Derry's Pat Finucane Centre slams passing of British Government's Legacy Bill

A Derry-based human rights group has slammed the passing of the British Government's Legacy Bill.

The government's controversial Legacy Bill has passed after a vote in Westminster. A bid by the House of Lords to amend the bill was voted down by 288 to 205.

The bill, which will end Troubles-era prosecutions and inquests and offer a conditional amnesty to those accused of killings, will return to the Lords next week before going for royal assent.

It has been widely opposed by victims groups and all of the North's political parties.

The Pat Finucane Centre, which represents a number of families that have lost loved ones because of the security services, said the passing of the controversial bill “seeks to prevent the truth” about its role in the Troubles.

A PFC spokesperson stated: “The British Government wants us to believe this legislation is about providing information to families and promoting reconciliation, but its real motivation is to protect its veterans from being found guilty of human rights’ abuses during the conflict. It also seeks to prevent the truth about its so-called Dirty War from emerging.

“It is about protecting the actions of successive British Governments in order to save face internationally and, in order to guard its reputation, it is willing to allow perpetrators from paramilitary organisations off the hook.

“No family who lost a loved one supports this legislation as it effectively removes their recourse to justice. It is not only families of victims and survivors who oppose this shameful legislation but all political parties on the island of Ireland; all organisations supporting families and survivors; The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights; the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the United States Government are all in total opposition to it.

“The British Labour Party - and even the House of Lords - believe the bill should have been scrapped.”

The spokesperson said the proposed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is “no substitute for an independent, human rights’ compliant investigation”.

“While it is likely that some families and survivors may engage with the new body, they will do so only because they have no other option. This legislation is unprecedented in a so-called modern, western democracy.

“The Pat Finucane Centre & Justice for the Forgotten believe that the ICRIR is doomed to fail but the British Government does not care as long as its interests are protected.

“We anticipate a number of legal challenges in the domestic courts and in Europe.

“The PFC will continue to support families through the next difficult stage in their journey.

We implore the Irish Government, as a matter of urgency, to lodge a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, against the British Government.”

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he was "angry and ashamed" at the outcome of the vote and called on the Irish Government to intervene.

"The British Government doesn't care about the rights of victims but the international human rights standards that we all enjoy must be defended," the Foyle MP said.

Grainne Teggart, of Amnesty International UK, said it was a "dark day for justice" and that the law only absolves "those responsible for conflict-related abuses - and, shamefully, all under the guise of reconciliation".