A judge ruled yesterday that Sinn Fein's Mr Martin McGuinness must clear a preliminary hurdle before he can challenge the onus on MPs to swear an oath of allegiance to the British queen. Mr Justice Kerr said in the High Court in Belfast he proposed to convene an oral hearing to consider the granting of leave to the Mid-Ulster MP before he can apply for judicial review.
Mr McGuinness is challenging the decision of House of Commons Speaker Ms Betty Boothroyd to deny him and the party leader Mr Gerry Adams MP, the facilities of Parliament available to other MPs.
They have been excluded because they have not taken their seats: to take their seats they have to swear the oath, which both have refused to do.