Ulster Unionists Demand 'Victim-Centred' Legacy Legislation

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has written to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) outlining the party's serious concerns regarding the UK Government's proposed legacy legislation.

The party insists the law must be firmly focused on victims and justice, and has vowed to oppose any measures that could dilute these core principles, specifically any form of blanket amnesty.

The Ulster Unionist Party has expressed initial concerns to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) regarding the complexity and focus of the UK Government’s proposed legacy legislation. Doug Beattie MC MLA, the UUP Justice Spokesperson, warned that the law will only be credible if it is strictly victim-centred and justice-focused, emphasising the party’s refusal to accept any form of amnesty, citing the failed principles of the previous Stormont House Agreement. Mr Beattie stated that alarm bells are ringing as the Secretary of State continues to refer back to those principles, insisting that the legislation's success hinges on its ability to deliver for victims.

A key UUP concern is the proposed dual Directors of Investigation role. The party is strongly advocating that the primary Director must be a former RUC senior officer, and that the second post should be filled by an individual from within the UK with relevant experience. They argue that allowing an Irish Director of Investigations would undermine the entire process, given the Irish Government’s perceived failure to instigate meaningful legacy mechanisms and their subsequent "virtual amnesty" for terrorists following the Belfast Agreement.

Furthermore, the UUP wants to ensure the new legislation corrects the failure of the 2006 Victims and Survivors Order to properly define a victim. They demand that the law makes clear there can be no equivalence between victims and perpetrators. This separation must be enforced within the Victims and Survivors Advisory Board, explicitly excluding any terrorist, terrorist supporter, or anyone with a link to terrorism from serving on it.

The UUP is also focused on protecting those who served, both military and police, stating that despite Government "spin," there are currently no new protections for veterans in the legislation. They intend to table an amendment to ensure there are no repeated investigations against former service personnel unless new and compelling evidence warrants a fresh investigation. Finally, Mr Beattie urged Hilary Benn MP to commit that the new Legacy Commission will investigate those who directed and supported terrorism throughout the Troubles, rather than focusing predominantly on the actions of the state and security forces.

O'Toole Challenges Finance Minister Over £120m Data Breach Compensation SDLP Leader Matthew O'Toole has demanded to know the Executive's plan for funding compensation for the PSNI data breach after the Treasury rejected a request from the Department of Finance.

The SDLP Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O'Toole MLA, has challenged the Finance Minister regarding the lack of a clear plan to fund the estimated £120 million required for compensation following the extensive PSNI data breach. Mr O'Toole's intervention comes after the Treasury rejected a request from the Department of Finance to cover the compensation costs, a rejection that reportedly happened back in November 2024.

Securing an urgent question to the Finance Minister in the Assembly on Tuesday, the South Belfast MLA labelled the situation a "total shambles." He questioned what the Finance and Justice Ministers had been doing for the past year since the initial request was rejected, suggesting they were "out of ideas" after trying the same funding approach again.

Mr O'Toole stressed that the compensation "will have to be paid," noting that the leak of private data poses an ongoing security risk and enormous stress for affected PSNI officers and staff and their families. He also highlighted the separate requirement for an additional £200 million needed to address PSNI officer numbers.

Criticising the Minister's current strategy, he stated, "It's not acceptable that the only plan the Finance Minister has is to 'press the Treasury again' after being told no twice." Mr O'Toole concluded by calling on Executive Ministers to take responsibility, arguing that "Blaming the UK Government is wearing very thin, it's time Ministers took some responsibility."

Sinn Féin Calls for Taskforce to Tackle Belfast City Centre Crime

Belfast City Councillor Ciaran Beattie is proposing the establishment of a multi-agency taskforce to address what the party calls "unacceptable levels" of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

Sinn Féin is calling for an urgent multi-agency taskforce to be established to combat the rising and "unacceptable levels" of crime and anti-social behaviour in Belfast city centre. The proposal is being brought forward by Councillor Ciaran Beattie and will be presented at a meeting of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on Friday, 24 October 2025.

Councillor Beattie stressed the necessity of the taskforce, arguing that the city centre must be perceived as safe and welcoming by everyone who uses it. "Tourists, businesses, workers and shoppers must know that our city centre is safe, welcoming, and any crime is dealt with appropriately," he stated.

The Belfast City Councillor pointed to alarming recent reported incidents as a driver for the proposal, and expressed hope that all political parties and relevant agencies can work together to tackle the problem effectively. The multi-agency approach is intended to pool resources and expertise from different bodies to create a unified strategy for improving public safety and order across the city centre.