Residency ruling backs referendum move, says McDowell

Michael McDowell said his decision to hold the citizenship referendum has been vindicated by a preliminary court ruling backing the right of a Chinese woman whose child was born in Belfast to reside legally in Britain.

The European Court of Justice yesterday said the British government’s refusal to grant residency rights to Man Levette Chen and her Belfast-born child breaches EU discrimination laws. If the decision is upheld in a final ruling later this year, it will mean Mrs Chen and her child can reside in Britain.

Mr McDowell said the ruling confirmed his fears that the basis of Ireland’s rights of citizenship constituted “a significant loophole with significant European dimensions”.