Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has obtained permission to intervene in legal action over the Stormont administration’s ongoing failure to implement an Irish language strategy.
He was granted participation status in campaign group Conradh na Gaeilge’s ongoing High Court proceedings against the Executive Committee and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
The development came as Mr Bryson’s separate challenge against plans to install Irish language signs at Belfast Grand Central Station faces a delay due to potential overlap between the two cases.
A judge indicated that a plan for how to deal with the separate judicial reviews will be mapped out next month.
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The High Court has twice ruled previously, in 2017 and again in 2022, that the power-sharing government is in breach of an obligation to adopt a blueprint.
The continued failure contravenes the 1998 Northern Ireland Act, successive judges held.
Amid an ongoing alleged violation of the legal duty, the language campaigners issued fresh judicial review proceedings against both the power-sharing cabinet and the Communities Minister.
They are now seeking a judicial order to end the continued failure to deliver a strategy.
Meanwhile, Conradh na Gaeilge also has rights to participate in Mr Bryson’s bid to judicially review Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for approving the installation of Irish signs at Grand Central.
He claims the decision to allocate £150,000 for the train station project was so controversial and cut across other Stormont Departments that the issue should have been brought to the Executive Committee for discussion and agreement.
By failing to take that step, Ms Kimmins breached the Ministerial Code, the high-profile activist contends.
Originally listed for hearing this month, the case was put back amid issues over the potential lodging of new affidavits.
In court on Wednesday, Mr Justice McAliden identified a possible link between the two separate challenges and put them on hold until mid-February to see if they should be dealt with together.
Granting Mr Bryson’s application to intervene in proceedings mounted by Conradh na Gaeilge, the judge cited the campaign group’s similar rights in the Grand Central Station case.
“What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,” he said.
“I can’t see any justification for keeping him out.”
Mr Justice McAlinden also responded to concerns raised by the loyalist campaigner over the disclosure of documents in separate proceedings by suggesting there should be an apology about how it happened.
Adjourning both cases, the judge predicted it would not further undermine the goal of achieving Irish language and Ulster Scots strategies.
He added: “No matter what the court does, I do not perceive that will be seen this side of Christmas. I’m not saying which year.”
Speaking outside court, Mr Bryson said: “I welcome that I am now granted intervenor status, in order to support Minister Lyons in the application brought against him with regards to the Irish language strategy.”