Delay to vote on age of criminal responsibility after Northern Ireland incidents ‘an utter farce’

Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long (Liam McBurney/PA)

Justice Minister Naomi Long has criticised the DUP and UUP leader Jon Burrows after they delayed a vote on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

As part of the Justice Bill, MLAs debated an amendment to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.

Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland proposed an amendment to the Bill, with exceptions for the most serious offences of murder, manslaughter and rape.

The proposal has been backed by Sinn Féin and the SDLP, but opposed by the DUP, the TUV and UUP leader Jon Burrows.

Deputy speaker Steve Aiken confirmed to the chamber on Monday that a valid petition of concern meant cross-community support was now required and the vote would not take place until after June 29.

Speaking in the Assembly chamber, Mrs Long said that the Northern Ireland Assembly was going to be divided on the issue but it was going to divide “along matters which we were debating”.

“This is why the public outside of this house think this place is farcical,” Mrs Long said.

“Even on a night like this, where we are having a serious engagement about serious matters, we cannot even then constrain ourselves to behave like any other chamber would and allow these matters to go through on a straight vote.

“I want to thank the DUP on the record for reinforcing the case that I have been making about why this is an invidious provision within these institutions and why it needs to be reformed.

“As for Mr Burrows’ chat on reform, we’ll take that with the pinch of salt that it’s worth, because he clearly is not interested in making these institutions more functional.

“He’s interested in slip-streaming behind the DUP and the TUV wherever they go.”

SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said that it was “tragic” that the DUP had “succeeded in pulling this stunt”, and that some members of the UUP had backed them.

“Let’s be clear about what has just happened, an utter farce and travesty of democracy,” he said.

I want to thank the DUP on the record for reinforcing the case that I have been making about why this is an invidious provision within these institutions and why it needs to be reformed

“Once again these institutions dragged into disrepute by parties who cannot accept democracy and cannot accept that we are allowed to debate issues here.

“Just to be clear, Amendment 82 does not say anything about the vital interests of one community or another.

“I’m not aware that it mentions unionists, nationalists, or core constitutional issues at all.

“It doesn’t cut across anyone’s identity or constitutional perspective whatsoever.”

Earlier, DUP leader Gavin Robinson made a public call for two more signatures to force a cross-community vote.

Speaking to media at Parliament Buildings, Mr Robinson described a “very important day” in the consideration of the Justice Bill.

“After the week that Northern Ireland has just had, the violence on our streets, the intimidation, the attacks, the burning out of neighbours from their homes, how stupid would it be that Assembly Members in this chamber are willing to remove any aspect of criminal justice response for young people in that situation,” he said.

Let's be clear about what has just happened, an utter farce and travesty of democracy

“It makes no sense, it is reckless, and we have heard suggestions that there are some who are now starting to prick their conscience, are starting to consider: is it a good idea to remove the protections of law and order at a time such as this?”

In terms of the petition of concern, Mr Robinson urged MLAs to consider what is “right”.

“Two other colleagues, I don’t care where they come from, two other colleagues to recognise that petty party politics are not as important as protecting our streets, protecting our communities and keeping people safe,” he said.

“I do trust that even as time is short that people will consider whether it’s right after the week we’ve just had that this Assembly would remove any prospect of criminal justice response for people involved in such wanton violence.”

He added: “They will have to answer for themselves as to how they can countenance this Assembly passing something they are fundamentally opposed to. They have the mechanism to stop it – yet they are refusing to do so.”