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| Sir Jeffrey Donaldson unaware of Sinn Fein 'legacy deal' | Sir Jeffrey Donaldson unaware of Sinn Fein 'legacy deal' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he was unaware of an alleged deal between Sinn Féin and the government to release money for legacy inquests. | The DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he was unaware of an alleged deal between Sinn Féin and the government to release money for legacy inquests. |
| The MP was speaking in response to a claim by Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly that funding had been agreed. | The MP was speaking in response to a claim by Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly that funding had been agreed. |
| Mr Kelly said it was part of the draft agreement being worked on before the latest power-sharing talks collapsed. | Mr Kelly said it was part of the draft agreement being worked on before the latest power-sharing talks collapsed. |
| Northern Ireland's most senior judge has asked for money to deal with a backlog of Troubles-related inquests. | Northern Ireland's most senior judge has asked for money to deal with a backlog of Troubles-related inquests. |
| Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan requested £10m to fund a five-year programme of investigations into some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles. | Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan requested £10m to fund a five-year programme of investigations into some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles. |
| Mr Kelly told the BBC NI's The View programme that he had proof of his party's agreement with the government and wanted to see it implemented. | |
| "There are victims and survivors waiting - some of them over 45-46 years - give them some respite," Mr Kelly told The View. | "There are victims and survivors waiting - some of them over 45-46 years - give them some respite," Mr Kelly told The View. |
| "Give the money to the Lord Chief Justice, he has nothing to do with politics, let him get on with that." | "Give the money to the Lord Chief Justice, he has nothing to do with politics, let him get on with that." |
| 'Side deals' | |
| It has been reported that during the latest round of power-sharing talks, Sinn Féin held separate meetings with the government on legacy inquests, while the DUP held its own negotiations with the government about the Military Covenant. | |
| Mr Kelly claimed that during their separate meetings, the government had agreed that a public consultation on the plan to deal with Troubles legacy issues would not include a proposal for a controversial statute of limitations. | |
| Last year, some Conservative and unionist MPs had called for a statute of limitations to prevent the prosecution of security force members for alleged offences from the early years of the Troubles. | Last year, some Conservative and unionist MPs had called for a statute of limitations to prevent the prosecution of security force members for alleged offences from the early years of the Troubles. |
| The idea has been strongly opposed by Sinn Féin, the Irish government and some victims' groups. | The idea has been strongly opposed by Sinn Féin, the Irish government and some victims' groups. |
| Analysis - BBC political correspondent Gareth Gordon | Analysis - BBC political correspondent Gareth Gordon |
| Claims Sinn Féin and the government agreed a side deal on legacy are not new. | Claims Sinn Féin and the government agreed a side deal on legacy are not new. |
| Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald revealed some of the detail a week ago, though not Mr Kelly's claim that proposals for a statute of limitations were now to be dropped from the planned consultation. | Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald revealed some of the detail a week ago, though not Mr Kelly's claim that proposals for a statute of limitations were now to be dropped from the planned consultation. |
| What is surprising is the claim from Sir Jeffrey - the DUP's Justice spokesperson - that he knew nothing about it | What is surprising is the claim from Sir Jeffrey - the DUP's Justice spokesperson - that he knew nothing about it |
| He was adamant no such proposal was put to him and that he would be annoyed if it was correct | He was adamant no such proposal was put to him and that he would be annoyed if it was correct |
| Mr Kelly said: "To say that the DUP, whatever about Jeffrey, didn't know about this is erroneous." | Mr Kelly said: "To say that the DUP, whatever about Jeffrey, didn't know about this is erroneous." |
| It raises new and intriguing questions about just what went on during this failed negotiation and who agreed what with whom and who knew. | It raises new and intriguing questions about just what went on during this failed negotiation and who agreed what with whom and who knew. |
| The murk just got murkier. | The murk just got murkier. |
| Mr Kelly told The View: "We had agreed the statute of limitations was not going to be in the consultation. | Mr Kelly told The View: "We had agreed the statute of limitations was not going to be in the consultation. |
| "The consultation was going to be put out and the money was going to be released to the Lord Chief Justice - that was agreed." | "The consultation was going to be put out and the money was going to be released to the Lord Chief Justice - that was agreed." |
| In response, Sir Jeffrey said: "I am our party's representative on legacy issues and I am not aware of the government agreeing with Sinn Féin that they were going to hand over money for inquests." | In response, Sir Jeffrey said: "I am our party's representative on legacy issues and I am not aware of the government agreeing with Sinn Féin that they were going to hand over money for inquests." |
| Asked for a response to reports that Sinn Fein had a side deal on the military covenant, the DUP said: "Not surprising both sides will talk to the government about progressing issues of interest to themselves during negotiations. | Asked for a response to reports that Sinn Fein had a side deal on the military covenant, the DUP said: "Not surprising both sides will talk to the government about progressing issues of interest to themselves during negotiations. |
| "We also were speaking to the government about certain matters and progress was made." | "We also were speaking to the government about certain matters and progress was made." |
| The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said all discussions with parties were in the context of how the government would respond in the event of a deal. | The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said all discussions with parties were in the context of how the government would respond in the event of a deal. |
| "Sadly there was no deal," said an NIO spokesperson. "However, as the secretary of state made clear on Tuesday, she will still be consulting on how to implement Stormont House [Agreement] legacy institutions as soon as possible." | "Sadly there was no deal," said an NIO spokesperson. "However, as the secretary of state made clear on Tuesday, she will still be consulting on how to implement Stormont House [Agreement] legacy institutions as soon as possible." |
| "The government announced £150m to support legacy reform in 2014. | "The government announced £150m to support legacy reform in 2014. |