Northern Ireland Secretary criticised over deadline for Troubles disability scheme

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant has been accused of an “abdication of responsibility” to victims of the Troubles, after declining to extend a scheme for those permanently disabled as a result of the decades-long conflict.Victims group Relatives For Justice accused him of taking a “horrific position”, after receiving a letter from Bryant in which he said his decision came after he did not receive a request to extend from the Executive.In the letter to Relatives For Justice, Bryant said the Troubles permanent disablement payment scheme “provides much-needed acknowledgment and support to those victims and their families”.He added that to date payments of more than £150 million (€175 million) have been made.The scheme opened on August 31st, 2021, with the aim of providing those living