Stormont’s First Minister cannot use joint office as ‘shield’ to hide from court challenge – judge

NI First Minister Paul Girvan is not legally represented in the case brought by Sean Napier. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

Stormont’s First Minister cannot use his joint office as a shield to hide from a legal challenge against the DUP’s boycott of cross border political meetings, a judge has warned.

Mr Justice Scoffield told the High Court in Northern Ireland that he was concerned that Paul Givan and junior minister Gary Middleton are not legally represented in ongoing judicial review proceedings against their party.