Judge to “immediately” consider landmark Brexit court case

Posted By: October 06, 2016

News Letter, Thursday, October 6, 2016

 Raymond McCord arrives at Belfast High Court on the morning of October 4, 2016.

A judge in Belfast today vowed to give immediate consideration to landmark legal bids to halt the United Kingdom’s planned departure from the European Union.

Mr. Justice Maguire’s pledge came as a three-day challenge to Brexit drew to a close at the High Court.

With similar litigation due to get under way in London, he is only being asked to rule on issues specific to Northern Ireland at this stage. Victims campaigner Raymond McCord and a cross-party group of MLAs have mounted separate bids to have the process for quitting the EU declared unlawful.

Following the hearing Mr. McCord, whose son Raymond Jr was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in 1997, delivered an upbeat assessment of his chances of succeeding.

He said: “I believe, and my legal team believes, he has the power to say Brexit can’t go ahead.”

Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process for confirming the UK is to leave, by the end of March 2017. But during the hearing, it was contended that the move is illegal without first securing Parliamentary authorization.

Even though the June 23 referendum backed Brexit, a 56% majority of voters in Northern Ireland wanted to remain. Mr. McCord believes they have a legal right to resist being forced out.

His lawyers argue that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has given the Northern Irish public sole sovereignty to decide on their future.

They also predicted Brexit would have a “catastrophic effect” on the peace process, causing constitutional upheaval amid renewed calls for a united Ireland. Politicians including Alliance MLA David Ford, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Fein Assemblyman John O’Dowd and Steven Agnew of the Green Party are also seeking to judicially review the British Government’s move towards quitting the EU.

The MLAs, whose case is backed by representatives of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland, claim an Act of Parliament is required before Brexit can take place.

They further contend that the Stormont Assembly should be consulted and asked for its consent.

In closing submissions today, David Scoffield QC suggested provisions within the Northern Ireland could become “a dead letter.”

Referring to the impact on devolution, he added: “This is not a case of a mere procedural defect. There’s been a complete failure on the part of the Northern Ireland Office to undertake any analysis on the issue.”

Counsel for the Secretary of State responded by insisting the Government is legally entitled to use the royal prerogative to carry out the people’s will to get out of the EU.

He described the power as “common currency” in making and withdrawing from international treaties – pointing out that it was also the method used to join the EU.

Rejecting claims that Parliament is being sidestepped in the process, the barrister said the legislative body will be involved in any law changes resulting from Brexit. According to his case, the 1998 Northern Ireland Act created no substantive legitimate expectation that its people will be consulted on before quitting the EU. He also attempted to rubbish arguments that a withdrawal would damage the Good Friday Agreement by stressing the Government remains committed to the peace process.

Stormont’s chief law officer, Attorney General John Larkin QC, also took an opposing stance to the MLAs involved in the litigation.

Looking to a post-Brexit future, he argued, “not one word or phrase in the Belfast Agreement” would be affected.

Mr. Larkin also pointed to the examples of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey – none of which are in the UK or EU – to back his case that the peace treaty can still work once the UK leaves.

Other grounds of challenge have been stayed due to their overlap with the proceedings at the High Court in London.

As the hearing in Belfast ended, Mr. Justice Maguire said: “I will be giving my immediate consideration to the case.

“What I suspect is going to happen is that at some stage the court will reconvene to discuss the situation vis à vis the stay issues.”

Outside court, Mr. McCord expressed delight with how the case had gone.

“I’m a lot more optimistic after listening to the legal arguments,” he said.

“It’s the wish of the people of Northern Ireland that we remain in the EU, something which most of the political parties in the Assembly, with the exception of the DUP, have recognized.

“Surely democracy must count for something in this country.”

Mr. McCord added: “Justice will be better served for victims by being in Europe. Europe has helped victims and the country as a whole to come together; I believe that would be lost with an exit because the British Government won’t support us the same way.”

Read more at: http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/judge-to-immediately-consider-landmark-brexit-court-case-1-7616696