The SAS killing of eight IRA men and a civilian is set to be the lead case in a major High Court battle to secure funding for inquests into troubles-related deaths.
Brigid Hughes, whose husband Anthony was shot dead after being innocently caught up in the ambush at Loughgall, Co Armagh in May 1987, has been granted leave to seek a judicial review against the Stormont administration and British Government.
Separate litigation is also being pursued on behalf of the families of ten people killed by soldiers in west Belfast nearly 46 years ago.
Legal proceedings were issued on behalf of a daughter of one of the civilians shot dead in Ballymurphy over a three-day period during the introduction of internment in August 1971.
They claim the continued withholding of funding is thwarting a five-year plan devised by Northern Ireland's most senior judge to deal with a backlog of inquests into legacy cases.
But Mrs Hughes' case is now expected to be examined first at a full hearing later this year.
Both challenges are aimed at securing an order for the release of money required to hear all outstanding legacy inquests.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan has called for urgent action to fund his blueprint for having all cases dealt with within five years.
With the cost of the plan estimated at around £10m, the government has said resources will not be released until a political agreement is reaching on dealing with the past.
Mr Hughes was fatally wounded after unwittingly driving into an SAS ambush that inflicted the greatest single loss of life suffered by the IRA during the conflict.
Lawyers for his widow have accused former DUP First Minister Arlene Foster of being responsible for the funding logjam.
