Troubles bill debate is 'veterans vs victims', warns commissioner

The debate on Troubles legacy legislation is becoming "veterans vs victims", Stormont's Commissioner for Victims and Survivors has warned.

Joe McVey described it as "very toxic", saying that "it's almost playing one against the other and I don't think that's helpful".

Speaking at an assembly committee, the commissioner also said the first and deputy first ministers have yet to respond to proposals for a "bereavement payment scheme".

The idea, which his predecessor raised in December 2023, would see payments offered to relatives of people killed during the Troubles - including paramilitaries.

McVey, who was appointed as commissioner last August, said the proposal had "universal support" among the groups and organisations he has been in contact with.

A spokesperson for the commissioner later said there was "universal support for the concept of a bereaved acknowledgement scheme rather than universal support for who meets eligibility criteria".

The UK government's new Troubles legacy legislation is currently progressing through Parliament.

It seeks to replace the previous contentious Legacy Act, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.

But some MPs have said proposed protections for veterans in the bill do not go far enough.

On Wednesday, McVey gave the bill a "cautious welcome" but said there were areas that needed "additional clarification".

He said the debate surrounding it had been "a very divisive and a very toxic topic", and that "just feeds into the uncertainty" for victims and survivors.

"We represent the broad church of victims and survivors and that includes veterans," he told the Executive Office committee at Stormont.

"One of our concerns is the whole debate I think has almost set up, you know, 'veterans vs victims', and vice versa," he said.

"It's almost playing one against the other and I don't think that's helpful."

The proposal of a bereavement payment was raised more than two years ago by the Commission for Victims and Survivors.

It could benefit about 13,000 people and cost upwards of £130m, according to an advice paper.

That would cover one-off payments of £10,000, which would apply regardless of the circumstances in which a person was killed.

McVey said his office was still awaiting a response from the Executive Office - the office of the first and deputy first ministers.

The commissioner said "more work needs to be done", but added: "We can only in a sense start that ball rolling once we get a formal response back."

"Since taking up post four months ago, any groups or organisations I come across, that is the issue that there is universal support for," he added.

"From our point of view as the commission, we put forward evidence at the end of 2023, and that evidence and information sits with the first and deputy first minister's office.

"We're very keen to get a response to that so that we know how that issue can be taken forward."