SURVIVORS of institutional abuse have said it would be "cruel beyond belief" if the suspension of parliament again delayed legislation releasing compensation.
There are fears Boris Johnson's controversial plan to prorogue parliament in the run-up to Brexit will scupper important legislation affecting Northern Ireland.
Conservative MP Simon Hoare, who chairs the influential NI Affairs Committee at Westminster, tweeted that "suspending parliament ignores (deliberately?) the needs of NI".
"For those saying 'no legislation in immediate pipeline' they are wrong: the NI budget, NI governance arrangements and justice for the survivors of historic abuse all need primary legislation. Prorogation slams the brakes on all of this," he said.
Long-awaited legislation to support abuse survivors is ready to go before the House of Commons when it returns from recess next week.
But Margaret McGuckin, of Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (Savia), said they had been distressed by news of the suspension.
In a letter to Secretary of State Julian Smith, she said they "can take no more of these setbacks, the continued rejection, humiliation and downright torture".
Brendan McAllister, Interim Advocate of Victims & Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse, has also written to Mr Smith requesting an urgent meeting.
He said fresh uncertainty has caused "a dramatic reversal of the very positive expectations" raised during a meeting with victims last week.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson is facing legal challenges in Belfast, Edinburgh and London as the backlash to his decision to suspend parliament for over a month continues.
His administration suffered a double blow yesterday as Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and whip Lord Young of Cookham quit their posts.
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator also insisted he was not ready to retreat on the issue of the backstop.
Michel Barnier said: "In all circumstances, the EU will continue to protect the interests of its citizens and companies, as well as the conditions for peace and stability on the island of Ireland. It is our duty & our responsibility."
