Troubles legacy: Welcome for MPs’ probe into new proposals

The NI Affairs Committee (NIAC) of MPs will examine a fresh set of proposed measures – tabled by Secretary of State Brandon Lewis last month – designed to break the deadlock over the way forward.

They include plans for a full police re-investigation of Trouble-era deaths only in cases where there is “compelling” new evidence and a “realistic prospect” of a prosecution.

The NIAC has said its inquiry will examine the extent to which the latest proposals meet the needs of victims, survivors and their families.

Responding to the announcement Rev Daniel Kane, convener of PCI’s Council for Public Affairs, said he would “strongly encourage” all those with an interest in the legacy of the past to engage with the inquiry and make their views known.

Rev Kane said: “I have written to Mr Lewis to express the church’s concerns about the government’s new proposals for dealing with the legacy of the past.

“While the Stormont House Agreement was not perfect, it was clear that each proposed element for dealing with the past could not stand alone, as each required the others in seeking to provide a balanced approach.

“By contrast, the secretary of state’s statement focuses primarily on one particular aspect – investigations. This new approach does so without reference to, or consultation with, victims’ groups, local political parties, the Irish government or wider society in general.

“Our biggest concern is the significant focus on information retrieval with scant regard to reconciliation or building relationships.

“Rather than being ‘better reconciled with our difficult history,’ as Mr Lewis suggested in his statement, it is PCI’s view that the emphasis should be on reconciliation that leads to a better future – as reconciliation is fundamentally about the restoration of broken relationships.”

Rev Kane added: “This will be the ultimate standard by which the success, or failure, of any approach to legacy in Northern Ireland will be judged.

“Our Moderator, Dr William Henry, along with other church leaders, was able to raise some of these points with Minister of State, Robin Walker MP in a recent call on this issue and he looks forward to further engaging in the coming weeks.

“As we said in our response to the 2018 public consultation on legacy, we hope and pray that being able to address the past effectively will enable us all, ‘to re-imagine and create a better future based on a more reconciled community at peace with each other’, and that remains our goal.”

Kenny Donaldson of Innocent Victims United said IVU will be “engaging constructively” with the committee of MPs.

“In recent weeks the NIO launched a further set of proposals which have been met with concern by victims/survivors across the board who cannot and will not acquiesce with a process which leads to political amnesty.

“There is a way through the legacy stalemate, a way which deliver a sustainable solution and one which stands a chance of encouraging reconciliation between our people.

“There must be formal acknowledgement that criminal violence was wrong and unjustified in the furtherance of, or defence of, a political objective.”

NIAC chair Simon Hoare has welcomed government commitment for new legislation, however, he said: “These proposals differ from those in the Stormont House Agreement, which is why they require scrutiny.”

He went on to say: “A better system, and new institutions, are needed to tackle the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It is essential that the government gets this right not only for individuals and families affected, who want to know what happened to their loved ones, but to support reconciliation in Northern Ireland for future generations, too.

“The inquiry will provide a forum for people to share their views, and will aim to ensure that forthcoming legislation is balanced, fair and appropriate.”