DUP leader accuses Irish government of failing Troubles victims

The Irish government has been accused of failing victims after it refused to allow gardaí (Irish police) to share information about Troubles related killings, by the DUP leader Gavin Robinson.

It comes after it emerged that several requests for information from the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) have been rejected by gardaí.

It's understood the information requested centred on a number of killings in Northern Ireland.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee defended the actions of the Dublin government.

"I don't think we have hidden this," she said.

She added that "court rulings" had found the structure of the ICRIR was not human rights compliant.

"It is for that reason and that reason alone," she replied when asked why requests for information had been turned down.

The minister said the Irish government's "number one priority is to make sure it can support the commission".

She also pointed to legislation currently going through Westminster to replace the ICRIR with a new Legacy Commission.

"We will make sure our own legislation is in place in situ when the UK legislation is passed," she added.

Robinson said "victims are perturbed" at the refusal to share information.

"Whilst we hear from Irish politicians continually that they're interested in satisfying the request of victims, actions speak louder than words," he said

"They have never satisfied one request."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the ICRIR said it was "a matter for both governments to address any outstanding issues around the sharing of information".

It also confirmed that discussions have taken place between the Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and the head of the ICRIR Sir Declan Morgan.