Third of Troubles disability payment decisions were rejections

The Troubles was a period of conflict which lasted for 30 years and cost the lives of more than 3,500 people

A third of decisions made by a board overseeing a Troubles victims payment scheme have been rejections.

Statistics from the Victims' Payment Board (VPB), which makes the decisions around payments, show 325 of 955 applications which have been decided upon have been turned down.

One applicant who had her request rejected was Jeanitta McCabe.

She saw her father Peter being shot by the IRA in their Newry home in 1990 when she was 10 years old.

Ms McCabe previously told BBC News NI her application was rejected as the shooting was not "Troubles-related", but her mother was approved.

Jeanitta McCabe saw her father being shot by the IRA in their family home 33 years ago

Statistics from the Victims' Payment Board (VPB), which makes the decisions on the Troubles Permanent Disability Payment (TPDP) showed that as of December there had been 6,209 applications.

Of those, 955 have been been assessed and decisions made, with 630 applicants deemed eligible for a payment and 325 applicants deemed ineligible.

• IRA victim's daughter denied Troubles payment

• Applicants dying in 'slow' Troubles pension process

• The Troubles: What led to Northern Ireland's conflict?

Almost £32m has been paid out to victims so far, the Victims' Payment Board said.

What is the Troubles payment scheme?

The TPDP scheme was set up to compensate those permanently physically or psychologically disabled as a result of an injury related to the Troubles.

The board has previously issued guidance that some paramilitary-style attacks do not fall within the definition of a Troubles-related incident.

It determined that members of a paramilitary group acting as vigilantes against "a person who was engaged in or was perceived as being engaged in 'anti-social behaviour' or crime" should not fall within their remit.

The scheme will be open until August 2026.