Assembly discusses Springhill inquest findings and various community issues.
Key speakers
Overview
The session opened with a Matter of the Day focused on the findings of the Springhill inquest, a legal process concerning the deaths of five civilians who were shot by the British Army in the Springhill area of Belfast in July 1972. The inquest had formally concluded that the killings were unjustified, and several members used the Matter of the Day to address the significance of that finding for the families of those killed and for the broader question of accountability for deaths during the Troubles.
Members from different parties spoke to the Springhill item, and while they shared a general acknowledgement of the inquest findings, their framing of the significance and implications of those findings varied. Some members focused on what the findings mean for the specific families involved and for the process of truth recovery. Others raised broader arguments about how deaths from the Troubles era are treated in law and in public discourse, and whether consistent standards are applied across different categories of death.
The second main item on the agenda was a contribution marking the International Day of the Midwife. Mr McGuigan used the occasion to draw attention to pressures within the maternity services in Northern Ireland and to call for a dedicated maternity strategy. He framed the issue around the particular significance of midwives at critical points in people's lives and the professional pressures they face.
The third item concerned domestic abuse and coercive control. Members discussed the barriers that prevent victims of domestic and sexual abuse from engaging with the criminal justice system. The debate touched on court procedures, the experience of victims who are required to engage directly with those accused of abusing them, and the need for trauma-informed approaches throughout the justice process.
Mrs Long, in her capacity as Justice Minister, addressed the domestic abuse item and set out her view that forcing victims into contact with perpetrators in a legal setting is unacceptable. Her contribution was noted by other members as reflecting the current direction of ministerial thinking on the issue.
The session did not include any formal divisions or votes. Its character was deliberative rather than decisional, with members placing concerns on the record and, in some cases, directing questions at ministers for follow-up.
What was discussed
Springhill Inquest Findings
Gerry Carroll led the Matter of the Day on the Springhill inquest, noting that the families of those killed 'have waited 54 years for some recognition of the deep hurt, pain, trauma and anguish' caused by the deaths. He called for the findings to be formally acknowledged and for accountability to follow from the inquest's conclusions.
Mr O'Toole argued that the killings at Springhill and Westrock 'have been held to a different standard' compared to other deaths from the same period, and called for consistent treatment of all Troubles-era cases regardless of who was responsible. Mr Beattie took a different angle, stating that 'every person in the country who suffered during the Troubles deserves the truth at the very least,' framing his contribution around the principle that truth-seeking should apply across all categories of victim.
The exchange illustrated the range of perspectives within the Assembly on legacy issues: members agreed that the families deserve recognition, but differed in how they framed the question of accountability and whether specific institutional actors should face legal consequences as a result of inquest findings.
International Day of the Midwife
Mr McGuigan marked the International Day of the Midwife by drawing attention to the conditions in which midwives work and the pressures on maternity services in Northern Ireland. He stated that midwives 'are there at some of the most significant and vulnerable moments in people's lives' and argued that the current system does not adequately support them to do that work.
He called for a maternity strategy to be developed and set out as a government priority, noting that the absence of such a strategy leaves the profession without a clear framework for workforce planning and service development. The item did not generate extended debate but was noted by other members as an area requiring attention.
Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control
The debate on domestic abuse focused on how the criminal justice system handles cases involving coercive control and sexual violence, and specifically on the experience of victims who must engage with that system. Mr Gaston noted that coercive control 'is one of the most dangerous forms of abuse,' and contributed to a broader discussion about whether the legal framework adequately reflects the nature of the harm involved.
Ms Sheerin drew on testimony from victims to argue that current court procedures are preventing people from reporting abuse, stating that 'the testimony of the victims of abuse tells us that the court procedures... are driving women away from reporting their abuse.' She called for procedural reform to reduce the burden placed on those who come forward.
Mrs Long, as Justice Minister, stated that 'forcing any victim of domestic or sexual violence or abuse into contact with the perpetrator is unacceptable' and indicated that this principle is informing her department's approach to reform. Members noted her contribution and called for the pace of change to reflect the urgency of the issue.
Decisions and outcomes
The session did not produce any formal votes, motions, or legislative decisions. On the Springhill inquest, members placed their views on the public record and called for accountability, but no formal motion was tabled. On midwifery, Mr McGuigan's call for a maternity strategy was noted but did not receive a ministerial response during the session. On domestic abuse, Mrs Long indicated the direction of her department's thinking, which members took as a signal of intent rather than a formal commitment. All three items were treated as matters for ongoing engagement between members and the relevant departments.
Notable moments
Gerry Carroll
People Before Profit
“The families of the Springhill massacre have waited 54 years for some recognition of the deep hurt, pain, trauma and anguish.”
Carroll led the Matter of the Day on the Springhill inquest findings, calling for formal acknowledgement of the inquest's conclusions.
People Before Profit has consistently called for full accountability for Troubles-era killings by state forces. This statement is consistent with that position.
Mr McGuigan
“Our midwives are there at some of the most significant and vulnerable moments in people's lives.”
McGuigan used the International Day of the Midwife to draw attention to pressures on maternity services and to call for a dedicated maternity strategy.
Party affiliation not recorded in this transcript.
Mrs Long
Alliance
“Forcing any victim of domestic or sexual violence or abuse into contact with the perpetrator is unacceptable.”
Long, as Justice Minister, set out her view on how the justice system should treat victims of domestic and sexual abuse during legal proceedings.
Alliance has stated support for reform of the justice system to better protect victims of abuse. This statement is consistent with that position and was made in Long's capacity as Justice Minister.
Mr Gaston
TUV
“Coercive control is one of the most dangerous forms of abuse.”
Gaston contributed to the debate on domestic abuse, addressing the nature and severity of coercive control.
TUV has not adopted a specific published position on coercive control legislation. This statement did not diverge from any known party position.
Ms Sheerin
Sinn Féin
“The testimony of the victims of abuse tells us that the court procedures... are driving women away from reporting their abuse.”
Sheerin cited victim testimony to argue that current court procedures discourage victims from reporting domestic and sexual abuse.
Sinn Féin has stated support for reform of court procedures in domestic abuse cases. This statement is consistent with that position.
Mr O'Toole
SDLP
“The killings — the murders — at Springhill/Westrock have been held to a different standard.”
O'Toole argued that deaths in the Springhill and Westrock area have not received the same level of scrutiny as other Troubles-era cases.
SDLP has called for consistent treatment of all Troubles-era deaths and for full accountability regardless of who was responsible. This statement is consistent with that position.
Mr Beattie
UUP
“Every person in the country who suffered during the Troubles deserves the truth at the very least.”
Beattie argued that truth-seeking should apply to all victims of the Troubles without distinction between cases.
UUP has called for truth and justice for all victims of the Troubles, applying that principle across all categories of death. This statement is consistent with that position.