An LGBT rights group has called on Justice Minister Claire Sugden to extend a proposed pardon for gay and bisexual men in England and Wales to Northern Ireland.

The UK government yesterday announced it would back an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill which would posthumously pardon those convicted for having consensual same-sex relationships before they were decriminalised.

Men still alive will be eligible for a statutory pardon through the disregard process, clearing their name and criminal record.

However, the pardons will not apply in Northern Ireland.

John O’Doherty, director of The Rainbow Project, said the Northern Ireland Executive should rectify this or face court action.

Mr O’Doherty said: “The experience in Northern Ireland is that any of the inequalities that we have seen removed we’ve done so through court action, and even decriminalisation was another example of that.

“What we don’t want to see - in terms of the pardons and the removal of these historic convictions - is further court action being required by our community.

“It is time for our assembly to act, it is time for them to act immediately.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said Ms Sugden would “consider this policy issue when forming policy priorities for the legislative programme in the current mandate”.