New British Government Should Keep Its Manifesto Promise and Immediately Repeal Northern Ireland Legacy Act
Human Rights First today called on the incoming British government to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy Act, as promised in the Labour Party manifesto.
“The new government clearly has a lot on its plate, but it is vital that this election promise to repeal the legacy act be kept as soon as possible,” said Senior Advisor Brian Dooley. “Too many families in Northern Ireland have been waiting too long for the truth, and for justice. Immediately addressing this issue would be a powerful signal to Washington and other allies that the new British government takes its human rights responsibilities seriously.”
The Act came into force on May 1, 2024, despite opposition from the Labour Party, from all political parties in Northern Ireland, from most victims’ groups, from the Irish government, and from human rights experts at the United Nations and the Council of Europe. President Joe Biden has offered to help the Irish government in its opposition to the legislation. Ireland had lodged a rare interstate case against Britain over the act at the European Court of Human Rights.
Last year, dozens of members of the United States Congress wrote to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak voicing opposition to the legislation.
The Act has shut down all inquests related to the 1969-1998 conflict, and the law effectively offers former British soldiers, police and paramilitaries a limited form of immunity from prosecution for conflict-related crimes if they cooperate with a new body. It also bans victims’ families from bringing future legal challenges.
Human Rights First was part of a panel of experts which released a report in April 2024. “Bitter Legacy: State Impunity in the Northern Ireland Conflict” concluded that the British government operated a “widespread, systematic, and systemic” practice of impunity that protected security forces from sanction during the conflict in Northern Ireland.
“The Labour Party manifesto states clearly that ‘The Legacy Act denies justice to the families and victims of the Troubles,’ and that ‘Labour will repeal and replace it…’. It should start that process this week. Victims and witnesses are dying – some of the conflict-related crimes took place over 50 years ago. The new British government needs to be fast and decisive. The bereaved families deserve no less,” said Brian Dooley.
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