The British Government will today move to make British Soldiers and paramilitaries immune from prosecution for crimes committed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is expected to announce the move in a statement to Parliament.

The plans are expected to introduce a new statute of limitations on crimes related to the Troubles carried out before 1998.

It will offer immunity to British soldiers as well as loyalist and republican paramilitaries.

The plan has been heavily criticised by the Irish Government, the five main political parties in the North and victim’s groups.

When it was first reported back in May, the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood labelled it a betrayal of the Peace Process.

Meanwhile, John Teggart, whose father was murdered during the Ballymurphy Massacre said it was a “slap in the face” for all victims.

Overnight, Stephen Travers who survived the 1975 Miami Showband Massacre said it was a “sad day for Britain.”

“It seems to be the last sting of a dying wasp when they have to put their hands up and say, ‘well you have got us so we are now going to make up a law that pardons ourselves,’” he said.

“That is a sad day for Britain.”

The British Government has said it hopes to pass the legislation in the Autumn.

It had promised to hold talks with all parties in the North before moving forward with the legislation; however, just one meeting has been held so far.

The Irish Government has said it remains fully supportive of the legacy plan included in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP have also voiced their continued support for the agreement which has yet to be implemented.

The Stormont House plan would have established an independent historical investigations unit to examine Troubles-related deaths.