Britain's Northern Secretary Karen Bradley has come under fire, after claiming killings carried out by the security forces during the Troubles were "not crimes".
She said it was simply people carrying out their duties "in a dignified and appropriate way".
Ms Bradley was responding to a question from DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly.
She asked when mechanisms were going to be put in place to investigate murders carried out during the Troubles.
Karen Bradley replied: "The honourable lady sets out the figures very, very powerfully.
"Over 90% of the killings during the Troubles were at the hands of terrorists. Every single one of those was a crime.
"The fewer than 10% that were at the hands of the military and police were not crimes.
"They were people acting under orders and under instruction and fulfilling their duties in a dignified and appropriate way."
The controversial comments come a week before the Public Prosecution Service is to decide on whether soldiers involved in the Bloody Sunday killings will face prosecution.
Sinn Féin has described the comments as "outrageous and offensive."
Deputy leader Michelle O'Neill has called for the comments to be withdrawn immediately.
