SOLICITOR Stephen Atherton says he is “driven by rage and a burning sense of injustice” to see the ban on outdoor sports for children removed.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday that outdoor sports in England will reopen on March 29, but there is still no return date for children’s outdoor sports here in the north.
However, it is understood outdoor sports for children has moved up the list of priorities at Stormont following the outcry from grassroots sport expressed on social and, more recently, mainstream media.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has steadfastly resisted to move on outdoor sports for children as, he argues, it contradicts the ‘stay at home’ message - but his language in recent days appears to have softened especially in light of the successful roll-out of the vaccination programme.
Johnson’s decision to reopen outdoor sports – for both children and adults - at the end of next month is sure to focus local politicians’ minds as they devise their own strategy to emerge from the latest lockdown.
In Scotland, children U12 and below have been able to engage in outdoor sports in a controlled environment even before their primary schools reopened this month.
While nursery, P1, P2 and P3 schoolchildren can look forward to a return to the classroom in the north on March 8, older primary schoolchildren won’t be back until after Easter and therefore can’t avail of PE, which perhaps makes the return of outdoor sport for them all the more pressing.
Mr Atherton, from John J McNally Solicitors, has successfully sought a judicial review of the Stormont Executive’s decision to ban outdoor sports for children, which will be heard on March 18.
“I have been inundated this weekend with letters from children telling me how they feel about the ban on their sports,” the Magherafelt-based solicitor said.
“Some of the children have indicated to me that they have harmed themselves, others feel that life isn’t worth living anymore and I have had to contact them personally.
“I am driven by rage and a burning sense of injustice to help these children and give them a voice. The continued ban on children’s sport is not only unlawful, it is unethical and immoral.”
