Sinn Fein's legal battle for a share of committee posts in Belfast City Council has cleared the first hurdle. The party, which is the joint largest with 13 seats, has been granted leave to bring a judicial review case in the High Court.
Cllr Tom Hartley is seeking a declaration that his party's exclusion from the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of 16 committees and 42 other bodies is unlawful. He has also accused the council of discrimination and violation of two fundamental principles of democracy, equal representation and participation.