
Court of Appeal – Legacy Victims’ Pensions victory
The Executive Office is under a legal duty to fund a pension scheme for victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Senior judges made the declaration in an ongoing legal battle by one of the so-called Hooded Men to break the political stalemate over who pays the compensation.
In August last year, the High Court held that the Executive Office deliberately stymied introduction of the scheme in a bid to force the UK Government into footing the bill.
Following that verdict, the Department of Justice was designated to administer the programme.
Since then, however, a funding dispute between Stormont and Westminster has continued.
A draft budget announced by Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy last month only included the administrative costs of pensions.
With no order made in the first court case to provide grant funding, Brian Turley appealed that outcome in a bid to ensure the necessary financial package is immediately put in place.
He was among 14 men detained,...