Northern Ireland's most senior judge has called on the British government and the Stormont Executive to urgently address the backlog of legacy inquests into Troubles-related deaths. Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan requested £10m in funding for a five-year programme to deal with inquests into some of the most controversial killings from the conflict.
Outstanding legacy inquests involving more than 80 deaths remain to be heard. In his annual address marking the opening of the new legal year, Sir Declan said it was hugely disappointing that politicians at Stormont had not yet reached agreement on how to deal with the past.
Sir Declan warned that without additional resources, the coroner's courts would be unable to deliver these inquests within a reasonable timeframe. 'I do not want us to remain in that position since that would be yet another devastating blow to the families,' he said.
The Lord Chief Justice emphasised that the judiciary would face up to its responsibilities but that others also had to do so. He called on the local executive and legislature, as well as the UK Government, to play their part as a matter of urgency, adding: 'We cannot move on while we remain under the shadow of the past.'
Sir Declan expressed disappointment that his five-year plan could not proceed without political agreement on a wider legacy package. He anticipated that without additional funding, coroners would only complete two more legacy inquests this financial year, meaning it would take 'decades' to clear the backlog, which he said would not comply with legal requirements.
