A LEGAL challenge to Education Minister John O’Dowd’s decision to press ahead with an amalgamation between the Collegiate Grammar and Portora Royal schools got underway in the High Court in Belfast this week.

Both Enniskillen grammar schools are set to close and a new school established in their place by September next year.

At the time of announcing his decision, Mr O’Dowd said he had placed focus on the needs of students before institutions.

However, legal action is now being taken on behalf of a pupil at the Collegiate in a bid to have the move halted. Judicial review proceedings had been lodged on the pupil’s behalf in May this year.

A group of parents and pupils from the Collegiate accompanied school principal, Elizabeth Armstrong, to the High Court on Monday for the start of the proceedings.

On the first day of the hearing, it was reported that lawyers for the pupil seeking the judicial review claimed there was a failure to carry out a proper economic appraisal.

Barrister David Dunlop is reported to have said: “The relief being sought is that the court is invited ultimately to conclude the decision of the minister... to approve the development proposals was unlawful.” The barrister further claimed that Mr O’Dowd’s decision was both “irrational” and “unreasonable”.

He added: “It was so unreasonable in the context that no authority could properly have reached it in the circumstances.” It was also reported that Mr Justice Colton was told that the Collegiate pupil taking the legal action and all her friends are opposed to the closure.

The hearing, which had been expected to last three days, is still ongoing.