The UK government’s controversial Legacy Act “must have a replacement” to help the people of Northern Ireland overcome the “terrible collective trauma” of the Troubles, the UK’s shadow secretary of state has said.
Hilary Benn, accompanied by shadow Northern Ireland minister Fleur Anderson, held talks about the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act during their first official visit to the North since being appointed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer last month.
The Act is widely opposed by parties across the political divide in Northern Ireland, as well as the Irish Government and groups which support victims.
Aspects of the laws include a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences to those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. It will also halt future civil cases and inquests.
On Monday, Mr Benn and Ms Anderson met with victims and survivors at the Wave Trauma Centre, as well as a separate meeting with Sir Declan Morgan and Peter Sheridan of the commission set up by the Act.
Speaking to media at Stormont, Mr Benn said he made a commitment on his second day in the job that Labour would repeal the Act, but said there has to be something to replace it.
“From the conversations that we had yesterday, people object to the immunity provisions, they’re concerned about the disappearance of the civil route to try and seek remedy and the disappearance of inquests,” he said.
He said once the commission gets up and running, its credibility “will depend upon how they go about their task”.
“The issue that I’ve been discussing with the people I have met over the last couple of days is, if you were to deal with the most egregious parts, the most objectionable parts of the Legacy Act, would that help? And then people decide whether they wish to approach the commission under the legislation and say: ‘This is the case I am concerned about, will you investigate?’” he said.
“We will have to determine that, but I’m very conscious that it’s not just a question of saying that we will scrap the Act – we have to put something in its place, and it has to be something that is going to work.
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