16 June 2026

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has said the farce over the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) has underlined the need to urgently reform Stormont.

He said the DUP, UUP and TUV had abused the petition of concern to block an Assembly vote on the issue.

The SDLP supported raising the MACR to 14, with exceptions for serious offences, alongside Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party.

South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said:

“Last night was an absolute farce and in many ways sums up why so many people have lost faith in the Executive and Stormont institutions. It is clear there is majority support in the Assembly for raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, yet the DUP teamed up with the TUV and sections of the UUP to block progress.

“It was unedifying to see a divided UUP forced to team up with the DUP, while their embattled leader peddled repeated mistruths around what this change would actually mean. We were repeatedly clear that young people engaging in serious crime would still face justice, this was about stopping children being criminalised for minor offences and the misrepresentation that went on was disgraceful.

“This episode once again demonstrates the urgent need to reform the Stormont institutions and prevent the petition of concern being used as a veto on progress. A mechanism designed to protect rights has increasingly been abused to frustrate change, pressure other parties and block measures that command majority support in the Assembly.”