Gay and bisexual men convicted of now abolished sexual offences in Northern Ireland have been posthumously pardoned.

The pardons are enshrined in law in Westminster’s Policing and Crime Bill, which received Royal Assent yesterday.

Statutory pardons will also be available to living offenders who successfully apply to have their historic conviction removed through a new disregard process set to be introduced.

The Northern Ireland Assembly passed a legislative consent motion last year to allow the Westminster legislation to implement pardons in Northern Ireland as well as England and Wales.

Justice Minister Claire Sugden had said the measure would help to “right the wrongs of the past”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Irish Legal News: “The Bill has now received Royal Assent and the Department is working to introduce the scheme to allow for convictions to be disregarded.

“Information on when the scheme will open for applications will be provided as soon as possible.”