Victims urge boycott of new Troubles legacy body during protest at its office
Troubles victims urged other families bereaved in the Northern Ireland conflict to boycott a new legacy truth recovery and investigations body as they protested outside its office.
The demonstration at the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) in Belfast came on the first anniversary of the implementation of a legal guillotine that halted inquests and civil court cases linked to the Troubles.
That move came as part of the last UK government's contentious Legacy Act.
The Act established the ICRIR as an alternative mechanism for families seeking truth and justice about the deaths of their loved ones.
The body is headed up by former Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan.
While the Labour government has vowed to repeal and replace parts of the Act and reinstate inquests and civil cases, it is retaining the ICRIR.
Many bereaved families are unhappy with the retention of the commission and have vowed not to engage with it.
Victims have questioned the body's independence and its ability to uncover answers about Troubles crimes.
Last year the Court of Appeal in Belfast part allowed an appeal taken against the Legacy Act, ruling there were breaches of both human rights law and the Windsor Framework that governs post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland.
Among its findings, the court found that a Government veto power over what sensitive material can be disclosed to bereaved families by the ICRIR is unlawful.
The court also ruled that the ICRIR does not provide victims and their next of kin adequate means to participate in its processes.
The Government has appealed the case to the Supreme Court.
However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has also vowed to make reforms to how the ICRIR operates.
Paddy Clarke, whose brother Joey was killed by loyalist paramilitaries in south Belfast in 1975, was among victims who addressed the event outside the ICRIR office.
He said his family has been searching for the truth for 50 years.
'Every time we get near the truth, or anything like it, the Government introduces some new bill to hide the truth from the families,' he said.
'And I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the ICRIR or any rings or bells they may put on it. The families know why it was introduced.
'They know it was introduced to protect the British Government, the state agents and the ex-veterans, to protect them, not to help the families.
'And I would say to the rest of the families to please do not get engaged with this ICRIR, it is only a charade.' Gary Duffy's great uncle Ambrose Hardy was killed in the New Lodge area of north Belfast in 1973 in shootings involving the British Army.
An inquest into his death and five others killed in same incidents was halted due to the Legacy Act.
Mr Duffy, who is a solicitor, told the crowd on Thursday: 'We cannot accept the inquest ending and this matter being investigated by this ICRIR.
'Our families, and I think all families of victims, cannot trust the ICRIR, and we would call on the British Government to immediately reinstate all legacy inquests and end this insistence that families can proceed to the ICRIR.' Grainne Teggart from Amnesty International also addressed the event. She said the Labour Government 'risks repeating the mistakes of its predecessors by choosing secrecy over transparency'.
'Today marks the one year anniversary of the Legacy Act's guillotine on truth,' she said.
'On the 1st of May last year the door slammed shut to victims seeking answers and accountability and the ICRIR, a body rejected by the victims here today, the very people it is supposed to serve, opened its doors.
'This body is no substitute for proper due process. The UK Government, like previous, is continuing a culture of impunity, denying families the truth and accountability to which they are entitled.
'We don't want empty words of claimed commitment to delivery for victims.
'We will judge this Government on its actions, and those actions demonstrate one thing – more delay, more obstruction, more litigation.
'Today, we say to the UK Government, we want urgent action, we want inquests for all, not just for some, and we want an end to the second-class treatment of those seeking accountability for the wrongs committed during the conflict.
'Instead of pursuing legal challenges, this Government must prioritise the parliamentary time needed to deliver legislation to replace the discredited Legacy Act.' A spokesperson for the ICRIR said: 'The commission has been operational for one year. Over 150 people have asked us to investigate on their behalf. Around 60 of those requests, relating to around 100 deaths during the Troubles/conflict, have already moved into the active investigation stage.
'These victims, survivors and families come from every background and community, and their numbers continue to grow.
'Our doors are open to everyone. We are committed to building trust and confidence in our work and are working with government, stakeholders and wider society to promote the necessary legislative reforms to achieve that.'
Read More
British cabinet minister: No one in House of Commons wants Kneecap to play Glastonbury
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Eoin O'Malley: CityWest deal shows the State is in the asylum business for the long haul, but the opposite approach is working for Denmark
The Danes are pursuing a 'zero refugee' policy and is sending out a strong message about how tough its rules are Today at 21:30 If we were to choose a monument to Irish policy failure, we could do worse than to pick the Citywest Hotel. The Government last week authorised the purchase of the hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin, to become a state-owned International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre for asylum-seekers. Citywest was built by businessman Jim Mansfield, who borrowed heavily to expand it to become one of the largest hotels in Europe. It became host to some large events. All-Ireland champions partied there after victory. It was where the Fianna Fáil faithful gathered when the party was in its heyday. The faux-Georgian hotel seemed to symbolise Celtic Tiger excess and hubris.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
The Sunday Independent's View: Time is running out for the Government to get a grip on housing
For the Government, it offers an opportunity for reflection as it nears the halfway stage of its own first year. What has been achieved since coming into office again in January? The administration has been accused of seeming less like a new broom than a threadbare old brush; not so much sweeping clean as brushing the country's problems under a rug to be tidied up later. But defenders of the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael-led Coalition would no doubt argue it has been faced with a series of obstacles since the start of the year, most notably the still unresolved threat of tariffs from Donald Trump. There is also the worsening international situation, which last week saw Ireland join other countries in pulling embassy staff from Iran as the conflict with Israel continues. These, however, are matters with which all our partners are having to deal. It is no excuse for not dealing robustly with domestic matters. The legislation programme for the summer term of the Oireachtas lists a number of bills as a priority, including the Defence (Amendment) Bill which will remove the so-called triple-lock on Irish troops serving abroad, as well as measures tackling air pollution, cyber security and terrorism. All important matters, no question about it. The logjam in planning and services is well documented But none directly addresses the deepest issue confronting the country: that is, of course, the lack of supply, and crippling cost, of housing. Last week there was more bad news as the Central Bank revised downward its forecast for the number of houses that will be built between now and 2027 — also the midway point of the 34th Dáil, a date which the Government may find itself careening towards at an alarming pace. This year, it now expects 32,500 homes to be built, well short of what is needed to make a significant dent in the target of 300,000 by 2030. The logjam in planning and services is well documented. Historically, it has often felt as if Irish bureaucracy stymies rather than stimulates innovation. No wonder we lag far behind comparable EU states when it comes to infrastructure. The apparent lack of urgency to break through these roadblocks remains a bigger concern. The Government already seems to have retreated into explaining rather than doing, as if seeking to justify in advance the failure to meet its own target, which it has already accepted is inevitable. The appointment of the former HSE chief executive as chair of the newly revamped An Coimisiún Pleanála may make a difference. If anyone has experience of cutting through red tape, it is Paul Reid. Health is another area where much-needed change sadly comes a cropper. Ministers must act swiftly to hand him the power to green-light the infrastructure projects needed to house an estimated population of six million by 2040. No other achievements by this Government will be worth a penny candle if the crisis in housing does not ease dramatically. The summer recess is set to begin less than a month from now, on July 18. When TDs and senators return in September, all eyes will be on the presidential election and it will be the winter solstice before we know it. It is still not too late to get a grip on housing, but it soon might be if more time is wasted.
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Tánaiste confirms US threat to Lebanon peacekeepers and will liaise with EU states to save mission
AS THE US considers vetoing a renewal vote for the Lebanon peacekeeping mission, the Government has confirmed it is liaising with European countries to save the operation. As revealed on Thursday by The Journal there are just ten weeks ahead of a crucial vote in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – it appears that the US is considering ending its support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). We discovered that US real estate mogul Tom Barrack, a close confidante of Donald Trump, was in Lebanon as fears are mounting that the US will pull the plug on funding for UNIFIL. Multiple sources, both here and in Europe, believe that this would have one of two possible outcomes – either a reduction in budget and troop numbers or a complete shutdown of the mission. One other possibility, according to a source, is that the Lebanese Government could invite certain countries to stay on should the mission end. The UNIFIL mandate ends on 31 August – this news website discovered that French diplomats were set to lead negotiations on trying to save the mission. Tonight that has been confirmed officially by a statement from the Tánaiste Simon Harris' office. The Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs said he is beginning to liaise with EU counterparts to try and find a solution. 'The Tanaiste Simon Harris has tonight began to reach out to other European countries to ensure the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate in Southern Lebanon. 'He will travel to Brussels tomorrow where a high level meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers is scheduled , amid deepening concerns in EU capitals. Advertisement 'It comes amid the escalation of violence between Israel and Iran with Simon Harris due to travel to Brussels on Monday to discussing the war with other European counterparts,' he said. UNIFIL began in 1978 to maintain peace and security on the border between Lebanon and Israel after a period of increased tension between the two countries. More than 300 Irish troops are part of a massive international presence of 10,500 troops from 50 countries to monitor both sides of the border. They patrol a fragile demarcation zone in South Lebanon along what is known as the Blue Line. Simon Harris visiting Irish troops in March. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The statement added that he has received a briefing today from the Irish Defence Forces as tensions mount across the Middle East region. 'He will continue to discuss options in relation to the future of the mission with Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy. 'The Tanaiste will impress on his foreign counterparts on the absolute need for the mission to continue, in order to ensure stability and peace in the Region. 'Ireland has an unbroken record with UNIFIL for many decades and has over 340 troops deployed at Camp Shamrock. 'The French are due to lead the negotiations to extend the mandate with a decision expected to be made in August,' the statement added. Separately, the Tanaiste and has been briefed by the Chief of Staff on a number of incidents that took place in Southern Lebanon in recent days . All Irish Troops are accounted for and well. It is understood shelling in south Lebanon caused soldiers to take to bunkers, known as groundhog, in the last 24 hours. There was a dramatic interception in the sky above the Irish camp in recent days as Israel knocked down a suspicious drone. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
