Victims' legislation for spring

Mike Nesbitt says he lacks the legal status to carry out his work

The first and deputy first ministers hope to have the legislation to allow the Victims' Commissioners to fulfil their duties in place by late spring.

They were criticised by the SDLP and UUP after some of the commissioners said they were told not to meet victims until the legislation was passed.

But the ministers said it was a "misunderstanding" and they support commissioners meeting victims.

Current laws are for one commissioner, so the commission has no legal status.

One of the victims' commissioners, Mike Nesbitt, said legal loopholes were holding them back.

Both he and another commissioner, Patricia McBride, said they have met victims since their appointment, but were cautioned by civil servants to stop doing so because of their lack of legal status.

However, on Friday, the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister said there was no barrier to commissioners meeting victims and survivor.

The four commissioners include ex-interim victims' commissioner Bertha McDougall and Brendan McAllister of Mediation NI.