An additional £60 million has been set aside by the British government for inquiries into some of Northern Ireland's most controversial killings during the Troubles, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said yesterday.
He said a total of £211 million has been spent so far on the Bloody Sunday, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright inquiries, with a further £60 million available. About £10 million has been spent on investigations into unsolved murders carried out by the Historical Enquiries Team set up by Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, with a further £24 million earmarked for it.
Mr Woodward gave the figures during his first appearance at the House of Commons dispatch box since taking over from Peter Hain last month as Northern Ireland Secretary.
The Bloody Sunday inquiry has cost about £178 million so far - £143 million of which has been paid by the Northern Ireland Office and £35 million by the Ministry of Defence.
The inquiries into the murders of lawyer Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and loyalist Billy Wright, which have yet to move to full hearings, have cost £15.2 million, £10.4 million and £7.2 million respectively.
Mr Woodward acknowledged the cost of the Bloody Sunday inquiry was higher than many people would have liked to see.
However, he told Conservative MP Andrew Mackay, who had expressed concern at its cost, that "justice must take its course".