Northern Ireland

Senior judge urges next Stormont Executive to agree way forward on past

Campaigners protested at Stormont yesterday after it emerged ministers had failed to discuss proposals to deal with Troubles inquests. Picture by Hugh Russell
Campaigners protested at Stormont yesterday after it emerged ministers had failed to discuss proposals to deal with Troubles inquests. Picture by Hugh Russell Campaigners protested at Stormont yesterday after it emerged ministers had failed to discuss proposals to deal with Troubles inquests. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE north’s most senior judge has urged the next Stormont executive to urgently agree ways to deal with the past after ministers failed to discuss a plan for Troubles inquests.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan was said to be “disappointed” after it emerged a bid for funding was not submitted to the Secretary of State before the assembly was dissolved.

Relatives of some people killed during the Troubles gathered at Stormont to protest yesterday.

Earlier this year a major review of 56 long-awaited legacy inquests involving the deaths of almost 100 people was carried out by Lord Justice Reg Weir at the direction of Sir Declan.

During the two weeks of hearings Lord Justice Weir was scathing in his criticism of how the PSNI and British army have dealt with inquests.

Sir Declan set out a landmark plan in February including setting up a special Legacy Inquest Unit which would deal with all outstanding cases within five years.

He said he had “been given to understand that if the Northern Ireland Executive asks for resources for legacy inquests the request would be given very serious consideration by the secretary of state” Theresa Villiers.

However, a spokeswoman for the Lord Chief Justice said yesterday he is disappointed that the “Northern Ireland Executive has not yet submitted a bid forward to the Secretary of State for funding for legacy inquests”.

“The incoming executive needs to agree a way forward on these cases, and indeed all of the outstanding issues in relation to dealing with the legacy of the past, as a matter of urgency,” he said.

The spokeswoman said Mr Morgan’s plans “were dependent on the provision of additional resources” and added that “the length of time it takes for a decision to be made on funding will, therefore, affect the timeframe for the establishment of the proposed new Legacy Inquest Unit”.

John Teggart, whose father was one of 10 people killed by the British army in Ballymurphy in west Belfast in 1971, criticised the failure of the Stormont executive to discuss the issue.

Commissioner for Victims and Survivors Judith Thompson yesterday also “reaffirmed her commitment to prioritise the progression of legacy inquests”.

“Doing nothing is not an option,” she said.

“Legacy issues will not go away and for that reason I welcomed the recent proposals from the Lord Chief Justice on methods of progressing Legacy Inquests

“Adequate funding has always been a difficult issue and the complication of an election inevitably had the potential to slow up decisions.

“However, I know there is a will on all sides to move this very important issue forward and I can reassure the families that we will redouble our efforts to make this happen as soon as possible.”