Justice Minister Naomi Long and Health Minister Robbie Butler have agreed to an independent review of the legal framework governing trials of the facts in Northern Ireland. The decision follows a request in July from Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows.

The ministers will appoint an external reviewer, with work expected to begin in late autumn and conclude by the end of the current Assembly mandate, with a target of February 2027. A letter from the Department of Justice assembly liaison officer indicated the review was prompted by public concern and interest surrounding the procedure.

Trials of the facts are used when a defendant is found unfit to stand trial. A jury determines whether the accused committed the acts alleged, but a finding that they did so does not amount to a criminal conviction. Between 2020 and 2025, 60 such trials took place in Northern Ireland, according to figures cited by Mr Burrows.

Mr Burrows, a former police officer, said public confidence in the justice system needed to be restored. He said the review must lead to legislative change, noting that recommendations from a 2013 Law Commission report on unfitness to plead have not been implemented. He said he would press for published terms of reference, direct consultation with victims' groups and families, and a timetable allowing recommendations to be acted upon.

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Emma Sheerin welcomed the review as entirely appropriate. She said it would examine whether the current framework suitably balances the rights of the accused with the rights of victims and that public confidence had been damaged.

Solicitor Paul Dougan cautioned against drawing conclusions from a single high-profile case. He said the existing process is robust, with a relatively high bar for medical evidence, including oral testimony from a doctor and a report from at least one other medical practitioner.

In a separate matter, Minister Long met with representatives from Men's Action Network, a charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse. The charity presented what it called a practical, evidence-led vision to address service gaps.

It highlighted Police Service of Northern Ireland data showing that 32 percent of recorded domestic abuse crime victims in 2025/26 were male, representing over 5,800 individuals. The charity said the need for male safe accommodation has been raised in the Assembly four times over 16 years, with no progress.

It called for a pilot scheme based on proven models outside Northern Ireland, where no such accommodation exists. A spokesperson for Men's Action Network said after almost two decades of discussion, action is needed rather than further debate.

Minister Long acknowledged that domestic abuse affects people of all genders and that male victims may face barriers in seeking help. She said her department would continue working with partners to ensure all victims' needs are reflected in the response to domestic abuse.