Wife of minister katherine zappone dies after a short illness

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone says she's heartbroken at the death of her wife.

Dr Ann Louise Gilligan passed away after a short illness. The couple had been together since 1981 and married in British Columbia in 2003. In 2006 they launched a landmark case to have their marriage officially recognised under Irish law - which many say was the official beginning of the campaign for marriage equality in Ireland. Speaking on the day the referendum was passed in 2015, Dr Gilligan said it was a historic moment.