6.  The applicant was born in 1942 and lives in Belfast. 7.  His wife died on 31 December 1993, leaving him with two children born in 1984 and 1986. His second claim for widows' benefits was made on 11 May 2000 and was rejected on 24 May 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no such social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom law. 8.  The applicant was born in 1952 and lives in Enniskillen. 9.  His wife died on 11 November 1998, leaving him with two children born in 1985 and 1987. His second claim for widows' benefits was made on 10 May 2000 and was rejected on 18 May 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no such social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom law. 10.  The applicant was born in 1958 and lives in Port Talbot. 11.  His wife died on 16 September 1990, leaving him with a child born in 1990. His second claim for widows' benefits was made on 3 May 2000 and was rejected some time after on the ground that he was not entitled to widows' benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom law.