Controversial new laws to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles should be “binned”, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said.
From Wednesday, responsibility for dealing with hundreds of unresolved cases will pass to a new truth recovery agency, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
This will mean future civil litigation and inquests into Troubles deaths will be stopped.
New prosecutions will also cease, although prosecutions that are currently ongoing will continue to conclusion.
The Legacy Act, which became law last year, has been opposed by all of the Northern Ireland political parties, as well as the Irish Government and victims’ organisations.
The Sinn Fein First Minister said she believed that it was the collective will of all parties at Stormont that the legislation is “horrific”.
She was responding to a question from Alliance Party MLA Stewart Dickson, who said there were “very serious legitimate concerns” that organisations which support victims and survivors of the Troubles would see a rise in demand for services.
Ms O’Neill said: “When the legislation comes into effect on Wednesday of this week it effectively closes down the doors for all those people out there seeking truth and justice.
“I think it is the collective will of all parties of the chamber that this legislation is horrific and it should be repealed immediately.
“We had a way back in 2015 with the Stormont House Agreement to deal with the past. I commend that approach still today.
“What the British Government are doing in terms of shutting down very firmly the doors on access to justice, access to the courts, is totally not acceptable.
“It is harrowing. The last number of weeks in terms of the inquests that have come forward, it has been a very bruising time for so many families and it just highlights and underlines why this legislation is absolutely not good enough and unacceptable and should be binned.”
Mr Dickson asked if there was a risk to good relations and reconciliation because of the Legacy Act.
The First Minister said: “There is no doubt as a result of Wednesday’s legislation coming into effect, it is the families, it is the victims and survivors that are going to feel the brunt of that.
“It is unfair, it is burdening today’s generation to carry on this battle. That is completely unfair.
“I think we will all continue to say with one voice this legislation should be repealed.”
