Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed confirmation from the Justice Minister during question time that the independent review of unfitness to plead and trials of the facts will launch tomorrow, with terms of reference to be published at that point.

Jon Burrows said:

“I wrote to the Justice and Health Ministers in July asking for exactly this, so I am glad to see it moving. Public confidence in how these cases are handled has taken a knock, and the sooner this work starts the better.

“Two things will determine whether it succeeds. The terms of reference need to be broad enough to look at disposals, public protection and the treatment of victims, not just the fitness test itself. Victims and their families also need to be heard directly by the reviewer rather than consulted as an afterthought.

“I look forward to seeing the detail tomorrow, including who will lead the review. I will be watching this closely, because the test is not whether it reports. It is whether the law actually changes.”