Mr McCall and Mr Taddeucci remain in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, with their recruitment company. Mr McCall, now 57, met Mr Taddeucci, now 50, in 1999 while on holiday in Spain and the romance blossomed from there. Mr McCall said he and his partner were "ecstatic" at the news, which came after an incredibly stressful 13-year battle. In today's statement, the ECHR said the Italian ruling was a "restrictive interpretation of the concept of a family member". Auckland Barrister Marie Dyhrberg QC has been supporting Mr McCall and Mr Taddeucci since day one and said the case set a precedent that would bring other countries into line.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 30, 2016 21:30 UTC