Troubles Legacy Bill Clears Commons Amid Deep Divisions
Legislation overhauls Legacy Act, excludes Omagh bombing, and grants UK Attorney General new authority over prosecutions.
Sarah Connor
Draft legislation addressing the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles has cleared the House of Commons.
The legislation introduces a reformed Legacy Commission. It will not have jurisdiction over the Omagh bombing, which occurred on August 15, 1998.
The bill also stipulates that so-called on-the-run letters will not grant immunity for any crimes. The UK and Ireland intend to enact matching legislation in lockstep.
Government amendments debated include granting the UK Attorney General authority over serious Troubles-related prosecutions. Alex Burghart stated the Irish legislation will allow, but not compel, the Irish state to cooperate with the Legacy Commission.
This Bill isn’t about one group or another. It’s not about special favours for one group or another. It’s about honesty, candour, the pursuit of justice, and most importantly, truth. Because in the end, it’s only truth that can really set us free.
Sir Chris Bryant, addressing the legislation, declared, "This Bill isn’t about one group or another. It’s not about special favours for one group or another. It’s about honesty, candour, the pursuit of justice, and most importantly, truth. Because in the end, it’s only truth that can really set us free."
Bryant also emphasized the enduring impact on victims, stating, "When people say to me that people need to move on in Northern Ireland, my answer is no. No one has moved on more than the victims and survivors of the Troubles. They’re not living in the past, they’re living with the past. And if it’s not resolved, if people don’t get answers, that trauma will pass on to the next generation."
He further clarified the Attorney General's role, asserting, "I just want to make it absolutely clear that the Attorney General is also the Advocate General for Northern Ireland. We are not seeking to undermine in any sense at all the prosecuting authorities in Northern Ireland or in Great Britain." Bryant added that the goal is to create a human rights-compliant legacy process in which all communities, including veterans and former police officers, can have absolute confidence.
The Bill states the Legacy Commission will only look at events and conduct between January 1, 1966, and April 10, 1998. MPs voted to reject a bid to extend this cut-off date for the Commission's jurisdiction.
Jim Allister claimed the Bill had been drafted to “spare the sensitivities of the Republic of Ireland.” Al Carns claimed the law will allow lawyers to “rewrite history” and to “paint the state as the aggressor.”
Ministers pledged to address outstanding concerns as the Bill moves to the House of Lords. These include refining statutory protections for military veterans and ensuring victims of conflict-related sexual violence can request investigations.