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Brexit challenge: High Court in Belfast rejects legal case | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A judge at the High Court in Belfast has rejected two legal challenges to Brexit in Northern Ireland. | |
He ruled there was nothing in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which meant the government could not trigger Article 50. | |
The separate proceedings, one brought by a cross-party group of MLAs and another from a victims' campaigner, were heard earlier this month. | The separate proceedings, one brought by a cross-party group of MLAs and another from a victims' campaigner, were heard earlier this month. |
The UK as a whole voted to leave the EU, 56% of NI voters wanted to remain. | |
A challenge by politicians from Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the Alliance Party and the Green Party suggested that the government could not trigger Article 50 - the formal legal process for leaving the EU - without a parliamentary vote. | A challenge by politicians from Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the Alliance Party and the Green Party suggested that the government could not trigger Article 50 - the formal legal process for leaving the EU - without a parliamentary vote. |
They said the Brexit decision should be examined and voted on by parliament, or, failing that, by the Northern Ireland Assembly. | |
Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries and who now campaigns for victims of violence during Northern Ireland's Troubles, brought the other legal bid. | Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries and who now campaigns for victims of violence during Northern Ireland's Troubles, brought the other legal bid. |
His lawyer argued that the Good Friday peace agreement meant Westminster had given sovereignty of Northern Ireland over to its people, and that leaving the EU would have a "catastrophic effect" for the peace process. | His lawyer argued that the Good Friday peace agreement meant Westminster had given sovereignty of Northern Ireland over to its people, and that leaving the EU would have a "catastrophic effect" for the peace process. |
Mr McCord's concerns came amid worries that EU money for peace projects that help Troubles victims in Northern Ireland could be ended. | |
Major constitutional changes such as leaving the EU could not therefore be imposed by a Westminster government, Mr McCord's barrister said. | Major constitutional changes such as leaving the EU could not therefore be imposed by a Westminster government, Mr McCord's barrister said. |
But barristers for the government and the Northern Ireland Executive had said there was no legal barrier to Brexit. |