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The Women’s Rights Network has announced that it is taking legal action against the taxpayer-funded Féile an Phobail after it refused to reinstate the group’s panel discussion, to take place next month.
Their event, ‘Respect, Rights, and Reality’ was billed as a discussion exploring sex-based rights, single-sex spaces and fairness in women’s sports – issues which have come to the fore as transgender activism has led to clashes with women’s rights. However, the scheduled panel was cancelled earlier this week, sparking online outcry.
Both organisations met in Belfast on Friday but Women’s Rights Network (WRN) said on Friday night that “unfortunately, a resolution has not been achieved.”
Following the meeting, a spokeswoman for the women’s group told Gript: “WRN NI wish Féile well as they launch their festival this weekend. WRN NI notes Féile calls for balance in their statement – yet we note not one of their 600 events caters for women’s sex based rights. And they haven’t catered for women’s sex based rights for years.
“Féile had a long proud history of supporting free speech. It historically fought back against censorship. It appears that WRN NI are the first censored group in Feile’s history and this is where they’ve drawn their line in the sand. Terrorists are welcomed, criminals are feted but women’s rights are beyond the pale.”
In a statement posted to the platform X, WRN said: “The Women’s Rights Network can confirm that a meeting took place today with representatives from Féile an Phobail following the cancellation of our scheduled event.
“We appreciate the Féile team taking the time to meet with us,” they added.
“Regrettably, despite engaging in good faith, our meeting did not result in a satisfactory solution. our concerns have not been addressed, and no agreement was reached to reinstate the event,” WRN said.
“We wrote to Féile yesterday to inform them that we would commence legal proceedings if our event was not reinstated.”
The women’s rights group said that they “are now left with no choice but to proceed.”
“Our legal proceedings can be withdrawn at any time should Féile decide to reinstate the event,” added WRN.
It comes just several days after author and activist J.K. Rowling made an offer, via social media, to help fund any legal action if the group were to go in that direction. Initially, WRN said they were not going to bring a legal challenge.
A statement provided by WRN NI’s solicitor, Ciaran O’Hare of McIvor Farrell Solicitors, reads:
“The High Court has listed the Women’s Rights Network’s application for an urgent hearing on Monday 27 July following Féile an Phobail’s refusal to reinstate the Network’s panel discussion.
“The proceedings seek an order requiring Féile to honour what the Women’s Rights Network contends is a concluded contractual agreement. Our client maintains that Féile accepted the event proposal, allocated a venue and time, confirmed the logistical arrangements, and published the event as part of its official programme before subsequently withdrawing it.
“The central issue before the Court is whether a party may lawfully repudiate a concluded agreement of this nature, particularly where the subject matter of the event and the perspectives of the proposed speakers were fully disclosed before acceptance.
“The claim also raises important questions concerning the availability of injunctive relief to enforce contractual rights where damages would not provide an adequate remedy. The Women’s Rights Network contends that the opportunity to participate in this year’s Féile programme is unique and cannot be recreated by a subsequent award of damages.
“Our client made repeated attempts to resolve this matter without recourse to litigation, including inviting Féile to engage in discussions with a view to reinstating the event. Those efforts were unsuccessful, leaving the commencement of proceedings as the only available course.”
“The Women’s Rights Network remains ready and willing to proceed with the panel in accordance with the arrangements previously agreed,” added Mr O’Hare.
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