Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, voiced strong concerns about the UK Government's proposed legislation addressing the region's troubled past, emphasizing issues around compensation, information access, and inquest re-establishment.

O'Neill highlighted that the legislation's provisions, including the high threshold for reopening inquests and restrictions on victims' access to information, could undermine public confidence and trust in the process.

She criticized the reintroduction of a clause to block compensation for former internees, which was previously ruled unlawful in 2020, calling it an act of bad faith and questioning the legality of such measures.

O'Neill raised alarms over the national security veto granted to the British Secretary of State, warning it could limit access to information and further undermine transparency and trust.

She pointed out the ongoing issues with the public inquiry into Sean Brown’s death, noting that multiple High Court rulings have called for an inquiry, which the government has yet to act upon, and stressed the importance of credible processes supported by victims.

O'Neill emphasized that the success of the legacy process depends on its credibility and the trust of victims and families, which will be tested over time.