The panel has written to the leaders of Northern Ireland’s political parties, who are currently locked in negotiations to restore devolution and form a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.

Retired High Court judge Sir Anthony Hart, who chaired the inquiry, said that if the talks failed to form a new Executive, the parties should “publicly call upon the secretary of state” to take action.

Sir Anthony told BBC News it was “urgent because so many of those who waited many years for their voices to be heard, and who anxiously await the implementation of our recommendations, are now advancing in years and, or in poor health, and for them the prospect of more delay adds to the burden so many have carried for so long”.

Last month, a lawyer said victims were being left with “no alternative” but to seek redress through the courts.

Claire McKeegan of KRW Law told the Belfast Telegraph: “In the absence of any redress scheme with backing from the institutions and the state, we have no alternative at present than to advise our clients to issue and prosecute proceedings through the courts.”