Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson has welcomed the ruling, saying it has “implications not just in terms of legacy, but for those who had set out to undermine the previous Supreme Court ruling in relation to gender and its application in Northern Ireland”.
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said Thursday’s judgement will cause “genuine concern among families who believed protections contained within the post-Brexit arrangements would safeguard their rights”.
“Families will be particularly disappointed that the Supreme Court has overturned the earlier Court of Appeal ruling, which had upheld important protections relating to legacy and the rights of victims,” Finucane said.
TUV leader Jim Allister said he welcomed the ruling as it “restrains” the effect of the Windsor Framework.
“While it checks the absurd contention that rights in Northern Ireland should be those evolving in the EU, not of the UK, it does not curb the continuing and pernicious reach of the Protocol/Windsor Framework into the constitutional and economic operation of Northern Ireland as a part of the UK.
“Nor does it deliver us from the oppressive requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights, which must come on a UK wide basis under a future government.”
SDLP leader Claire Hanna said: “Today’s judgement does not remove the concerns consistently raised by victims and survivors, particularly around disclosure.
“The SDLP has been clear that until these issues are properly addressed, any new legacy mechanism will continue to see only partial participation and will fail to command the confidence of most victims and survivors.”
The Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin said the Irish government will be examining the judgement “very carefully”.
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) chair Lord Elliott said the party “welcomes” the ruling and it is a “significant constitutional correction, but it also raises questions on this Labour government’s handling of legacy from the moment it took office”.
