Hilary Benn: Troubles victims ‘felt ignored’ due to UK government's Legacy Act
Victims and survivors will "central" to the UK government’s approach”, the UK's Northern Ireland Secretary has said, as he commenced consultations on repealing and replacing the controversial Legacy Act.
The Act, aimed at addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past, has been almost universally opposed by political parties and victims’ groups.
Legislative provision introduced by the last Conservative government offered a form of conditional immunity to perpetrators of crimes during the Troubles.
Immunity was to be given to those individuals who cooperated with a new truth recovery mechanism designed to provide bereaved families with answers about the circumstances of their loved ones’ deaths.
Labour has also committed to reversing the Legacy Act’s contentious ban on civil cases and inquests related to Troubles incidents.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn held meetings with the South East Fermanagh Foundation, and the Victims and Survivors Forum, in Belfast on Wednesday.
Speaking after the meetings, Mr Benn said: “I know that many victims, survivors and families felt ignored by the previous government’s approach to legacy. Indeed that is part of the reason why the Legacy Act was so widely opposed.
“In my meetings with the Victims and Survivors Forum and the South East Fermanagh Foundation today, I reiterated that the views of victims and survivors will be central to this Government’s approach to legacy.
“I am grateful to all those with whom I have spoken today, many of whom shared very personal stories about the loss of loved ones during the Troubles. I look forward to continuing discussions in the period ahead.”
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act passed into law last September.
From May 1 this year, all civil cases and inquests that were not at their findings stage were halted.
Responsibility for investigating all legacy cases was transferred to a new truth recovery body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
The Government has committed to finding a path on legacy that is supported across communities in Northern Ireland.
However, the Labour Government has indicated it will not scrap the commission and instead work to make changes to its structures.
In July, the Secretary of State began the process of repealing the Legacy Act’s conditional immunity scheme.
The Government has also pledged to reverse the current prohibition on bringing new civil proceedings and to propose measures to allow inquests previously halted to proceed.
While recognising different groups hold different views on how to progress, the Secretary of State has also committed to consulting widely on further changes, including strengthening the ICRIR’s independence.
