21/04/2026
Belfast Flag Decision “Procedurally Unlawful” as Battle Moves to Appeal
A TUV spokesman said:
“Today’s ruling demonstrated the clear procedural illegality in Belfast City Council’s decision to hoist the flag of Palestine.
“TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell expressly challenged the procedurally defective nature of the decision at the council meeting, but was ignored by the City Solicitor. It is now clear the City Solicitor was wrong, and unionism was right.
“In respect of the other issue regarding the present standing orders, which allow a legal opinion to act as a determative adjudication, this issue will now be scrutinised by the Court of Appeal. If it is ultimately the case that decisions on minority safeguards are subject to subjective opinions by a lawyer appointed by the majority, this renders nugatory the whole purpose of minority protections.
“One need only look at the preposterous legal opinion on the Palestine flag decision, which absurdly offered a political decision on whether the flag would or would not impact the Jewish community.
“It is of course true that if majority rule now reins in councils, then unionist dominated councils must be far more assertive in order to match the aggressiveness of pan-Republicanism in Belfast.
“Our deputy leader Cllr McDowell will today be writing to Belfast City Council requiring confirmation that no call-in on the divisive Irish Language policy will proceed until such times as the Court of Appeal proceedings have concluded."
