The teenager is also charged with two counts of attempted murder and threats to kill following the Dungannon murder investigation

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A 16-year-old boy has been charged by police following the death of a 61-year-old man in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

The teenager faces charges of murder, two counts of attempted murder and threats to kill.

The man’s body was discovered alongside his injured eight-year-old daughter at a property on Lisnahull Road on Saturday morning.

The man’s wife, aged 48, was also found with injuries at the scene.

The young girl is said to be in a stable condition in hospital, while her mother has since been discharged.

The teenager is scheduled to appear before Omagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday,September 1.

At a press conference held in Dungannon on Monday, Superintendent Peter Stevenson urged the public to refrain from speculating about the incident and confirmed that officers had been granted additional time to question the boy.

Stevenson said: “First and foremost, I want to express my sympathies to the loved ones of this family who will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with this horrendous news.

“Specialist officers are supporting the wider family circle and we are liaising with the relevant Consulate. We would ask that the public avoid speculation.

“I want to repeat that we do not believe that there is any ongoing risk to the public and, at this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

“However, please be assured, that you will continue to see an increased police presence in the area. We have a significant number of detectives and local policing officers dedicated to working on this case.”

We understand the public interest and concern and will continue to bring updates as our investigation progresses.

Harry Jackson was born with a rare bowel condition and needed a life-saving liver and bowel transplant

A Cambridge father who donated part of his liver and bowel to his son in an “extremely rare” transplant has described the experience as the “greatest privilege” of his life.

Harry Jackson, six, underwent the major operation at King’s College Hospital in London and is thought to be among only around 10 children worldwide to have received such a transplant. Harry was born with malrotation, a bowel abnormality that develops while the baby is still in the womb.

Volvulus is a complication of malrotation and occurs when the bowel twists, cutting off the blood supply to that section of the bowel. The condition can prove fatal. Harry has also been diagnosed with intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), a progressive liver condition brought on by years of intravenous feeding required to manage his illness.

With limited options available, Harry’s parents Annie and Gary met with the transplant team at King’s College Hospital to explore the possibility of a combined liver and bowel transplant and to establish whether either parent was a suitable match. The couple, from Cambridge, were desperate for a solution and immediately agreed to undergo testing to determine their compatibility with Harry.

Ms Cerveno said: “When Harry was diagnosed with malrotation, we always knew that a bowel transplant would likely be part of his journey one day. We just hoped that day would be many years away. When his liver began to fail because of the total parenteral nutrition keeping him alive, everything changed.

“Suddenly we were faced with the reality that he needed both a liver and bowel transplant much sooner than we had ever imagined. There are hundreds of children like Harry waiting for the phone call that could save their lives. As parents, you feel completely helpless watching your child wait for something so uncertain.

“The thought that one of us might be able to donate and give Harry that chance was something we wanted to explore immediately. If there was any possibility we could help him ourselves, we had to try.”

After weeks of medical assessments, Mr Jackson was confirmed as a 98 per cent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match with Harry, indicating their immune systems were remarkably compatible. In January last year, Mr Jackson underwent surgery at King’s College Hospital to donate portions of his liver and small intestine to his son.

He said: “When you’re a parent, you’d give your child anything in a heartbeat. So when I was told I could donate part of my liver and bowel to Harry, there was never a decision to make. I was just incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to do something that could help save his life and give our little boy a second chance.

“The journey to surgery wasn’t easy. I had to lose six stone, follow a strict diet, completely give up alcohol and stay focused for months to make sure I was healthy enough to donate. It was physically and mentally demanding but every challenge felt worthwhile because it meant I was one step closer to helping Harry.

“The operation itself lasted 17 hours and my recovery took around six weeks. It was tough, but nothing compares to seeing Harry looking healthier and stronger afterwards. Watching him recover and knowing that I had been able to play such a significant part in giving him that chance is something I’ll never be able to put fully into words.

“It remains the greatest privilege of my life, and I would do it all again without a second thought.”

At present, approximately three in every 100 liver transplants carried out in the UK involve living donors, with the vast majority of these performed on children.

Professor Nigel Heaton, consultant transplant surgeon at King’s, who formed part of the surgical team treating Harry, said: “From the first meeting, it was very clear that Gary was set on doing all he could to help Harry recover. He took the idea of living donation very seriously and reduced his weight through healthy eating and exercise.

“The surgery was performed through a vertical scar in the upper abdomen and removed about 20 per cent of Gary’s liver and one and a half metres (4-5ft) of the small bowel (normal length 20ft). Gary was always positive and uncomplaining, and recovered very quickly.”

King’s hosts the Institute of Liver Studies and has long been a leading force in liver transplant research and development. Ms Miriam Cortes-Cerisuelo, liver transplant consultant surgeon and clinical lead for transplant surgery at King’s, said: “There are a number of benefits to living organ donation.

“The donated organ is in excellent quality from a healthy donor, and the process allows better preparation and planning for the surgery. As a result, there are much better chances of success for the transplant. However, living donor transplants involving the small bowel and liver, such as the one that saved Harry’s life, are extremely rare.

“There are around just 10 cases worldwide that we know of, all involving children. In addition to carrying out Harry and Gary’s donor transplant surgery, the liver unit at King’s has conducted one other living donor combined liver and bowel transplant, the only two cases of this kind to take place in the UK.”

The King’s liver unit, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, has completed more than 300 living donor liver transplants since its establishment. Only three NHS centres across the UK provide this service (King’s, Leeds and Birmingham).

Ms Cortes-Cerisuelo said: “Our work would not be possible without the generosity of people who sign up to the NHS to become an organ donor and give the gift of life, and their families who supported their decision.”

The storm, included heavy rain, thunder and frequent lightning, slowly headed eastwards throughout the evening.

The Met Office placed the area under a yellow weather warning for heavy showers and thunderstorms for Sunday, August 30, which concluded at midnight.

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At around 8pm, the storm hit York moving steadily east with frequent lightning, thunder and heavy rain.

Christopher H Drinkwater’s photo of the storm (Image: Christopher H Drinkwater’)

One reader said the horizon was ‘flashing and flickering for almost four hours’.

Another described it as ‘a spectacular show all over’.

Other comments added: “We were in Whitby and it was beautiful weather all day but drove home in this thunderstorm! We had just stopped to charge the car up when we heard the biggest crack of thunder we’ve ever heard.”

A amazing photo of the lightning by Estelle Drye (Image: Estelle Drye)

Some people commented that they were ‘terrified’ and ‘petrified’ by the storm, while one said: ‘the power of nature can be both destructive and awesome at the same time.’

The Met Office forecast for today (Tuesday) is for dry and settled across much of England and Wales, with variable amounts of cloud. Cloudier elsewhere, with a band of rain affecting Scotland, which will sink southwards during the day.

Kelly Pennock captured this image (Image: Kelly Pennock)

The outlook for Wednesday to Friday, remains changeable with showers or longer spells of rain for most, although some drier and brighter spells also developing. Temperatures near normal for early September, although often mild by night.

Eilidh Bell was last seen around 1am on Friday, August 28 on Meadowburn Place in Campbeltown and was reported missing from her home on Sunday

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A body has been discovered during the search for a missing woman in Campbeltown. Eilidh Bell was last spotted at approximately 1am on Friday, August 28 on Meadowburn Place in the town and was reported as missing from her residence on Sunday.

Police Scotland initiated an urgent hunt for the

25-year-old whose vanishing was described as “out of character” as worries mounted over her wellbeing. The force issued a public appeal alongside a description in an effort to locate her.

Officers have now tragically confirmed that a woman’s body was discovered in an area close to Kilkerran Road on Monday, August 31. Formal identification is yet to take place but Eilidh’s family has been notified.

They have requested that their privacy be respected. The death is being treated as unexplained but investigations continue.

A report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal in due course, reports the Daily Record.

Heartfelt tributes have already been paid to Eilidh from devastated loved ones online. Morgan Irwin penned: “A sunshine in human form the most beautiful girl inside out. Sending so much love to Jenny, Eilidh’s family and all those close to her! A sad day.”

Linda Robertson scribed: “RIP Eilidh, a beautiful girl who was always smiling,” while Rhiannan Brown wrote: “So sad, such a beautiful girl taken too soon! Rest easy Eilidh, childhood memories to cherish forever”.

Keira Mehigan added: “Absolutely devastated, she was the best girl! Sending my love to all her family.”

The development follows heartfelt appeals made by Eilidh’s loved ones on social media. Her mother, Jenny Bell, posted on Facebook: “We are really worried about her and have been to the police to report her missing… we just want to know she is ok. It is very out of character for Eilidh not to be in touch with any of her friends or family.”

Eilidh’s aunt, Laura McEwan, also took to Facebook to implore the public for assistance, writing: “She’s a friend to so many in so many places. Please, I’m begging you to keep sharing. She is adored and loved by her family – she would never have missed her wee sister’s birthday… God, you’re too precious.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: “On Monday, 31 August, 2026, the body of a woman was found in an area near Kilkerran Road.

“Formal identification has not yet taken place, however the family of Eilidh Bell, who was previously reported missing, is aware. They have asked for their privacy to be respected.

“The death is being treated as unexplained but enquiries are ongoing. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”

The action marks a “sharp escalation of the industrial dispute” and follows three weeks of strikes

The supply of some leading UK brands including Fridge Raiders and Richmond Sausages could be disrupted due to strike action at a Co Fermanagh factory, a union has said.

Unite which represents approximately 130 workers employed by Pilgrims Europe at its Enniskillen production facility has announced it will begin all out (continuous) strike action beginning at 6.30am on Wednesday, September 2. The union said the action marks a “sharp escalation of the industrial dispute” and follows three weeks of strikes.

The site produces a range of leading UK and Irish food brands including Fridge Raiders, Richmond Sausages, Mr Brains Pork Faggots, Denny sausages (Republic of Ireland), Rollover sausages (sold at football grounds) and vegan sausages.

Fridge Raiders are one of the most successful Pilgrims products and are targeted at lunchboxes and for younger consumers.

Unite said workers at the factory are seeking a decent pay increase and “an end to the current regime where morning shift workers are the only shift workers not getting fully paid breaks.”

The union added: “The lowest paid workers receive an hourly rate of £12.82 – only eleven pence above the minimum wage. Pilgrims Europe’s latest reported after-tax profit was £128 million.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Pilgrims is a hugely profitable company making massive profits while its workers earn just pennies above the bare legal minimum. It can easily make its workers a fair offer but is choosing not to.

“Our members are determined to win an improved deal – they have the total support of Unite for as long as it takes to achieve that.”

Unite regional officer Greg O’Kane said: “Management intransigence has left workers with no alternative but to escalate the strike. Strikes have already heavily impacted production and stocks.

“Pilgrims’ management needs to act now to end this dispute and avoid the risk of empty shelves just when schools are returning and demand for these products surges.”

Pilgrim’s Europe has been contacted for comment.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The seven-minute test is part of a national health initiative to improve early detection of cardiovascular risk, aiming to reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke.

NHS England has announced that the pin-prick test will be piloted at around 100 pharmacies across England.

It will be available to eligible patients aged 40 to 84 who are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in the past year.

The tests hope to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths. (Image: Getty)

Free cholesterol checks across England

David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said: “Your local pharmacy can be a vital first line of defence against serious illness.

“By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking time bombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies in delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries as part of the 10-Year Health Plan to bring care closer to where people live.”

Patients will also be offered a blood pressure check, and will receive a copy of their results by email.

The pilot follows a north London scheme run by Barts Health NHS Trust in collaboration with UCLPartners and HEART UK.

Between January 2025 and March 2026, 2,493 patients were tested at 61 community pharmacies.

Of those, 19 per cent were found to need medication, and 88 people began statin treatment.

Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s national specialty advisor for cardiovascular disease prevention, said: “Everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors including high cholesterol and blood pressure and ‘know their numbers.’

“This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes.”

Dr Sotiris Antoniou, divisional director for clinical services at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “This national programme builds on our experience of developing a robust, quality-assured model for point-of-care testing in community pharmacy.

“By scaling this approach across England, we can support pharmacists to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and, importantly, act on the results through timely advice and treatment.

“This has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities, particularly in communities where the burden of cardiovascular disease is greatest.”

Chris Laing, chief executive of UCLPartners, said: “We’re committed to helping proven innovations reach and benefit more patients so it’s great to see this initiative go from north London to pharmacies across England.

“Our evidence showed that one in five people tested in north London were found to be at high risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years.

“By detecting risk earlier, pharmacies were able to offer lifestyle advice or refer people to a GP for treatment sooner – benefits that can now be replicated for people across England.”

Ms McGovern said: “This programme is exactly the type of innovation we want to see across the NHS.

“By making it possible to get a cholesterol check in just seven minutes at a local pharmacy, we’re making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health.

“Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services.”

The pilot will begin this autumn and run until spring 2027.

Will you be getting a free cholesterol test when they are available? Let us know in the comments. 

Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) was recently dumped by Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) in Coronation Street, and he is already on the rebound.

Sarah has confessed to the murder of Theo Silverton and is currently awaiting trial behind bars.

Unfortunately, this put Kit in a difficult position professionally, given that he is a detective. This was the reason Sarah gave for ending their relationship, as she was worried that he would resent her for harming his career prospects in the long run.

Kit was understandably gutted to have been dumped, but actor Jacob Roberts pointed out that he needs to move on.

‘I think because it’s been going on for a while and he knew that he was always second choice, his ego has been damaged. He still tries, but the more he tries to help Sarah, the less he’s going to help himself and it’s going to affect his career.

‘So I think he’s thinking that it’s maybe too much now, because he’s done all he can.’

This week, Kit is set to go on a date with Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown), which causes a stir with Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), who loses her temper when she sees them together in the Bistro.

She’s not the only one to try to persuade Kit to rethink his choice of date, as Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) later warns him that Jodie is bad news and he should steer clear.

It seems that Kit is set to take their advice to heart, as next week Jodie receives a voice message from him explaining that he doesn’t want to see her again.

The message comes after Kit wakes up on the sofa as a mystery woman scuttles past him and out of the door.

As he looks at a photo of him and Sarah, he is awash with guilt.

‘Technically, Sarah let him go, so Kit hasn’t cheated,’ Jacob defended. ‘Obviously it’s still raw.’

Having been ditched by Kit, Jodie masks her anger as she slips out of the house before letting herself into Sarah’s flat to snoop around.

It is there that she listens in on a hushed conversation between Kit and Bethany, and is floored by what she hears.

Could Kit have found the guilt too hard to bear and confessed to his night of passion? And what will Jodie do with the knowledge if he has?

MORE: Sally Dynevor supporting Jacob Roberts amid Coronation Street breast cancer storyline for Kit

MORE: Coronation Street cancer story for Kit is really polarising everyone

MORE: Kit rocked by Coronation Street death as terrifying news follows in new spoiler video

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 19:54 BST, 31 August 2026 | Updated: 02:46 BST, 1 September 2026

A British activist who was reportedly kidnapped by Israeli settlers and assaulted in the West Bank at the weekend is now set to be deported. 

Finn Joughin was moved into police custody following the ordeal in the southern West Bank village of Umm al-Khair on Saturday. 

The 22-year-old was engaging in protective presence, a tactic used to deter Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, his lawyer, Inbar Shaked Vardi said.  

Mr Joughin’s lawyer said that children from Israeli settler families had entered the village’s sports centre and attempted to break down fences built to protect Palestinians from attacks. 

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‘Finn only stood there holding on to the fence in an attempt to stop the break-in; at that point settlers began yelling at him accusations in Hebrew that he did not understand,’ Ms Vardi said.

‘Settlers started accusing him of sexually harassing one of the children which is not something that happened,’ she said, before armed settlers took Mr Joughin to the Carmel settlement by force.

Ms Vardi continued: ‘He was put in a headlock and his hands were tied behind his back and he was forced to sit on the floor in the shed for 30 minutes while settlers filmed humiliating videos that they later posted.’

The lawyer added that the kidnapping was ‘a violation of both his right to privacy and his right to a good name’.

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Finn Joughin was taken into custody by Israeli settlers on Saturday in the village of Umm al-Kheir in the West Bank

The 22-year-old British activist pictured wearing a brown t-shirt and shorts sitting on the floor

Israeli police were then called to the settlement where Mr Joughin was arrested before officers ‘interrogated him under the sole suspicion of assault’.

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While awaiting a hearing at Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court on August 30, police said that Mr Joughin would be moved to Israel’s immigration authority and then to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Israeli authorities decided to deport the Briton after a pre-deportation hearing on the same day, Ms Vardi said.

Mr Joughin’s flight back to the UK was scheduled for around midday GMT on August 31.

In a statement, Israeli police said officers arrested a ‘foreign national who disturbed public order’ near the Carmel settlement.

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‘A complaint was also filed against him on suspicion of assaulting a minor and other suspected offences,’ it added.

‘After sufficient evidentiary basis was established regarding his actions, the investigation materials were transferred last night to the Population and Immigration Authority for a hearing and a decision regarding his removal from Israel.’

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Malaysia (AP) — It’s that time of year when the living make room for the dead. Malaysia’s Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which this year began in mid-August.

“It is centered around the worship of Da Shi Ye, also known as the Guardian God of Ghosts, and has become one of the major traditional Chinese religious celebrations in Bukit Mertajam,” said Lee Kim Fong, general affairs coordinator for the event.

The city is in Malaysia’s northern state of Penang, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur.

“It dates back to 1888, when there was a serious plague in Bukit Mertajam,” Lee said. “After that, our ancestors began worshipping Da Shi Ye.”

For 15 days, devotees pray and make offerings before a towering paper-and-bamboo effigy of Da Shi Ye. The celebration culminates in the ceremonial burning of the effigy, symbolically sending the deity back to the spirit world.

Lee estimated that more than 10,000 people attended the burning ceremony this year, with crowds sometimes reaching 20,000.

“The main purpose is to look after wandering spirits, especially spirits who have no one to worship or make offerings to them,” Lee said. “Some may have died in accidents or may have no family members to pray for them.”

Similar celebrations are held in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Devotees travel to Bukit Mertajam from across Malaysia as well as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

A towering effigy stands at the center of the celebration

The Da Shi Ye effigy in Bukit Mertajam is traditionally made about five centimeters (two inches) taller each year. In 2026, it reached 8.9 meters (about 29 feet).

Ng Chi Wong, 69, has spent more than four decades crafting the figures. He said completing the towering effigy takes about a month and a half, with a team of seven or eight people working on it.

“We have the measurements and a general idea of the structure, but there are no formal drawings,” Ng said. “Most of the design and construction details are already in our minds.”

The artisans begin with the head, the part that requires the most work, before building the main frame and shaping the body. The outer layers are then added and painted.

Ng said that the process has undergone some small improvements over time. Yet the craft requires more than technical skill.

“You also need to understand the tradition and the beliefs behind it,” he said.

The festival honors spirits with no one to remember them

Lim Han Cong, a University of Malaya master’s graduate in Chinese studies, described the Hungry Ghost Festival as a counterpart to another traditional Chinese observance: Qingming, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, when families honor their ancestors at their graves.

While Qingming focuses primarily on one’s own ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival extends offerings to wandering spirits and the unclaimed dead. “This tradition reflects a synthesis of Buddhist, Taoist and Chinese folk religious beliefs,” Lim said.

In Taoist ceremonies during the festival, priests recite sacred scriptures and perform rites to help the deceased find peace and salvation. Such practices are intended to provide comfort, nourishment and liberation to those who have no descendants to care for them.

“At its core, the Ghost Festival expresses the belief that the living and the dead remain connected through enduring moral and emotional bonds,” Lim said. “The living, therefore, have a responsibility to honor, support and help the deceased attain peace.”

An old tradition finds new roles in Malaysia

Offerings and rituals like those held in Bukit Mertajam eventually took on a broader community role. Starting in the 1970s, Malaysian Chinese celebrations incorporated charitable activities such as auctions of blessed offerings and fundraising campaigns for schools.

“As a result, the Ghost Festival in Malaysia has evolved beyond a festival devoted solely to honoring the dead,” Lim said. “It has also become an important platform for strengthening community solidarity.”

That broader role is also evident in Bukit Mertajam. Money raised through fundraising efforts helps the organizing committee provide assistance to people with medical needs and support Chinese-language education.

Alongside that community work, organizers are looking for new ways to broaden access to the tradition. Participation is no longer limited to those who can make it to Bukit Mertajam.

“We introduced online worship for devotees who are overseas or unable to return,” Lee said. “So they can still take part in the prayers and make offerings.”

A professional team documented the celebration from Aug. 14 through Aug. 29. Organizers plan to upload the footage to Facebook so people around the world can see the Da Shi Ye festival in Penang.

“This is a Chinese tradition that has been passed down for more than a hundred years,” Lee said. “As descendants of the Chinese community, we have a responsibility to preserve it.”

___

Hernández reported from Beijing. AP video journalist Syawalludin Zain contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

By MARK NICOL, DEFENCE EDITOR

Published: 00:00 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 02:22 BST, 1 September 2026

SAS soldiers are not the ‘villains’ of the Northern Ireland conflict and should not be persecuted by those seeking to rewrite history, a former Armed Forces minister has insisted.

Labour’s Al Carns, a decorated ex-Special Forces officer himself, resigned from Sir Keir Starmer‘s government over defence spending and the party’s Troubles Bill.

The prospective legislation paves the way for troops to be subjected to legacy inquests and criminal investigation based on the Human Rights Act – written years after the Troubles.

Mr Carns, who championed the Troubles Bill before conducting a U-turn, has penned a foreword to The Special Air Service In Northern Ireland paper published on Tuesday by the Policy Exchange think-tank.

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He wrote: ‘Every use of lethal force by the SAS was investigated at the time, and those who served were subject to the law. Where genuinely new and compelling evidence emerges, it should be examined.

‘What is unfair is to subject veterans to repeated investigations of the same events decades later simply because the process or legal standards have changed.’

He added: ‘No soldier should be above the law. Equally, no soldier should face endless legal jeopardy.

‘Accountability is not the same as perpetual investigation. Justice is not served when the process itself becomes the punishment.’

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Former Armed Forces minister Al Carns said Labour’s Bill to protect British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland are not ‘villains’

The Government’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill aims to establish a Legacy Commission to investigate killings during battles with Republicans and Loyalists as far back as 1969, tied to the promise of a package of protections for veterans (Pictured: Belfast, 1981)

Veterans have welcomed Carns’ recent stance on the Bill, though some former senior officers are sceptical since he had earlier supported the legislation.

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The Daily Mail has long campaigned to protect SAS heroes from such witch hunts. Last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed Labour’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would be brought back to the House of Commons this autumn.

The Troubles Bill has been introduced by Labour to replace the previous Conservative government’s Legacy Act 2023 which offered conditional immunity for individuals involved in Troubles-related offences.

Labour’s alternative legislation removes those protections and establishes an investigative body – the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval – to explore whether any new evidence warrants the reopening of decades-old cases.

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The Troubles Bill has passed its first and second readings in the House of Commons and is due to reach Committee stage.

Labour’s treatment of veterans remains hugely controversial, with the Special Air Service Regiment Association threatening legal action unless its members’ interests are recognised.

According to the Northern Ireland Office, the prospective legislation will ‘put in place a fair and transparent system that enables families of victims, including those who never came home from service, to seek answers’.

The Government also claims the Troubles Bill offers veterans six protections and safeguards that were not previously in place, including not having to attend legal hearings in Northern Ireland.

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