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Van Morrison will challenge the Northern Ireland government in court over its “blanket ban” on live music in licensed venues due to coronavirus restrictions, his lawyer said on Tuesday.
Lawyer Joe Rice has said that the North Irish singer-songwriter, who has released several songs protesting the Covid-19 rules in recent months, will ask the Belfast High Court to review the policy.
“We will seek leave for judicial review to challenge the blanket ban on live music at licensed premises in Northern Ireland,” Rice said. “We are not aware of any credible scientific or medical evidence to justify this particular blanket ban… and we will challenge this in the High Court.
The UK, the worst-hit country in Europe by the virus, is grappling with its third and deadliest wave, blamed on a new strain considered highly contagious.
Decentralized governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are responsible for health policy, have all imposed strict lockdowns at different stages of the health crisis.
The Northern Irish executive in Belfast has introduced regulations that ban live music in licensed venues in Northern Ireland.
All hospitality and entertainment venues are closed as part of a six-week lockdown, but Morrison is eager to challenge the rules for their reopening.
Rice noted that the singer was able to perform in England several times late last year before the British government tightened the rules there.
He said he expected the case to be heard by the High Court within “weeks”.
Morrison was acting “on behalf of thousands of musicians, artists, venues and those involved in the live music industry,” said Rice.
The singer sparked controversy during the pandemic, urging people last August to “fight pseudoscience” around Covid-19.
A month later, he released at two-week intervals a trio of new tracks – named Born To Be Free, As I Walked Out, and No More Lockdown – containing controversial lyrics.
They included: “No more excessive government measures / No more fascist bullies / Disrupting our peace” as well as “No more taking of our freedom / And our God-given rights / Pretending it’s for our safety / When it is. is really to enslave. “
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