Couple's Mexican nuptials wrecked by swine flu outbreak

Apr 30 2009 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON couple’s plans for a sun-soaked wedding in Mexico have been dashed by the swine flu outbreak.

John Paul Murray (32), known as JP, and 30-year-old Debbie White, who were engaged in 2000, had been planning their big day for over a year.

It was first proposed as a 30th birthday present for Debbie, but they later decided to tie the knot this Wednesday at a five-star hotel near Cancun.

However, their plans evaporated when the Foreign Office announced this week the cancellation of all non-essential flights to Mexico and the USA.

John Paul, a Mac operator at the S&UN pre-press facility in Blantyre, and Debbie, who works for insurance firm esure, have a one-year-old son Jack.

John Paul said: “Since the realisation that our perfect wedding was not going to happen the way we wanted it, Debbie has been crying non-stop.

“She went for her final dress fitting last weekend, and the two kilts for myself and son Jack were to be picked up on Wednesday, before our scheduled flight on Friday, May 1.”

An upset John Paul said he could not believe that everything that he and Debbie have worked towards is now all pie in the sky.

He added: “We so wanted to get married in a special way to mark our 14-year relationship.

“We wanted something that we would both remember for the rest of our lives, now all that is gone.

“We feel our wedding has been cursed and we are left with a bitter taste in our mouths.

“There should be no problem with being reimbursed, but that’s the least of our troubles.”

So far 152 people are thought to have died from the virus in Mexico. There have been two confirmed cases of the virus in Scotland.

It is a version of the H1N1 strain of flu which has never been seen before.

Symptoms in humans appear to be similar to ordinary flu like fever, cough, sore throat, aches, chills and fatigue.

The UK Government has significant stockpiles of two anti-viral drugs - Tamiflu and Relenza - to tackle any outbreak here.

People have also been encouraged to take simple infection control precautions, such as hand washing, covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze.

A spokesman for NHS Lanarkshire confirmed that none of the 22 cases being screened or treated for the virus in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, live or work in the Lanarkshire area.

John Paul and Debbie have this week been trying to secure different wedding plans at home.

The couple received confirmation yesterday that they will be able to be married in St Joseph’s RC Church in Blantyre on May 23 and Debbie will get to wear her wedding dress after all, albeit in a more intimate setting with close family.

The family will have a meal and then go onto their reception in The Parkville.

“At least we can still have our wedding, although Debbie and myself will probably never get over the huge disappointment,” said John Paul.

“However, we will just have to take it on the chin. Better not being able to travel, than arriving in Cancun and one or both of us, or our son Jack, contracting the killer virus.”