Amnesty International has criticized the UK for betraying victims of the Troubles and has called on the Irish Government to continue its legal challenge against controversial British legislation in the European Court of Human Rights.
The Irish Government took action against the UK in December to challenge legislation that halted all investigations and inquests related to the Troubles. Despite previous promises from the British Labour Party to repeal this legislation, they are now seeking to retain certain elements, including a commission to examine unsolved killings, which most victim groups oppose.
The Northern Ireland Office also announced that the British government is appealing a Court of Appeal ruling that found parts of the Legacy Act breached human rights law. This move has been met with criticism from Amnesty International and solicitors representing victims’ families.
Martina Dillon, whose husband was killed during the Troubles, expressed her disgust at the UK government’s appeal, as it has halted the inquest into her husband’s murder. She accused the Secretary of State of going back on promises to repeal and replace the legislation.
The British government’s actions have raised concerns about their commitment to addressing the legacy of the Troubles. Amnesty International emphasized the importance of holding the UK government accountable and ensuring that replacement legislation is comprehensive and respects victims’ rights.
Despite hopes for a reset in British-Irish relations, Amnesty urged the Irish Government to continue with its legal challenge until the Legacy Act is completely replaced. They stressed the need for transparency and victim-centered approaches in the development of new legislation.
In response, over 60 families who lost loved ones during the Troubles have refused to cooperate with the new British government arrangements for dealing with legacy issues. This demonstrates the deep-seated concerns and lack of trust among victims and their families regarding the current approach to addressing the legacy of the Troubles.
