New £55m initiative to address backlog of Troubles inquests

The daughter of a woman killed by the Army in Londonderry in 1971 said a light has finally been switched on at the end of a long dark tunnel after a £55m initiative to speed up legacy inquest cases was announced.

Minty Thompson (59) was just 12 when her mother Kathleen was shot in the back garden of their home.

Despite being among the first to be granted an inquest into a Troubles-related death, the Thompson family is still no closer to any answers.

“We were granted an inquest in September 2013 but we are still no further along,” Ms Thompson said.

“We have had delay after delay and it’s been a difficult time. Families want answers, not to be needlessly re-traumatised.

“We never expected old wounds to be opened again and again. The process has been traumatic.”

Peter May, permanent secretary of the Department of Justice, said the delays in progressing legacy inquests “have been unacceptable to families involved and to the justice system”.

“This initiative will support a significant expansion of capacity to clear the outstanding legacy inquests over the next six years at an estimated cost of £55m.

“A new legacy inquest unit will be set up within the Coroners Service to process legacy inquests, supported by increased capacity in PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service and other justice agencies,” he said.

Ms Thompson said that when the inquiry into her mother’s death finally began in November 2017, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) flooded the Coroners Service with 350 names of potential witnesses.

“The adjournment was hard to take,” she said.

“We had been anxious but had geared ourselves up only to see the whole process stall again.

“We know the service is overwhelmed. Hopefully this will help us and the many other families coming behind us.”

Arlene Foster had blocked funding for legacy inquests while she was First Minister – a decision later ruled flawed and unlawful by a High Court judge.

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said yesterday his party will continue to engage in the process to pursue the fairness and balance that is required.

He said: “It is important that legacy issues are dealt with in a way that is balanced and proportionate.

“Ninety per cent of deaths were at the hands of terrorists yet there is a focus on the 10% of deaths attributed to the state.”

Campaign group Relatives for Justice, though, said the DUP and British Government owe families an apology. “This comes after years of delay and a series of court decisions finding the UK Government in default of its obligation. The DUP and the UK Government blocked the funding and owe these families an apology,” the group said.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said he was pleased the plan he proposed over three years ago will progress.

“There is clearly a great deal of preparatory work to be done and it will be important to engage with all the relevant agencies and parties,” he said.

The commissioner for victims and survivors, Judith Thompson, said the decision represented a critical element of addressing the legacy of the past for families.

“We have consistently supported the need for sufficient resources to deal with the backlog of 50 outstanding legacy inquests into 94 deaths, some of which date back over 40 years.

“This is an opportunity to develop better information management systems and techniques that could be transferred to the new HIU (Historical Inquiries Unit) and benefit all victims and survivors.

“However we must also remain focused on the needs of more than 1,100 families who are still awaiting legacy investigations.”

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said the funding was long overdue.

“Delays continue to deny the families of victims of the conflict access to truth and justice. That is deplorable and disgraceful. It is Sinn Fein’s firm hope that the Lord Chief Justice will now have the resources to clear the backlog in legacy cases,” she said.

Alliance justice spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA said the process should have begun several years ago.

“Those left bereaved by the Troubles still continue to suffer. The process now moving as quickly as possible would provide some measure of comfort.”

SDLP justice spokesperson Dolores Kelly MLA added there was now an onus on the PSNI and the MoD to “co-operate fully to ensure full disclosure”.

Belfast Telegraph