A LOCAL man with a rare genetic disorder has been successful in his fight to challenge the prioritisation of Northern Ireland's vaccination programme.

Lee Martin (36), from Enniskillen, is one of the few people in the world diagnosed with diploid triploid mosaicism (DSM).

The condition comes about when a person has two different types of cells, with different numbers of chromosomes.

Mr. Justice Colton ruled that Mr. Martin was allowed to pursue a judicial review into claims of discrimination into how vaccinations for Covid-19 were rolled out.

Despite now being fully vaccinated, Mr. Justice Colton said there was a public interest in the case.

Mr. Martin issued legal proceedings against the Department of Health and Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) earlier this year in an attempt to fast-track Mr. Martin for vaccination.

Mr. Martin was classed as “extremely vulnerable”, and therefore in Group Four on the Priority List in the Phased Plan.

It was argued that alongside other extremely vulnerable people, Mr. Martin had been placed below backroom healthcare staff who were included in Group 2, against the Guidance of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The vaccination plan issued by the Department also failed to adopt the JCVI guidance in respect of taking account of exceptional individual circumstances.

Leave was granted by Mr. Justice Colton for Mr. Martin and his legal representatives, KRW Law, to apply for a judicial review at a full hearing listed for November.