In 1950, a vacancy arose in the Belfast West constituency, owing to the disqualification of the Reverend J. G. MacManaway for being an Anglican priest despite the Church of Ireland being disestablished.
A gap emerged in the Belfast West constituency in 1950 when Reverend J. G. MacManaway's eligibility was invalidated because, as a Catholic priest, he didn't fit the requirements for the seat despite the Church of Ireland having lost its official status.