Stormont's justice and health ministers have initiated a joint review of the legal framework concerning trials of the facts. This action follows the Eleanor Donaldson trial, according to a letter from the Department of Justice's assembly liaison officer.
An external reviewer will be appointed by the ministers, with the review aiming to commence in late October and conclude by the end of February 2027. The letter to Stormont's justice committee indicated that the review was prompted by "public concern and interest" regarding trials of the facts.
A trial of the facts is a procedure available to prosecutors when a court determines an individual is unfit for a conventional trial due to mental health grounds. It aims to ascertain whether the accused committed the alleged acts, but cannot result in a conviction.