A judge today turned down the first-ever adoption application by an unmarried couple in Northern Ireland.
Even though it involved the natural mother of an eight-year-old girl and her male partner, Mr Justice John Gillen said it was up to parliament to reform any outdated legislation.
The couple, from Co Armagh, who took the case claiming current adoption laws infringed on their human rights, cannot be identified.
They did not attend the judgment at the Northern Ireland High Court, but their solicitor confirmed they would be appealing the decision.
The mother has been in a relationship with her partner since before the child was born, living together for most of that time. He has treated the girl as if she was his own daughter, and they are in all respects a stable family unit apart from remaining unmarried, the court was told.
The natural father has played no role in or made any contribution to the child's upbringing.
Under current laws, however, only single people or married couples can apply to adopt in Northern Ireland, although this is expected to be reviewed in 12 months' time. In this case, the mother would technically have lost her parental rights if her partner had made a successful individual attempt.
Despite reforms to the legislation having already been introduced in England and Wales, Mr Justice Gillen emphasised how different social attitudes may exist in Northern Ireland. The chronic shortage of prospective adopters in Britain does not exist in the North either, he added.
The couple has six weeks to appeal.