Brandon Lewis rejects claims that Troubles proposals ‘cut off justice’

In a written response to a letter from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner on Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, NI Secretary Brandon Lewis said the government’s plans – which are widely viewed as an effective amnesty for Troubles-related offences – support “information recovery and reconciliation,” and comply “with international human rights obligations”.

In her letter, Ms Mijatovic said the UK Government should focus on “delivering justice across all communities without further delay.”

She added that the proposed legislation “effectively means that none of those involved in any serious violations will be held to account”.

Grainne Teggart of Amnesty UK said: “We welcome this intervention from Dunja Mijatovic which must be a wake-up call to government that the eyes of the international human rights community are on them.”

In his written response to Ms Mijatovic, Mr Lewis said: “In publishing our proposals... we were clear that these were intended not to represent a final position but rather to inform a process of engagement”.

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