Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain today insisted he would not apologise for trying to advance the victims' issue by appointing an interim commissioner.
The minister was commenting after his appointment of Bertha McDougall last year as the interim commissioner was questioned by a High Court judge for not following proper appointment procedures.
Mr Justice Girvan, who accused the Government of making a political appointment designed to appease the Democratic Unionists, has ordered the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, to investigate whether Mr Hain and his officials misled the High Court during a judicial review into the appointment of Mrs McDougall.
As the Attorney General studied the questions put to him by the judge, Mr Hain confirmed that he had not discussed the matter with Prime Minister Tony Blair.
And he also held out the possibility that the British government could appeal against the High Court's ruling.
"We are waiting for the final episode in the court proceedings next week," he said. "We are studying the judgment very carefully and when the Attorney General's inquiry is concluded, we will see what that says.
"It is important that everybody understands - and it is clear that not everybody does - that we asked Bertha McDougall to prepare a report on the victims' issue for me and the incoming permanent Victims' Commissioner who will go through the standard public appointments procedure.
"This will enable the Victims' Commissioner, when he or she is appointed, to get off to a flying start. I make no apology for doing that.
"The cause and the interests of victims has been badly neglected for far too long. What we want to see is a fresh recognition and momentum for victims in Northern Ireland."
The judicial review was taken by Brenda Downes, whose husband, Sean, was killed by a plastic bullet fired by the Royal Ulster Constabulary during a republican rally.
Mrs Downes argued that the appointment of Mrs McDougall came as a bolt out of the blue for victims' representatives and families, who did not know there were plans to appoint an interim commissioner. She argued that the appointment of Mrs McDougall, whose husband was shot dead by the Irish National Liberation Army while serving as an RUC Reservist, was a sop to the DUP and had not been handled according to proper appointments procedure.
Mrs Downes also queried, given the way the appointment was handled, whether Mrs McDougall could truly enjoy the confidence of victims from all backgrounds in Northern Ireland.