West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Adams: Libraries Board acted in bad faith

Published: 12 July, 2010

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams has accused Libraries NI of "acting in bad faith" in the face of public and political representations to maintain Andersonstown Library. Mr Adams made the comments after it was revealed during legal action in the High Court that Libraries NI moved to pre-empt legal action by shutting Andersonstown Library five and a half hours early on Friday 9th July. The revelation was made as Mr Leo Wilson, an 87 year old Andersonstown resident and user of Andersonstown Library, made an application for leave to judicially review the decision of the Library authority. Mr Wilson was accompanied by west Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann and a representative from Gerry Adam's office.

The Sinn Féin President said: "I welcome the court action to challenge the misinformed and discriminatory decision by Libraries NI to close Andersonstown Library.

"Last week, Libraries NI had two opportunities to test the validity of their original decision against information and evidence from the local community.

"In the first instance, last Thursday morning a deputation which included MLA Paul Maskey, library user Mr Leo Wilson and myself, presented information to the Board which had not been shared with it at the time of its original decision.

"We pointed out the differential and unequal treatment of the people of Andersonstown and asked that the Board rescind its original decision.

"The following afternoon, Mr Leo Wilson sought to lodge an application at the High Court to have the decision to close the library subject to judicial review, and an injunction to prevent the closure of the library in the meantime. However, by the time the judge began to hear the application, the court was told that Libraries NI had closed Andersonstown Library at lunch time - five and half hours early. This prevented an injunction being approved by the court to keep the library open.

"Both of these developments are examples of Libraries NI acting in bad faith and in an underhand manner. They are compounding the unfairness of their original decision. It also begs questions about why the Libraries authority is so unwilling to heed our representations, and so anxious to prevent its original decision being put to the test.

"I would like to congratulate Leo Wilson on his legal challenge which has now been adjourned until September. In the interim, Leo's action has secured from the court an undertaking that the integrity of the Irish language collection in Andersonstown library will be secured. Sinn Féin will be demanding to know how and when arrangements will be made to enable library users in this area to access those books. "