The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

14.—(1) In subsection (1) of section 2 (legitimacy of children of certain void marriages), for “act of intercourse resulting in the birth” substitute “insemination resulting in the birth or, where there was no such insemination, the child’s conception”.

(2) After subsection (2) insert the following subsections—

“(2A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), that subsection applies notwithstanding that the belief that the marriage was valid was due to a mistake of law.

(2B) In relation to a child born after the commencement of paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, it shall be presumed for the purposes of subsection (1), unless the contrary is shown, that one of the parties to the void marriage reasonably believed at the time of the insemination resulting in the birth or, where there was no such insemination, the child’s conception (or at the time of the celebration of the marriage if later) that the marriage was valid.”.