Retailers oppose Belfast's sex shop ban

The long-running dispute between Belfast City Council and the owners of the city's sex shops has taken a new twist.

It has emerged that a second shop owner is to appeal against the council's blanket ban on sex shops.

Belfast council is trying to prevent any sex shop from operating in the city although several have been doing so, apparently illegally, for many years.

The council has the power to designate one area where they can operate, but has instead tried to impose a total ban.

Last month, the would-be manager of one sex shop was granted leave for a judicial review of the council's ban.

Now a second would-be manager, of a shop called Mis Behavin, has also been grated leave for a judicial review of the council's refusal to issue a licence.

One of the grounds on which Mr Justice Weatherup granted leave was that two unidentified religious groups had objected to the licence, but Miss Behavin Ltd had not been informed about them.