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Human rights group, Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) says the legal process dealing with the Kingsmill massacre is not yet closed.

UHRW Advocacy Support Worker, Jonathan Larner, said: “The conclusion of the inquest has not resulted in closure for the families of the victims.

“This has been a protracted, painful and wholly unsatisfactory process. Evidence from An Garda Siochana in a closed court leaves left much to be desired. It did nothing for openness and transparency when it came to dealing with the legacy of the past.

“Furthermore, it is regrettable that the Coroner did not address the discontent of the families who walked out of the Inquest several years ago.

“We will await the findings and note from the Coroner’s comment how there was no assistance from people purporting to represent the IRA or the wider republican movement.

“The Coroner went on to say that the absence of any commentary or evidence ‘may very well be telling’ when it came to his conclusions.

“This atrocity 48 years ago is still causing pain and hurt. There is no accountability, nothing from a self-styled ‘army’ that held to military rules and no admission of their brutal sectarian murder campaign.”

Campaigning human rights organisation, Ulster Human Rights Watch, says the High Court ruling on the Legacy Act ‘strikes a blow for victims of terrorism and delivers a blow to the Government’.’

Reacting to the ruling, Axel Schmidt, Advocacy Manager, UHRW, said: “This is a highly significant ruling by the High Court. It strikes a blow for victims of terrorism and at the same time delivers a blow to the Government in advance of the May 1st cut-off.

“Had the Government listened to us and our recommendations from the outset, this embarrassing reversal could have been avoided.

“One of the major sections in the Legacy Act concerning immunity from prosecution is in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and must mean that the Government should remove it from the legislation.

“Its direction of travel through its Legacy Act was ill judged and now proven to be wrong. UHRW has consistently held the view that victims of terrorism cannot be denied or prevented from seeking justice and this ruling is a clear vindication of our position.”

Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) has said that the Republic of Ireland Government has fallen short on its response to a Public Inquiry into the Omagh outrage.

The Tanáiste Micheál Martin said the Irish State would fully co-operate with the Inquiry but ruled out a separate Inquiry to look at its own role and security and investigative deficiencies.

The cross-border aspect to this case was fully mentioned at the High Court in Belfast.

The expectations of victims are clearly for a judicially led process in the Republic of Ireland in parallel to the inquiry in Northern Ireland.

Following the publication of the UK Government’s terms of reference for the upcoming public inquiry, UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “The statement by Mr Martin is disappointing. In our view, a commitment to fully cooperate is welcome but doesn’t go far enough, and the excuse that a separate Inquiry in the Republic of Ireland would overlap and duplicate doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

“What will full cooperation look like? Will the books be open to allow full, unfettered access to security files? Was there surveillance and intelligence on terrorists in the days leading up to the atrocity. Was relevant information passed on in a timely fashion?

“Many terrorist actions in Northern Ireland were planned and carried out from the Irish Republic. We are calling on the Tánaiste to set up legacy institutions and ensure that innocent victims of terrorism are not forgotten.

“Many families are still waiting on answers and feel that they are not being given any priority in the Republic.

“Ulster Human Rights Watch is calling on Tánaiste Micheál Martin to tell victims and their families exactly what steps his Government is going to take to establish and deliver legacy mechanisms equivalent to those set up in Northern Ireland. They cannot remain silent on an issue that is vital for reconciliation and healing.”