The Police Ombudsman’s office has told almost 30 families it will be unable to investigate their cases after the controversial Legacy Act became law.
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act passed into law in September.
The new law, opposed by victims’ groups, provides immunity in some circumstances and ends all inquests and civil cases.
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Multiple legal challenges opposing it have been lodged with the High Court in Belfast.
It has now emerged that the Police Ombudsman’s office has notified 26 families that Marie Anderson’s office is not in a “position to investigate” their complaints as a result of the Legacy Act.
Campaign group Relatives for Justice claims letters were delivered to their offices this week addressed to 26 families supported by the group.
RFJ said that apart from the opening line each letter “said exactly the same thing”.
“The letters are impersonal, not as much as mentioning the name of the person killed during the conflict and acknowledge that families may view this as an ‘unwelcome’ development,” the group said on social media.
Relatives for Justice Chairperson Professor Emeritus Bill Rolston said he “can hardly describe the impact of these letters to families”.
“While a totally inappropriate process of decision making and information sharing by the Police Ombudsman, this is the devastating outworking of the British government’s shameful Legacy Act,” he said.
“Further it is a legislative horror that is undermining the criminal justice architecture of the Good Friday Agreement.
“But most of all this development will have long-term implications with another trauma heaped upon already traumatised families.
“The pretence that this is in any way a victim-centred process is exposed, but that is no comfort to families who are once again being let down by the state.”
A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman said it "recognises that families will have been disheartened and frustrated with receipt of this news, and regrets that some have been disappointed on receipt of this communication".
"In April of this year many families were advised that the office would be unable to investigate their complaints prior to April 2024," he said.
"A commitment was made to communicate further when the then proposed legacy legislation was progressed.
"Following the enactment of this legislation it was important to advise these families of the impact of this legislation on their complaints."
The spokesman added that the ombudsman "is continuing to dedicate her limited historical investigations resources to ensuring that those legacy cases that can be completed and reported on are brought to a conclusion before May 1, 2024."