Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney
SINN Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said it is unacceptable that families have had to face lengthy delays for inquests because of the lack of coroners.
Speaking after a debate on a Sinn Féin motion in the Assembly today, Mr McCartney said;
“It was important a number of relatives of victims of state violence were in the public gallery in the Assembly for today’s debate.
“I commend them for the dignity they have shown over many years in the face of continual attempts by the British government to frustrate their search for truth.
“It is unacceptable they have had to wait so long, for some of theme it has been decades, to establish the truth of what happened to their loved ones and worse still they could face further delays now.
“It has been known for some time that the senior coroner in the North is due to retire this month.
“Measures should have been put in place well before now to ensure a replacement is in post as soon as possible.
“Instead, we could be facing a situation where there will not be a replacement until next Easter.
“The Justice Minister needs to act immediately to make sure relatives and those seeking the truth are not further distressed because inquests are further delayed.”
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