Northern Ireland Deputy Minister Michelle O'Neill (left) and Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster speak to the media following a meeting in Co Armagh, for a special North-South meeting on Covid-19. Photo: Aine McMahon/PA WireA Northern Irish mother whose daughter suffers from underlying health problems and is at greater risk from coronavirus will start an emergency legal challenge on Monday against Britain's decision to keep schools open, her lawyers said. Britain has taken a different approach to EU countries, including Ireland, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying it was premature to take measures like closing schools and banning mass gatherings. That meant that on Monday schools were open in Northern Ireland but closed just across the 500km land frontier in the Republic, which shut all schools and universities on Friday and also asked all pubs to shut their doors on Sunday. The necessary policies and decisions all need to be taken in a manner that recognises the real and immediate risk."

Source: Irish Independent March 16, 2020 08:37 UTC