Government amendments to legacy bill is treating victims 'with contempt'

The proposed changes to a controversial Government Bill on the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles have been slammed by Amnesty International as “doing nothing to address the fundamental flaws with the bill”.

Responding to the publication, Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International UK’s Northern Ireland Deputy Director, said: “The UK government is treating Troubles victims with contempt - these amendments do nothing to address the fundamental flaws with the bill.

“No-one is fooled by these changes and the Government is still clearly intent on denying victims their basic rights and pressing ahead with a bill only it wants.

Legacy Bill changes not ‘some great cover-up’, Government minister insists

“The amendments follow the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers issuing a resolution expressing their serious concern about the bill’s compatibility with the Government’s human rights obligations.

“It’s time the Government halted the passage of this profoundly unjust bill through Parliament and instead committed to an agreed way forward to deal with the legacy of the Troubles that protects and prioritises victims.”

Earlier this week, ahead of his meeting with Rishi Sunak in Washington, Amnesty called on US president Joe Biden to reiterate his administration’s strong support for the Good Friday Agreement and use the meeting to relay US concerns at how the Troubles bill represents a serious violation of the agreement and risks undermining the delicate peace settlement in Northern Ireland.

Social Democratic and Labour Party Leader Colum Eastwood MP has said that no amendments can fix the British government's broken Legacy Bill.

Mr Eastwood was speaking after a series of new amendments to the legislation were published.

He called on the British government to listen to the widespread opposition to the Bill.

Foyle MP Mr Eastwood said: “The amendments from the British government to their Legacy Bill are no more than an attempt to paper over the cracks of ill-thought out and totally irreparable legislation.

Government amendments to legacy bill dismissed as ‘tinkering round the edges’

“This is one of the few issues that unites everyone in the North from political parties to victims’ groups, there is nothing that can be done to make this legislation palatable and we will oppose it at every turn.

“There can be no hiding place for those who committed the most unspeakable crimes during our troubled past, whether they be state forces or paramilitaries. This legislation seeks to provide the British government with an opportunity to cover up their own murky past, while closing down routes to victims and survivors who still hold out hope of attaining truth and justice. 

“We need to be strong and united in our opposition to this Bill, I welcome the commitment from Tánaiste Micheál Martin that the Irish government will consider taking the matter to Europe if the British government proceeds with these plans.

“The SDLP has also secured a commitment from Labour Leader Kier Starmer that his government will repeal this legislation should he win the next General Election.

“The only way we are going to deal with our past is through cooperation, engagement and agreement on all sides. It’s deeply disappointing that repeated opportunities to find an agreed way forward, including at Stormont House, have been missed.

“The British government cannot be allowed to trample over the human rights of victims and survivors and the SDLP will continue to fight alongside them until this legislation is defeated.”