DUP denied sanctions challenge

Robinson and Dodds gave up ministries in rotation policy

Ministers from the Democratic Unionist Party have been refused permission to pursue a legal challenge over sanctions imposed on them in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Regional development minister Gregory Campbell and Maurice Morrow in social affairs, sought the court action against First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon.

Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon imposed sanctions on the DUP ministers last June, by withholding certain executive papers from them.

But in the High Court on Monday, a judge refused the DUP leave to apply for a judicial review of that decision and said he would give his reasons later in the week.

Mr Justice Kerr had considered his ruling over the weekend following a hearing on Friday.

That hearing was told the first and deputy first ministers had withheld the papers from the DUP because of concerns they would disclose the contents prematurely.

Gregory Campbell took up regional development brief from Peter Robinson

The DUP ministers have refused to attend meetings of the executive due to the presence of Sinn Fein's two ministers.

The party has also operated a policy of "rotating" the ministries between its assembly members, to show that the party is not co-operating in government with Sinn Fein.

In June, the former DUP regional development minister Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds at social development, passed on their departmental briefs to the current ministers.

They also pledged the party would disrupt the work of the executive and work to undermine the Agreement.

Although the DUP refuses to take its ministerial seats in the executive, Mr Robinson said a court case "would put the record straight over its members' determination to carry out their duties".

He said: "If successful, it will result in a declaration that the first minister has again acted unlawfully and will force the distribution of all documents relevant to the two DUP-led departments."