THE BELFAST businessman who successfully challenged the DUP's boycott of north-south meetings in the high court last night said he was "delighted" to see "common sense is prevailing".
Sean Napier told The Irish News that he launched the judicial review because he believes the boycott "attacks the Good Friday Agreement" and that the DUP are "stamping all over people".
He said the motivation behind the legal action was "non-political" and was about the "rule of law".
Mr Napier, who describes himself as a republican but declined to say whether he is a member of Sinn Féin, previously campaigned on behalf of former finance minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.
The one-time journalist and former media lecturer, who was represented by McIvor-Farrell Solicitors, said he sought leave for the judicial review independently of any political party and was acting "on behalf of everybody".
"I did this to protect the Good Friday Agreement – the DUP is too fond of an a la carte approach to the agreement and likes to cherry pick those elements that suit its agenda," he said.
"There is a meeting due to discuss cross-border health and the response to Covid, so people's lives are on the line here, then there's also the billions of pounds of Peace funding that needs to be signed off."
Mr Napier welcomed Mr Justice Scoffield's ruling.
"I am delighted that the rule of law has been upheld and that common sense is prevailing," he said last night.
"An important part of the Good Friday Agreement has been defended."
