The UK government has pledged to confront the 'unfinished business' of the Northern Ireland Troubles with new legislation establishing an independent commission to investigate killings and recover information for bereaved families.
A New Approach to Legacy Investigations
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn announced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which will create a commission to probe Troubles-related deaths and a separate body dedicated to information recovery. This follows the disclosure by the Home Office that at least 77 individuals in England have unresolved deaths linked to the conflict, with nearly half being members of the armed forces.
The new legislation comes after all UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings were halted in May last year under the previous government's Legacy Act. Labour's Bill, agreed upon with the Irish Government, will implement a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers to replace the previous system.
Support and Controversy in Parliament
The government's plans received substantial backing from MPs, passing its second reading with 320 votes to 105, a majority of 215. During the debate, Mr Benn assured that 'anyone who was previously involved in paramilitary activity will not be appointed to the victims and survivors group'.
Addressing the Commons, he acknowledged the pleas from families and veterans, stating, 'We know that this unfinished business falls to us, all of us, because time is running out'. He criticised the previous government's Legacy Act, which offered immunity from prosecution and was later ruled unlawful, stating it 'fundamentally failed'.
However, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Alex Burghart warned that the Bill could 'reopen old wounds' and potentially lead to 'vexatious litigation against veterans' while making it unlikely terrorists would be prosecuted.
The Scale of Unresolved Cases
The Home Office has revealed that, in addition to the 77 unsolved deaths in England, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has closed over 1,000 investigations, including 225 inquiries into the deaths of soldiers and veterans.
Among the major unresolved attacks are:
- The 1974 IRA bombing of a coach on the M62 carrying off-duty British Army personnel and family, killing 12 and injuring 38.
- The assassinations of MPs Airey Neave (1979) and Ian Gow (1990) via car bombs.
- The 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington which killed two children, Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball, and injured 56.
- The IRA bombings in Guildford (1974), Birmingham (1974), and Manchester (1996).
Security Minister Dan Jarvis, a former Parachute Regiment member who served in Northern Ireland, stated the previous Legacy Act 'left many families feeling they had nowhere to go' and that this new legislation will 'put that right'.
The Bill will now proceed for further examination at a future date.
