Adams can fight exclusion order

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, yesterday won permission to challenge in the High Court the legality of a government exclusion order banning him from Britain.

Mr Justice Potts gave his lawyers leave to seek a judicial review and ordered an urgent full hearing because of the 'points of public importance' raised.

With the support of the pressure group Liberty Mr Adams will also challenge the legality, under European and domestic law, of the decision in January not to revoke the order.