say it will be inevitable (Northern Ireland is the only part of the British Isles not conforming) and we really hope we can wed soon. We’re in a partnership for a couple of months now and we’re really enjoying life together. We have set up home at Tullylish near Gilford and we’re totally accepted.”

He added that both sets of parents had no reservations. They are fully behind the couple and enjoyed the ceremony .

Craig and Alistair honeymooned in Portugal, and they both regard themselves as “husbands”. They work in the same sector – both are store managers, Craig with a Portadown company and Alistair in Holywood. “

Craig and Alistair are supporters of the Amnesty International Equal Marriage Campaign, through ‘SoMe’, which is backed by the Equality Commission.

Related topics:PortadownCraigavonFacebookHillsboroughDundalk