THE parents of an Irish language school pupil are attempting to go to the UK's highest court in a bid to secure a move from its current 117-year-old building in west Belfast.
They are seeking to overturn a ruling that former education minister Peter Weir was entitled to refuse Gaelscoil an Lonnain's proposed relocation.
Senior judges in Belfast yesterday formally refused leave to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. But the outcome clears the way for the parents to directly request a hearing in London.
The school wants to move from its Falls Road premises to the former site of St Comgall's School in the Divis area.
In 2015 its Board of Governors submitted a relocation proposal to the Department of Education and support was secured from the Education Authority, Education and Training Authority and Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta - the statutory body set up to advise the Department of Education on compliance with the obligation to facilitate the development Irish language education.
Mr Weir turned down the proposals in June 2016 amid concerns about the school's sustainability.
A judicial review was sought amid claims he had failed to comply with a statutory duty to develop Irish medium education and in October 2017 a High Court judge quashed his decision.
But last month Court of Appeal judges reversed the verdict.
In court yesterday Fiona Doherty QC, representing the parents behind the legal challenge, applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, stressing there had been no objection to the development proposal from relevant authorities and surrounding schools.
The judges refused leave - again by a majority decision. It means lawyers will now ask the Supreme Court to hear a case they believe has significant public importance.
