Justice spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA said, “As the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Hilary Benn - is due to meet the main political parties in Northern Ireland today, we already know what to expect. There will be a commitment to repeal and replace the legacy act with something acceptable to the Irish Government and a section of victims. While the Ulster Unionist Party supports putting victims at the heart of any process, we do not support a hierarchy of victims.

“The UK Government has let the Irish Government set the agenda on legacy, they are calling the shots and the Northern Ireland Office is rolling over to their demands. Where is the strong call from the UK Government for the Irish to set up their own legacy mechanisms, for Omagh, for the multiple cross-border attacks against UK citizens, for the hundreds of victims from the Provisional IRA border campaign during the troubles, for fairness, for accountability and openness and transparency?

“It is time Hilary Benn MP started representing all victims, it's time the UK Government grew a backbone and held the Irish Government to account.”