The UK and Irish governments have reached a new agreement on how killings from the Northern Ireland Troubles should be investigated
Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn held a news conference on the new framework
Harris calls the new deal "a night and day improvement" on the current measures, while Benn says it will help families that have "been waiting for 30, 40 and 50 years"
Sinn Féin says the new agreement will be "scrutinised"
The DUP says that, for many victims and survivors, it will be a case of "too little, too late"
Thank you for joining as we followed the announcement of a new legacy agreement as well as hearing from political parties, victims and survivors.
This page was written by Rebekah Wilson, Ben Lonsdale, Aimee Bell, Auryn Cox, Jake Wood and edited by Amy Stewart and Emily Atkinson.
Have a good evening.
Victims' families, campaigners and politicians have given a mixed response to a new framework aimed at addressing Northern Ireland Troubles legacy cases.
Image source, PA MediaFormer Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says the framework "does represent a return of partnership between the two governments," which he says is "a good thing".
"I think it places clear responsibilities on those governments."
He adds that implementing the governments commitments "will be key".
"I think that's what we hope will happen, that the two governments will act together in quickly implementing these measures."
Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent
It used to be said that Friday afternoons were the best time to release bad news, but both the UK and Irish governments have trumpeted the significance of what they described as a comprehensive new deal on legacy.
It is not radically different from previous proposals, with the exception of the 2023 Legacy Act. Both governments hope this deal will finally see a breakthrough and say they will follow through on what has been announced today.
Hilary Benn spoke about finally addressing the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement, while Simon Harris described the deal as a "night-and-day" improvement on the previous Legacy Act.
In many ways, the deal reflects what was set out by the two governments in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, which was never implemented.
There is a lot to take in regarding what has been outlined here, and this will be followed up in the near future by more detailed legislative proposals from the UK government.
We are told to expect these before Parliament soon, but no specific timeline was outlined.
When all these changes will come into effect, including the transition from the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to the Legacy Commission, remains uncertain?
It could be at least a year before a new legacy commission begins its work.
The legislation must first be published, then go through Parliament, including any amendments. After that, Ireland will consider what legislation it needs to pass. There is therefore a great deal still to follow.
Many people may reserve ultimate judgement not only on the proposals themselves but also on what is actually legislated in both jurisdictions.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe first Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Baroness Nuala O’Loan, says this "new process has the bones of the kind of change we need".
She says the process "must be right for both sides of the border".
She adds that she welcomes the statement but "the devil may be in the detail - we do need to see the legislation".
Image source, PA MediaPSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher says he welcomes progress on legacy issues.
He also acknowledges "the hurt and suffering felt by families of those murdered during the Troubles".
However, he adds that the cost of dealing with legacy comes out of the "core budget which should be spent on policing in Northern Ireland".
He raises some financial concerns. The chief constable has been vocal about the need for more funding in all areas of policing.
"We are not funded for all aspects of legacy costs and each day the PSNI buckles a little more as we desperately try to manage the unique challenges of policing a post-conflict society with wholly inadequate funding," he adds.
Church Leaders, which include representatives of the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Church of Ireland churches, say that they “welcome the fact that substantial proposals on how to deal with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland have been issued".
They add: “We urge that the Framework documents be closely considered by all who have an interest in how justice and truth can best be served."
They added: “Above all, we owe it to the victims and survivors to ensure that their needs are met with compassion and thoroughness.”
Alistair Carns, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People, says today's deal will ensure that "no one will rewrite history".
He also says it is important that families of security service personnel who were killed can "access the truth".
"The Legacy Act stopped hundreds of investigations into the death of security service personnel during the Troubles."
Image source, Getty ImagesReacting to the joint statement from the UK and Irish governments, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader, Jim Allister, says that "allowing the government of the Republic to co-design the legacy proposals is an obscenity".
"An obscenity which makes unionist buy-in impossible," he adds.
“Many victims of the IRA would be alive today but for the facilitation of their murderers by the Republic. The sanctuary, safe houses, training grounds, explosives, collusion and refusal of extradition all enabled and sustained the IRA murder campaign."
He says the government "has failed innocent victims to prioritise placating Dublin and republicanism, while all the time the Republic continues to protect its terrorist-supporting past from any scrutiny".
Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent
The package of measures by the UK government to protect military veterans is not contained in the framework document published by the two governments.
London says it was revealed separately by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), but the proposals will be contained in the legacy legislation being brought forward.
Tánaiste Simon Harris says he “had an awareness” of the package, and he has “no difficulty” with it.
The six-point package seeks to protect veterans from repeated investigations.
“The reformed Legacy Commission will be under a statutory duty not to duplicate the work of any previous investigations, unless there are compelling reasons to do so,” the UK government stated.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has released some information on the updated agreement.
The package of rights for veterans who are going through any legacy process will be:
1. Protection from repeated investigations. The Commission has a "statutory duty" not to duplicate work from previous investigations and veterans will not be required to provide testimony on context already established.
2. Veterans will have the right to stay at home - they will not be forced to come to NI to give evidence.
3. Veterans can seek anonymity when giving information.
4. Veterans will have protection from cold calling - they will only be contacted through proper MOD protocols.
5. The Commission will take into account old age and the health and wellbeing of potential witnesses.
6. A right for veterans' voices to be heard - all victims and survivors of the Troubles will have an opportunity to speak - including those from a service background.
United States Ambassadors to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Warren A. Stephens and Edward S. Walsh welcome "the continued cooperation between the British and Irish governments" through this framework.
Both say in a joint statement that the governments cooperation "has been a cornerstone of political stability in the region".
They add: "We are encouraged that this spirit of cooperation has been extended to dealing with legacy issues" and hope the measures will continue to promote healing and reconciliation".
Image source, PA MediaDUP MP Carla Lockhart says Friday’s announcement has caused “great hurt and angst” among Troubles victims.
It is “utterly outrageous” that such a “significant announcement” was being made while Westminster was in recess, she tells the BBC's Evening Extra programme.
“There is so little ability to scrutinise, to question, even at this early stage before the legislation comes before us,” she adds.
“I think today has been very traumatic and has retraumatised many victims,” she adds.
“They have watched as our UK government has stood side-by-side with a co-designed framework with the Irish government – that has caused great hurt and great angst amongst our innocent victims.”
She says this is because the Irish government has “refused” for many years to co-operate in evidence sharing.
“Today is a very sad day for victims and certainly one that I believe will not have been received well,” she adds.
She says that her party will "continue to hold the government to account" and that the door should never be closed to innocent victims getting justice.”
The news conference is now over, but do stay with us and we will continue to bring you reaction to this new agreement, on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.
A question around protections for veterans is asked and Mary-Lou McDonald says. that while she has not seen the document, there can be no "special arrangements for veterans".
"The British state and its agencies have sought to pull a veil over collusion in the course of the conflict".
But she continues: "The rights of everybody have to be acknowledged and protected," without "hiding" away.
McDonald says both governments have to tackle the issue head on.
"I hope when they meet with the victims and survivors groups that they listen very very carefully.
"The consequence of those conversations has to be getting it right, and both governments know what getting it right means. Human rights compliance, focus on the victims, not hiding, not protecting state agencies, the truth."
Sinn Féin are asked if this is the last chance for governments to deal with Legacy.
McDonald replies: "No, I think it needs to be borne in mind, that the families of those who lost their lives and suffered that this issue... is not going away".
She adds that governments "cannot walk away" from this.
She says getting "justice for families" will be "with us and pursued until we arrive at that destination... this cannot be tidied away and it has to be dealt with".
Asked if she has any indication of a timescale for the implementation of legislation, McDonald said Sinn Féin have “emphasised the need for timely action”.
“This has dragged on for a very very long time,” she said.
“We understand that the British Government is looking at legislation some time in October, but that mounts to nothing until we see what is to be published.”
The Sinn Féín deputy leader, Michelle O'Neill, adds that the framework "is one thing but seeing the legislation in black and white will be crucially important" and without that it will be "hard to pass that judgement".
A reporter asks the Sinn Féin leader about six protections for veterans published by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
"This is all material coming across our desks just now, so we don't want to make any hasty final judgements... we will be scrutinising and testing everything carefully," she says.
McDonald repeats that the acceptability of the framework will be led by "victims and survivors and their advocacy groups".
She adds if they do not accept, then the framework will "fall flat".
