Sinn Fein: Stormont Must Follow Through On Legacy Funding

Sinn Fein has called for the establishment of bodies to carry out investigations into Troubles related deaths after funding was announced for legacy inquests.

The party's spokesperson for victims, Linda Dillon MLA, was commenting after the Department of Justice announced a new legacy inquest system worth £5 million to speed up the process and address all cases.

The Mid-Ulster MLA said the move was a belated one, which is welcomed but must be followed by other mechanisms to give bereaved families access to "proper investigations, truth and justice".

Ms Dillon commented: "Unfortunately, we are still awaiting the report on the consultation process that was carried out on the draft Legacy legislation. There were over 16000 responses to the consultation so there can be no doubting that this is a huge issue for our entire community.

"We need all legacy issues to be dealt with as agreed by all the parties in the Stormont House Agreement. We also need the issue of a pension for all those severely injured to be resolved. I have had a number of engagements with those who have suffered as a result of our conflict including, on a number of occasions, with the Victims Forum. This is a very diverse group who are clear in calling for the implementation of the legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House.

"These mechanisms provide for legacy Investigations to be removed from the PSNI into a Historical Investigations Unit and this would be a positive move. No family should have to wait any longer for truth and justice about the death of their loved ones.

"No injured person should be deprived of a pension that will allow them to be cared for and have dignity in their lives. And no-one suffering from mental trauma should be trying to cope without adequate support services being in place," the Sinn Fein MLA concluded.

Meanwhile, Alliance Justice Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has welcomed the additional funding for such inquests, but said the process should have begun years ago.

The 52 outstanding cases will be addressed over the next six years by a new Coroners Service investigation unit.

Mr Dickson said: "While it is welcome this move has finally seen the greenlight, the reality is it could and should have happened three years ago. If it had not been blocked by Arlene Foster at that point, we would now be three years into the six-year plan. 
"Those left bereaved by the Troubles still continue to suffer from the delay in holding inquests. The process now moving as quickly as possible would provide some measure of comfort for those who have waited too long to access the justice they are entitled to."


Former Justice Minister David Ford added: "My thanks go to the Lord Chief Justice and my former staff in the DOJ, whose hard work on this matter has finally come to fruition.

"The previous blocking of the additional funding was contrary to the interests of justice. I regret it has taken three years to eventually get the process moving but I hope grieving families will now finally benefit."



(JG/MH)