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Bryson gets permission to challenge station Irish signs

Shutterstock Jamie Bryson has blond short hair, shaved in a number one cut. He is wearing a grey suit and pink shirt. He is talking to a man whose head is in shot from behind. Shutterstock
Jamie Bryson said he hoped the end result of his challenge would be no Irish signage at Grand Central Station

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has been given permission by the High Court to challenge plans to have Irish language signs installed at Grand Central Station in Belfast.

He was granted leave to seek a judicial review into Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' decision to approve the £150,000 scheme at the city's new public transport hub.

A judge ruled Mr Bryson had established a case that the move was so controversial it required agreement from the entire Northern Ireland Executive.

The case has been listed for a full hearing in September.

Proceedings were issued after Ms Kimmins announced in March that Irish signage were to be installed at Grand Central and on ticket vending machines.

She said the decision was based on a commitment to promote the language and the importance of the station reflecting all citizens.

Representing himself in the case, Mr Bryson contended she unlawfully breached the ministerial code by failing to refer the issue to the Executive Committee for discussion and agreement.

Under Stormont rules any controversial or cross-cutting decision should be tabled for consideration by the full power-sharing executive.

Mr Bryson argued the test was met based on publicly expressed views by a number of senior unionist politicians.

Disputing that assessment, counsel for the minister said a TUV petition in the assembly against the dual language signage attracted no signatures of support from any other MLAs.

Tony McGleenan KC told the court the mechanism deployed by Timothy Gaston in an attempt to have the issue referred to the executive "registered a nil return".

But according to Mr Bryson, the petition could not have achieved anything more than a discussion about the planned Irish signage.

The station, with its transparent windows, sign in white letters which reads 'Belfast Grand Central Station' and green leafy plants in front.
Irish language campaigners had criticised the lack of Irish language signs when the station opened in September

Mr Justice Scoffield was told that the issue has already been raised at an executive meeting last month.

Granting leave following submissions, Mr Justice Scoffield held that there was sufficient merit in Mr Bryson's arguments to distinguish it from other "hopeless cases".

With no planned work to install Irish language signage at the station set to begin for at least six months, the case was listed for a full hearing in September.

Speaking outside court, Mr Bryson stated: "It is unfortunate that so defiant is this Sinn Féin minister that it's going to require the court to uphold the law and her legal responsibilities which she has not complied with in this case."

He added: "The end result, it is hoped, is that Irish language (signs) will not feature at Grand Central Station."