Government wins legacy case at UK Supreme Court

"While the question of immunity was not before the Supreme Court, the Court went out of its way to refute the main argument put forward for it.

"It is clear that the Troubles Bill is now the only viable way to generate confidence across communities, enable information sharing by the Irish authorities and put in place the necessary safeguards for our former service personnel."

Amnesty International "condemned" the ruling.

It said it is "deeply concerned" the Government has a veto over information disclosure.

"The decision to uphold the government's appeal is a bitter blow to victims and condemns them to further delays for the truth," said its Northern Ireland deputy director, Gráinne Teggart.

"The judgement must not be used by Government to give cover to a system which shields wrongdoing rather than exposing it."

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."