Government must fund private actions against the IRA

The prime minister’s arrival was warmly welcomed by the crowds at the annual event, which this year was experimenting with an extension into the weekend.

Mrs May’s visit to the Province was important symbolically during a busy general election campaign.

She was accompanied by the Secretary of State James Brokenshire, and also by members of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland. But unless there is an unexpected revival from an extraordinarily low base, the Tories are unlikely to benefit much from the visit.

The prime minister, instead, was seeming to want to make clear that she would visit all the main regions of the UK.

During the visit, she fielded questions about political problems here, from the border to legacy. On the latter subject, Mrs May was guarded and called for proportionate investigations, while defending the independence of prosecutors.

This was of course the right thing to say. Prosecutors are, and must always be, independent.

But the situation in Northern Ireland at present is one quite without precedent, as senior British politicians will be aware. So much resources have been spent on investigating alleged Troubles wrongdoing by state forces, it is no wonder that terrorists are not being charged on a significant scale.

Tom Elliott, who is hoping to be re-elected for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, is right to express outrage at the current situation in which Bloody Sunday soldiers might face trial, while the IRA culprits in crimes against humanity do not.

This must change after June 9.

Julian Lewis, the Tory MP, is wrong to talk about amnesties. A range of other responses are needed, including government funds for private cases against the IRA if the state cannot get criminal convictions.