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Politicians on both sides of the Border have condemned UK government plans to give an amnesty to British soldiers accused of crimes during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
A row between the Irish and UK governments is likely to erupt today over the plans which were leaked to British newspapers Wednesday night . It would involve a statute of limitations so that prosecutions for crimes committed up to the Belfast Agreement in 1998 are prevented – except for cases involving war crimes, genocide or torture.
The plans were reported as preventing the prosecution of British army veterans of the conflict, but some reports said they would apply to all sides in the conflict, including IRA members.
Reports also suggested that the British government intends to institute a South African style truth and reconciliation commission. The leaks coincide with local elections taking place in England.
If the move proceeds as reported, it would be a violation of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement involving the Northern parties and the Irish and British governments.
Irish Government sources were taken aback, stressing it was a unilateral move by the UK government.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis visited Dublin for a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney on Wednesday, but it was not clear Wednesday night if the issue was discussed.
In a statement late Wednesday night, a spokesperson for Mr Coveney said: “The Irish Government discussed with our UK colleagues the commitments of the Stormont House Agreement and strongly advised against any unilateral action on such sensitive issues. We reiterated that only through a collective approach can we deal with these issues comprehensively and fairly in a way that responds to the needs of victims, survivors and society as a whole. Victims and their families are the only priority.”
Responding to the development, Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill tweeted: “Reports that British government are to legislate for an amnesty for their state forces is another slap in the face to victims.
“Another cynical move that will put British forces beyond the law. This is legal protection for those involved in state murder. This is not acceptable.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has described the proposed amnesty as the biggest betrayal of victims by a UK government.
It was very difficult for anyone to have faith in the UK government as they were the “most cynical and untrustworthy” UK government “we have seen in many years.”
Mr Eastwood told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that he and his party had been worried about this possibility for some time. The UK government had acted unilaterally by briefing the “Tory press” on the eve of an election without informing the Irish Government. “It is an absolute disgrace and a real betrayal of victims.”
“This government does not care. It is prepared to ride rough-shod over people.” Reconciliation would be difficult if the government continued to “act like this.”
Mr Eastwood said he believed every victim was entitled to seek access to truth and justice and they were also entitled to seek information on the death of their loved ones.
The glorification of violence was not good, he added. “Our society is sick.” The government’s action had left people hurt. Announcing such a decision on the night before an election was not the way to do it.
“It is very difficult for any of us to have faith in the government.”
Alliance Party leader and Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long tweeted: “This kind of briefing, before any meaningful engagement with victims’ families, typifies the contempt with which Govt are treating victims.
“I believe that they deserve justice where that is possible: however, at the very least, they deserve not to learn of Govt plans on Twitter.”
Many victims of the Troubles are vehemently opposed to any statute of limitations, which they characterise as an amnesty that will thwart their chances of justice.
The reported move, some detail of which could be announced in next week’s Queen’s Speech, would signal the scrapping of a key mechanism agreed by the UK and Irish Governments and main Northern Ireland parties in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. The Stormont House proposals included a new independent investigation unit to re-examine all unsolved killings.
Last March, Mr Lewis announced an intention to unilaterally move away from the Stormont House deal.
He said only Troubles killings where compelling new evidence had emerged would receive a full police reinvestigation.
He added that most unsolved cases would be closed and a new law would prevent them being reopened.
On Tuesday, the trial of two former paratroopers accused of the murder of Official IRA commander Joe McCann in 1972 collapsed due to legal issues related to the admissibility of statements and interviews given by the ex-soldiers. –Additional reporting PA