Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989

6 Breach of terms of declaration

(1) A person who has made a declaration required for the purposes of section 3, 4 or 5 of this Act in connection with a local election, an election to the Northern Ireland Assembly or the filling of a casual vacancy in a district council acts in breach of the terms of the declaration if at any time after he is declared to be elected at that election or is chosen to fill that vacancy and while he remains a member of the district council or of the Assembly—

(a) he expresses support for or approval of—

(i) a proscribed organisation, or

(ii) acts of terrorism (that is to say, violence for political ends) connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland, and

(b) he does so—

(i) at a public meeting, or

(ii) knowing, or in such circumstances that he can reasonably be expected to know, that the fact that he has made that expression of support or approval is likely to become known to the public.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above a person shall be taken to express support for, or approval of, any matter if his words or actions could reasonably be understood as expressing support for, or approval of, it.

(3) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (1) above—

(a) whether the expression of support or approval is made by spoken or written words, by the display of written matter or by other behaviour, and

(b) whether it is made in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

(4) This section has effect notwithstanding section 26(1) of the [1973 c. 36.] Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (privileges of the Northern Ireland Assembly).

(5) In this section—

• “proscribed organisation” has the same meaning as in section 21 of the [1978 c. 5.] Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978,

• “public meeting” includes—

  (a)

  any meeting in a public place,

  (b)

  any meeting which the public or any section of the public is permitted to attend, whether on payment or otherwise, and

  (c)

  any meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a district council or any committee or sub-committee of the Assembly or such a council (whether or not a meeting which the public is permitted to attend), and

• “public place” means—

  (a)

  any highway, and

  (b)

  any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission.