Northern Irish Lawyers, Ciaran O’Hare Solicitor (of McIvor Farrell Solicitors) and Conan Fegan BL, acting on behalf of the Victims Campaigner Raymond McCord, are currently performing a watching brief in London’s High Court today, in relation to the English challenges to the Article 50 process.
Their appearance in today’s proceedings were announced by Lord Pannick QC, lead counsel in the matter of Gina Miller. Lord Pannick QC advised the court of the current position in relation to Mr McCord’s case, in that Mr Justice Maguire presided over a 3-day hearing last week and judgment has been reserved. The court in London welcomed this update on the Northern Ireland position.
Thus far this morning, the court has been hearing submissions from Lord Pannick QC on behalf of Gina Miller. Essentially, the argument being made this morning is that only Parliament has the power to invoke Article 50, rather than the Prime Minister.
Solicitor Ciaran O’Hare says that he welcomes the submissions being made by Lord Pannick QC on behalf of Gina Miller, as similar points have been made in Mr McCord’s application in Belfast and therefore this mornings submissions support Mr McCords case.
He also says that Mr McCord’s case does go further, as in Mr McCord’s case it is argued that Northern Ireland has a veto to Brexit based on the contention that the people of Northern Ireland alone are sovereign in relation to any constitutional change for Northern Ireland.
The proceedings in London will last for the rest of today and then recommence on Monday and Tuesday.
