Legislation to establish a statutory public inquiry and a statutory redress scheme for victims and survivors of mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses was announced last month.

Belfast firm KRW LAW is acting on behalf of Marie Arbuckle, a long-standing advocate for victims and survivors who objects to the scheme’s proposed eligibility criteria.

The firm says it has issued formal legal correspondence to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Solicitor Aine Rice from KRW’s historic abuse and redress team, said: “Marie was a resident in foster care and children’s homes. Her son was born in a mother and baby home before being adopted.

“We’ve been instructed to flag up some serious misgivings she has around a number of the current proposals.

“There are three key areas of concern relating to the effective commencement date for posthumous claims; the exclusion of workhouses; and the lack of certainty around the inclusion of victims and survivors of the foster care home system.

“The preliminary correspondence issued today requires an immediate response as time is running out for so many victims.”

Ms Arbuckle said: “The likely exclusion of a large number of survivors is insensitive and flies in the face of all the good work undertaken by so many people to get to this point.

“It’s a slap in the face to myself and others who suffered a lot. I didn’t fight all this way to get a soft landing like this.

“I’m not happy about it and if needs be I’ll have to look at a legal case to try and force a U-turn on what’s coming down the tracks.”