The ICRIR was created by the controversial Legacy Act which halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths.

The ICRIR has announced a number of new cases in its information recovery stage.

Sir Declan Morgan said a Court of Appeal judgment had “clearly and unequivocally” endorsed the independence of the commission.

Sir Declan Morgan, from the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, said it could have dealt with the 1989 murder case.

The ICRIR confirmed on Monday it had received 85 inquiries from families of Troubles victims.

Northern Ireland’s former Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan leads the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery