Football hooligan laws: Naomi Long has 'fundamentally shifted' position after 'arrogantly dismissing' concerns - MLA
Stormont’s justice minister “arrogantly dismissed” concerns that laws to control hooliganism at Irish League football grounds were not enforceable – but has now “fundamentally shifted” her position, an MLA has said.
Timothy Gaston said a statement by Naomi Long that her officials are “working constructively” with colleagues in the Department for Communities (DfC) is an acknowledgment that there is a problem, which the Alliance leader had initially dismissed.
It relates to a challenge brought by Jamie Bryson over the laws which enforce football banning orders and regulate fan behaviour at some local games. He pointed out that the legislation has not been updated to reflect changes to the governance of the top tiers.
Minister Long’s justice department (DoJ) initially said it was a matter for Gordon Lyons’s DfC – something they rejected. The justice minister then said she was satisfied that authorities can still legally enforce the powers despite the legislation not having been updated – prompting a judicial review by Mr Bryson.
Mr Gaston asked the justice minister whether her DoJ is considering any legislative amendment in relation to the issue. Mrs Long said the matter “is now the subject of live judicial review proceedings so I am unable to comment on the substance of this case. Officials in my Department and the DfC are working constructively in response”.
The TUV MLA told the News Letter: “Regardless of any live court action, the answer from Minister Long is revealing.
“Just a few weeks ago she was saying that there was no need for action or palming the matter off onto another department.
“Now that position has fundamentally shifted with the Minister saying that officials in her office are ‘working constructively in response’.
“A little humility from Minister Long would not be misplaced. Before any judicial review was launched - and the associated expense to the public purse incurred - the issue was flagged to the Justice Minister and she arrogantly dismissed the idea that there could be a problem. Once this matter is concluded, the cost to the tax payer will be a subject I will explore with the department.”
DoJ did not respond to a request for comment.