Figure skater fails to get order requiring her selection for Irish team

A figure skater has been refused a mandatory High Court order aimed at compelling the sport’s national governing body to select her for international skating events.

Skater Fianait Bligh (18) sought orders compelling the Ice Skating Association of Ireland to comply with representations allegedly made to her, if she fulfilled certain criteria, that she would take part in International Skating Union events.

Ms Bligh, from Dublin and now living in Scotland, competes at junior level. She claimed she was being discriminated against. She said, relying on the alleged representations, she had trained in Canada and Scotland.

The association denied her claims and said that while Ms Bligh was picked for the Irish development squad, that did not mean she was entitled to orders requiring selection for the national team.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ruled Ms Bligh had failed to make a case entitling her to the mandatory orders. The judge stressed that the court was told that if Ms Bligh met the required standard, she might yet represent Ireland.

Ms Bligh was clearly upset at the outcome. She finished school to skate full-time.