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| Northern Ireland Troubles legacy deal 'a day and night improvement' | Northern Ireland Troubles legacy deal 'a day and night improvement' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| NI Secretary Hilary Benn and tánaiste Simon Harris hold the joint framework at Hillsborough Castle | NI Secretary Hilary Benn and tánaiste Simon Harris hold the joint framework at Hillsborough Castle |
| The legacy deal between the British and Irish governments is "a night and day improvement" on what is currently in place, the tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) has said. | The legacy deal between the British and Irish governments is "a night and day improvement" on what is currently in place, the tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) has said. |
| Simon Harris said he accepted mutual agreement "has not been easy", but the new package will provide "maximum truth, justice and accountability" to victims. | Simon Harris said he accepted mutual agreement "has not been easy", but the new package will provide "maximum truth, justice and accountability" to victims. |
| The new framework was unveiled on Friday by Harris and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. | The new framework was unveiled on Friday by Harris and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. |
| The deal seeks to heal a rift between London and Dublin created by the current Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act. | The deal seeks to heal a rift between London and Dublin created by the current Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act. |
| Harris described the framework as a moment of "imperfect opportunity". | Harris described the framework as a moment of "imperfect opportunity". |
| "It lays the ground for a profound transformation, but it is only the beginning. It must be legislated for, implemented, and it must deliver." | "It lays the ground for a profound transformation, but it is only the beginning. It must be legislated for, implemented, and it must deliver." |
| He said the framework gave the opportunity to end the cycle of "trauma and pain for another generation". | He said the framework gave the opportunity to end the cycle of "trauma and pain for another generation". |
| "I believe, in my heart of hearts, that this is our best, and last, opportunity," he said. | "I believe, in my heart of hearts, that this is our best, and last, opportunity," he said. |
| "We have to grasp it. It would be very wrong not to do so." | "We have to grasp it. It would be very wrong not to do so." |
| 'The best way forward' | |
| Benn said the previous government's "flawed, undeliverable and widely opposed Legacy Act" had caused "great pain and anguish to many people in Northern Ireland". | Benn said the previous government's "flawed, undeliverable and widely opposed Legacy Act" had caused "great pain and anguish to many people in Northern Ireland". |
| "As secretary of state I have been determined to help those families, who lost loved ones in the Troubles, including relatives of the families of British service people who did not come home, to find the answers they have long been seeking," he said. | "As secretary of state I have been determined to help those families, who lost loved ones in the Troubles, including relatives of the families of British service people who did not come home, to find the answers they have long been seeking," he said. |
| Benn said the framework was "the best way forward to finally make progress on the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement". | Benn said the framework was "the best way forward to finally make progress on the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement". |
| He added that he hoped those affected will see "this as a way forward in which they can have confidence, and will therefore give this plan a fair chance". | He added that he hoped those affected will see "this as a way forward in which they can have confidence, and will therefore give this plan a fair chance". |
| 'Truth, justice and accountability' | 'Truth, justice and accountability' |
| Harris said the process had been "a journey". | Harris said the process had been "a journey". |
| He said he sat with victims, survivors and families over the past year and had been "moved by their dignity, courage and tenacity". | He said he sat with victims, survivors and families over the past year and had been "moved by their dignity, courage and tenacity". |
| He added that there was "no definitive solution" that would meet "all the demands and needs of every individual affected". | He added that there was "no definitive solution" that would meet "all the demands and needs of every individual affected". |
| However, he said they were announcing "a comprehensive set of measures" to "provide the maximum truth, justice and accountability to those who urgently need and deserve it". | However, he said they were announcing "a comprehensive set of measures" to "provide the maximum truth, justice and accountability to those who urgently need and deserve it". |
| Benn said that following the agreement of the framework, both governments will bring forward "human rights compliant" legislation which will include legacy commission reform. | Benn said that following the agreement of the framework, both governments will bring forward "human rights compliant" legislation which will include legacy commission reform. |
| He thanked the Irish and UK teams for the "constructive and collegiate spirit" in approaching discussions on legacy. | He thanked the Irish and UK teams for the "constructive and collegiate spirit" in approaching discussions on legacy. |
| "We have now both an opportunity to try and deal with this and not put off difficult decisions for yet another generation." | "We have now both an opportunity to try and deal with this and not put off difficult decisions for yet another generation." |
| More than 3,500 people lost their lives during the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland | More than 3,500 people lost their lives during the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland |
| The UK government said the deal involves a package of protections for veterans, including "a protection in old age". | The UK government said the deal involves a package of protections for veterans, including "a protection in old age". |
| The Legacy Commission, born out the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), will have independent oversight and "will be under a statutory duty not to duplicate the work of any previous investigations unless there are compelling reasons to do so". | The Legacy Commission, born out the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), will have independent oversight and "will be under a statutory duty not to duplicate the work of any previous investigations unless there are compelling reasons to do so". |
| It will have two new directors for investigations. | It will have two new directors for investigations. |
| The commission will be under "a statutory duty to take into account the health and wellbeing of potential witnesses at all times". | The commission will be under "a statutory duty to take into account the health and wellbeing of potential witnesses at all times". |
| Inquests which had commenced but had not ended before the current Legacy Act came into force last year will be restored. | Inquests which had commenced but had not ended before the current Legacy Act came into force last year will be restored. |
| Others which had not begun will be reviewed to identify a way forward. | Others which had not begun will be reviewed to identify a way forward. |
| Legacy body changes | Legacy body changes |
| It is understood changes to the ICRIR will also cover its commissioner for investigations role, a position held by former senior police officer Peter Sheridan. | It is understood changes to the ICRIR will also cover its commissioner for investigations role, a position held by former senior police officer Peter Sheridan. |
| Investigations by the commission will explore and exhaust all investigative leads. | Investigations by the commission will explore and exhaust all investigative leads. |
| Independent judges will preside over the commission's inquisitorial public hearings, with families legally represented. | Independent judges will preside over the commission's inquisitorial public hearings, with families legally represented. |
| A cross-border Independent Commission on Information Retrieval will be set-up, initially for two years. | A cross-border Independent Commission on Information Retrieval will be set-up, initially for two years. |
| It will receive information on Troubles cases from individuals which cannot be used in prosecutions. | It will receive information on Troubles cases from individuals which cannot be used in prosecutions. |
| London and Dublin believe the two bodies reflect what was agreed, but never implemented, under the Stormont House Agreement in 2014. | London and Dublin believe the two bodies reflect what was agreed, but never implemented, under the Stormont House Agreement in 2014. |
| An ICRIR spokesperson said it was "led by the law and ready for reform". | An ICRIR spokesperson said it was "led by the law and ready for reform". |
| The framework provided "clarity" and was "important, timely and welcome". | The framework provided "clarity" and was "important, timely and welcome". |
| "Well over 200 people from all sections of society have already come to the commission leading to over 90 live investigations connected with over 170 deaths," they said. | "Well over 200 people from all sections of society have already come to the commission leading to over 90 live investigations connected with over 170 deaths," they said. |
| "Those dedicated investigations continue to grow daily. There will be no pause in this vital work." | "Those dedicated investigations continue to grow daily. There will be no pause in this vital work." |
| In the Republic of Ireland, a dedicated legacy unit within the gardaí (Irish police) will be established and be operational by the end of this year, for co-operation on Troubles-related cases. | In the Republic of Ireland, a dedicated legacy unit within the gardaí (Irish police) will be established and be operational by the end of this year, for co-operation on Troubles-related cases. |
| Ireland will bring forward legislation, where required, to facilitate full cooperation with the Legacy Commission, once its reform is enacted in UK law. | Ireland will bring forward legislation, where required, to facilitate full cooperation with the Legacy Commission, once its reform is enacted in UK law. |
| There will also be a ring-fenced €25m (£21m) fund to support victim participation in legacy processes in Northern Ireland. | There will also be a ring-fenced €25m (£21m) fund to support victim participation in legacy processes in Northern Ireland. |
| What is the Legacy Act? | What is the Legacy Act? |
| The current Legacy Act, passed by the last UK government in 2023, was widely opposed by Labour, all Northern Ireland parties, several victims' groups and the Irish government. | The current Legacy Act, passed by the last UK government in 2023, was widely opposed by Labour, all Northern Ireland parties, several victims' groups and the Irish government. |
| It created a new legacy body known as the ICRIR to take over all Troubles-era cases from 1 May 2024, including those on the desk of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. | It created a new legacy body known as the ICRIR to take over all Troubles-era cases from 1 May 2024, including those on the desk of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. |
| The act shut down all historical inquests. | The act shut down all historical inquests. |
| The act's most controversial element, the offer of conditional immunity to suspects, was disapplied following legal action by bereaved families. | The act's most controversial element, the offer of conditional immunity to suspects, was disapplied following legal action by bereaved families. |
| The court ruled this part of the act was incompatible with human rights legislation and the Windsor Framework. | The court ruled this part of the act was incompatible with human rights legislation and the Windsor Framework. |
| Labour pledged to repeal the Legacy Act and replace it after winning the last election, including agreeing a way forward with Dublin. | Labour pledged to repeal the Legacy Act and replace it after winning the last election, including agreeing a way forward with Dublin. |
| The act included controversial measures, such as allowing the ICRIR to grant conditional amnesties in return for information. | The act included controversial measures, such as allowing the ICRIR to grant conditional amnesties in return for information. |
| However, this and other aspects of the act were later ruled unlawful. | However, this and other aspects of the act were later ruled unlawful. |
| Ireland launched an inter-state case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. | Ireland launched an inter-state case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. |