North’s killings probe in 2016

An independent investigation into Troubles’ killings in the North is expected to go ahead next year, a senior department of justice official claimed.

A unit dedicated to probing almost 1,000 unsolved “cold cases” from the 30-year conflict and bringing “closure” to victims is due to be set up under the stalled pre-Christmas accord between five local parties along with the British and Irish governments.

But there is political impasse at Stormont, and the Conservative manifesto ahead of the last election said there would be no side deals — the agreement was a package and if one part fell then all of it unravelled.