News

Brexit High Court legal challenge ruling due to be announced today

Victims campaigner Raymond McCord will hear the outcome of his legal challenge to Brexit today at the High Court in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell
Victims campaigner Raymond McCord will hear the outcome of his legal challenge to Brexit today at the High Court in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell Victims campaigner Raymond McCord will hear the outcome of his legal challenge to Brexit today at the High Court in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE outcome of a Northern Ireland legal bid to stop the UK's planned departure from the European Union will be known today.

Judgment in the separate cases taken by victims' campaigner Raymond McCord and a cross-party group of politicians will be made by Justice Paul Maguire this morning at the High Court in Belfast following a three day hearing earlier this month.

Mr McCord, whose son Raymond McCord jnr was murdered by the UVF in north Belfast in 1997, is concerned that money from the EU, which goes towards victims of the Troubles, may be discontinued.

His legal team claim it would be unlawful to begin the formal process of the UK leaving the EU without a parliamentary vote.

They also claim it could undermine the UK's treaty obligations under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the peace process.

It is the first challenge of its kind in Northern Ireland.

Judgment has been reserved following a similar legal action in England with a ruling expected next week.

Ciaran O’Hare, a solicitor representing Mr McCord, said his client would appeal if the judge did not rule in his favour.

A cross-party group of MLAs have mounted separate bids to have the process for quitting the EU declared unlawful.

The 'Break down BREXIT' campaign outside the High Court in Belfast earlier this month. Picture by Hugh Russell
The 'Break down BREXIT' campaign outside the High Court in Belfast earlier this month. Picture by Hugh Russell The 'Break down BREXIT' campaign outside the High Court in Belfast earlier this month. Picture by Hugh Russell

Alliance’s David Ford, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd and Steven Agnew of the Green Party have argued that a Brexit vote in the Assembly should also be required.

British prime minister Theresa May has said she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process for confirming the UK is to leave, by the end of March.