Challenge over proposed Irish language policy to be heard in High Court

A legal challenge against Belfast City Council over its proposed new Irish language policy is set to be heard in full at the High Court next month.

The legal action has been brought by Ann McClure, the same woman who challenged the flying of the Palestinian flag at City Hall earlier this week.

At a High Court hearing on Friday, it was said that the two issues are part of the same case.

It was decided that a two-day hearing will be held in mid-January to hear the case in full.

The council voted in favour of adopting a new draft Irish language policy in October, but the decision was then challenged in a so-called call-in by unionists.

Legal opinion has been sought on the issue by the council but has not yet been received, and the matter is on hold at City Hall.

At the same time, Ms McClure, a member of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party has gone to the courts to try to overturn the decision.

She has insisted that she is acting in a personal capacity rather than on behalf of her party.

Her bid to have the Palestinian flag taken down on Tuesday was rejected by the High Court.

On Monday evening, councillors voted by 32 votes to 28 to fly the flag for one day. It went up at midnight on Monday and was taken down at dusk on Tuesday.

Case background

The case centres on decision-making procedures followed by Belfast City Council, focusing on the standing orders in place and local government laws.

Derry City and Strabane Council has been granted ‘notice party’ status in the case, which means it is entitled to have a legal representative.

The council’s lawyer told the court that the standing orders in Derry City and Strabane were slightly different but it still wanted to be involved in the case.

The nine other councils have been offered the opportunity to send representatives.

The Department for Communities, which oversees local government, is already represented in court.

At Friday’s short hearing, Ms McClure was in court along with her spokesperson Jamie Bryson.

Outside court, he was asked why Ms McClure was reportedly “on holiday” during the Palestinian flag proceedings on Tuesday.

He said: "Ms McClure had a pre-arranged trip to London so she was not out of the jurisdiction, she was in the United Kingdom and she left about lunchtime that day.

“Ms McClure was engaged on this issue from as far back as the week before.”

Members of the Irish language group Conradh na Gaelige were also there.

Outside court, Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh from the group said he hoped the legal issues would be resolved quickly and the new Irish language policy adopted.

He said: “We are very hopeful that this will come back in front of council, that it will be endorsed by both a legal opinion and a majority of councillors, and in the very near future we will see equality for the Irish language right across the city.”

A full hearing in the case is due to start on 14 January.

Before that, Belfast City Council is due to meet again on 8 January.