Sir Chris Bryant

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill replaces the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 and its controversial immunity scheme. Under the scheme those involved in the Troubles could apply for immunity from prosecution in exchange for information on historic deaths or serious injuries. This immunity would have applied if statutory conditions were met even if the account of events did not provide any useful information.

The Legacy Act was challenged in court and the immunity provisions found incompatible with European Convention on Human Rights obligations. This ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill repeals this immunity scheme, and the new amendments will require the Attorney General to consent to serious Troubles-related prosecutions.

There are also amendments that will prevent veterans from having to travel to Northern Ireland to give evidence; they will not be cold called; they will have the right to seek anonymity; they will have protection in old age, including an assessment if they need to give evidence at all; they will have the right to be heard and they will not face repeated investigations. There will be at least one veteran or veterans’ representative on the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group.

Northern Ireland secretary Sir Chris Bryant said: “This Bill is about completing the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement, getting answers for the many families, including veterans’ families, who lost a loved one.  I am confident that this legislation will be a significant step towards a more reconciled society.

“These amendments have been developed through extensive engagement with veterans’ groups, whilst ensuring that this Bill will also enable victims and bereaved families, including the families of soldiers, who have waited long years for answers, to seek information and, potentially, closure, on what happened to their loved ones.”

The amendments have not been universally welcomed, however, with Sinn Féin describing them as a ‘Veteran’s Charter’. North Belfast MP John Finucane saying: “The British Government cannot claim to be delivering a legacy framework capable of commanding confidence across all communities while introducing measures that risk undermining independent investigations and the equal application of the law.”

Mr Finucane added: “There must be no hierarchy of victims. Every family deserves equal access to truth and justice, regardless of who killed their loved one.”

There was criticism for the Bill too in the House of Commons with Paul Kohler, the Liberal Democrats’ Northern Ireland spokesman, and DUP leader Gavin Robinson raising issues about the volume of amendments and the time allocated for scrutiny before the committee stage.