Republican News · Thursday 5 December 2002

Sinn Féin go to court

Sinn Féin's judicial review against an Electoral Commission decision not to award a policy development grant of £100,000 to the party began in Belfast High Court on Friday 29 November.

The SDLP, DUP and UUP qualified for the grant because they have at least two MPs, but Sinn Fein were excluded because their four MPs refused to take an oath of allegiance to the British Queen.

Barrister for Sinn Fein, Seamus Treacy QC, said the decision was "as blatant an act of discrimination as one could come across".

He referred to an affidavit sworn by Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew, in which she said it was party policy to refuse to take an oath to the British monarchy as Sinn Féin is committed to self determination for the Irish people and does not recognise the sovereignty of the monarchy in any part of Ireland.

Treacy pointed out that a number of Labour MPs also objected to taking the oath and in some instances crossed their fingers behind their backs when taking it.

Reserving judgement, Mr Justice Coghlin said it was an interesting and important case and that he hoped to give his decision as soon as possible.

Speaking to An Phoblacht, Gildernew said Sinn Fein has twice the required number of MPs required for this policy development grant and is entitled to it as of right. "The decision to exclude us was discriminatory and undemocratic and it needs to be noted that the monies which Sinn Féin is entitled to have been allocated to the other parties on top of their own financial entitlement," she said. "It discriminates against our political beliefs and gives our political opponents an unfair advantage and misrepresents the level playing field upon which elections are fought."

She said the decision by the Electoral Commission is part of the old failed agenda which for years attempted to ignore or deny the Sinn Féin mandate.