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Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill urges Dublin to 'act in our interests' over Brexit

Michelle O'Neill said the ruling "again ignores the will of the people of the north who voted by a majority to stay in the European Union". Picture by Mal McCann
Michelle O'Neill said the ruling "again ignores the will of the people of the north who voted by a majority to stay in the European Union". Picture by Mal McCann Michelle O'Neill said the ruling "again ignores the will of the people of the north who voted by a majority to stay in the European Union". Picture by Mal McCann

The new leader of Sinn Fein at Stormont has said today's Brexit ruling ignores the will of the people.

The devolved assembly will not have to be consulted when the British Parliament votes on triggering EU exit negotiations by the end of March, the Supreme Court concluded.

Michelle O'Neill called on the Dublin government to help secure special status for Northern Ireland within the EU once the UK leaves - despite Britain's highest court rejecting that argument.

She said: "Clearly the ruling again ignores the will of the people of the north who voted by a majority to stay in the European Union."

In its judgment, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled not only did devolved bodies have no role in deciding the future of the UK as a whole in the EU, Northern Ireland had no special status beyond this either.

The judges found, while Northern Ireland's people had a fundamental constitutional voice on being part of the UK, that did not extend to being part of the EU.

Mrs O'Neill spoke to the Republic's foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan on Monday night.

She said: "We believe that the north needs to have designated status.

"Clearly the onus is now on the Irish government to step up to the plate.

"They need to act in the interests of all the citizens of this island because they will be at the negotiating table and it is important that they act in our interests and make sure that we do receive special status given the nature of where we are here."

Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU referendum by a majority of 56 per cent to 44 per cent.

Mrs O'Neill said Brexit would undermine the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which ended decades of violence and the principle of consent to change held by the people of the north.

She said human rights legislation underpinned the agreement.

"The failure to recognise the will of the people of the north is a failure by the Tory government, continually refusing to acknowledge the will of what the people here have asked for.

"Brexit will absolutely undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the principle of consent."