The attorney general for England and Wales is to decide whether new inquests can be held into the deaths of IRA men shot by the SAS.

The shootings at Loughgall in Co Armagh were among the most controversial of the Troubles. Eight members of the IRA and a civilian were killed during a gun battle on May 8, 1987.

The attorney general, Jeremy Wright QC, in his role as advocate general of Northern Ireland, is to decide whether new inquests should be blocked on grounds of national security. The matter was referred to him by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). Northern Ireland's attorney general John Larkin QC requested the new inquests after a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. Disputed circumstances surrounding how they died would be investigated by a coroner.

The NIO said: "The advocate general is an independent law officer: he will make a decision independent of government. All the options available to the attorney general for Northern Ireland will be available to the advocate general, including a decision to direct that an inquest should be held.

"The decision in no way reflects a lack of trust in the role of the attorney general for Northern Ireland."