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| Arlene Foster says DUP did not know of Sinn Fein 'legacy deal' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster has said her party was not aware of any deal between Sinn Féin and the government to release money for Troubles legacy inquests. | |
| She said that would be "astonishing" in the absence of an overall agreement. | |
| Sinn Féin claims the government agreed to a consultation on legacy measures, omitting any statute of limitations to curb security force prosecutions. | |
| The government replied that all its discussions were in the context of how it would respond to an overall deal. | The government replied that all its discussions were in the context of how it would respond to an overall deal. |
| 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. | |
| Details of the inquest funding proposals were discussed by Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly on the BBC programme, The View, on Thursday night. | |
| The DUP's justice spokesman, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, told the same programme he was not aware of any separate deal between the government and Sinn Féin. | |
| In a statement on Friday, Mrs Foster confirmed that during the most recent talks, she had been aware that Sinn Féin was meeting the government over inquest funding, as this was "a matter of public record". | |
| However, she said: "No one in the DUP was aware of inquest funding being progressed in the absence of an overall agreement or a decision to advance all elements of the Stormont House Agreement. | |
| "It would be astonishing if the government granted funding for legacy inquests in the absence of an overall agreement," she added. | |
| The DUP leader said she would be raising the matter with Secretary of State Karen Bradley. | |
| The Troubles legacy negotiations have been a long-running issue, and featured not only on the fringes of the most recent talks which collapsed on Valentine's Day, but also in the lead up to the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. | The Troubles legacy negotiations have been a long-running issue, and featured not only on the fringes of the most recent talks which collapsed on Valentine's Day, but also in the lead up to the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. |
| The legacy inquests include some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles, and Northern Ireland's most senior judge previously asked for money to deal with the backlog of outstanding cases. | |
| In 2016, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan requested £10m to fund a five-year programme of inquests into more than 50 deaths. | |
| The list of cases included several killings which were carried out by members of the security forces. | The list of cases included several killings which were carried out by members of the security forces. |
| Mr Kelly said he had proof of his party's agreement with the government to release inquest funding and wanted to see it implemented. | Mr Kelly said he had proof of his party's agreement with the government to release inquest funding 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 BBC News NI's The View programme. | "There are victims and survivors waiting - some of them over 45-46 years - give them some respite," Mr Kelly told BBC News NI's The View programme. |
| "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' | 'Side deals' |
| 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. | 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. |
| Terminology explained | Terminology explained |
| 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 was supported by Westminister's Defence Committee, which claimed legacy cases involving soldiers had been "unfairly prioritised" - a claim that was strongly disputed by Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service. | The idea was supported by Westminister's Defence Committee, which claimed legacy cases involving soldiers had been "unfairly prioritised" - a claim that was strongly disputed by Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service. |
| The cross-party group of MPs urged the government to "not lose sight of its moral responsibility to those who have served our country". | The cross-party group of MPs urged the government to "not lose sight of its moral responsibility to those who have served our country". |
| Military veterans have organised several marches and rallies, arguing it is unreasonable for historical charges to be brought against former soldiers who are now senior citizens. | Military veterans have organised several marches and rallies, arguing it is unreasonable for historical charges to be brought against former soldiers who are now senior citizens. |
| However, the suggestion was strongly opposed by Sinn Féin, the Irish government and some victims' groups. | However, the suggestion was strongly opposed by Sinn Féin, the Irish government and some victims' groups. |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster has also expressed reservations about a statute of limitations, fearing it will lead to a wider amnesty which might deprive Troubles victims of the chance of justice. | DUP leader Arlene Foster has also expressed reservations about a statute of limitations, fearing it will lead to a wider amnesty which might deprive Troubles victims of the chance of justice. |
| 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." |
| 'Not surprising' | |
| In response, DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson 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 with the government, 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 with the government, 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." |