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North Ireland politicians win right to challenge Brexit based on Good Friday Agreement

Wednesday, September 28th 2016 - 11:29 UTC
Full article 13 comments
McCord contends Brexit will inflict damage on NI peace process and is concerned that money from the EU, which goes towards victims may be discontinued. McCord contends Brexit will inflict damage on NI peace process and is concerned that money from the EU, which goes towards victims may be discontinued.

A cross party group of politicians in Northern Ireland have won the right to mount a legal challenge over Brexit. They argue the Good Friday Agreement and peace process means there must be a Parliamentary vote if Northern Ireland is to leave the EU.

 A High Court judge rejected arguments the case should be dealt with along with legal actions in the UK. Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU by a 56% majority in June's referendum vote.

The group, including Alliance leader David Ford, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd and Steven Agnew, leader of the Green Party, are seeking to prevent the British government from formally triggering Brexit.

Raymond McCord, a victims campaigner whose son Raymond McCord Jr was killed by the UVF in north Belfast in 1997, is also mounting a bid to stop Brexit. The judge said that issues specific to Northern Ireland could “fall between the cracks” during challenges due to come before a London court. His decision clears the way for the politicians to make a fuller case at a two-day hearing in Belfast next week.

It will examine the group's claim that the Good Friday Agreement overrides any entitlement to quit the EU without a Parliamentary vote.

McCord also contends Brexit will inflict damage on the Northern Ireland peace process and is concerned that money from the European Union, which goes towards victims of the Troubles, may be discontinued.

Government lawyers argue that the prime minister can use historic Royal Prerogative powers to start the process of withdrawing from the EU.

Mr McCord welcomed the judge's ruling. “The judge wants to see that the Northern Irish issues are dealt with and the voice of the people is listened to,” he said.

“Brexit is like marriage whereby if the wife wants to sell the house, she requires the husband's consent.

”What I mean by this is that the British prime minister is saying that 'Brexit means Brexit' but what she has to understand is that she requires the consent of the people of Northern Ireland.”

Categories: Politics, International.

Top Comments

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  • Idlehands

    I agree. Britain also needs to vote on whether we want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK. My guess we'd bin them at the drop of a hat.

    If you're the scrawniest, sickly, flea infested dog in the pit, don't bite the only hand that feeds you.

    Sep 28th, 2016 - 11:40 am 0
  • gordo1

    @1 Idlehands

    I consider your comments to be a racist slur on the people of Ulster! Shame!

    Sep 28th, 2016 - 12:36 pm 0
  • Think

    Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
    You bloody scrawny sick, flea infested Catlick Paddy Jock dogs...
    Don't bite the Engrish hand that feeds you...
    Go after their bollocks...

    Sep 28th, 2016 - 02:08 pm 0
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