The Charity Tribunal for Northern Ireland has refused the Disabled Police Officers' Association of Northern Ireland (DPOANI) permission to appeal a ruling made against it, in a decision issued on 25 March 2026. The Tribunal, constituted by Adrian Colmer KC, Irene Ringland, and Lorraine McCourt, rejected all three grounds put forward by the Association.

The case concerns a decision by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland to institute a statutory inquiry into the Association, a decision originally taken on 14 February 2014. The Tribunal had ruled on the underlying appeal on 2 February 2026, and the Association sought permission to bring a further appeal to the Court by notice dated 2 March 2026.

Under Section 14(2) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, an appeal from a Tribunal decision can only proceed on a point of law. The Association advanced three grounds, arguing that the Commission had not validly delegated its powers to a committee at the relevant time, that the committee which took the 2014 decision had not followed proper process, and that the decision to open a statutory inquiry was disproportionate given the reasons cited for doing so.

On the first two grounds, the Tribunal found that the matters raised had either been fully considered in the February 2026 decision, or had not been put before the Tribunal at all during the original proceedings. The Tribunal held that it could not be faulted in law for failing to consider arguments, evidence, or submissions that the Association had not advanced despite having had the opportunity to do so.

On the third ground, the Tribunal found that the question of proportionality, including whether a statutory inquiry was necessary rather than some other form of intervention, had been the subject of evidence, argument, and submission during the proceedings. No error of law was identified in how the Tribunal had addressed those matters.

Permission to appeal was refused on all three grounds. The Tribunal noted that under Section 14 of the 2008 Act, the Association retains the right to apply directly to the Court for permission to appeal.