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🇮🇪 Ireland /Elections & Politics

Report calls for changes to British government’s new legacy laws

From RTÉ News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Documents & data Ongoing story
  • Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human Rights says proposed Northern Ireland legacy legislation gives the British government too much control over sensitive disclosures.
  • The committee wants disclosure decisions transferred from the Northern Secretary to judicial figures appointed by an independent panel.
  • It also recommends safeguards for prosecutions, broader rights for next of kin to request investigations, and clearer future funding arrangements.

The British government’s proposed new laws on Northern Ireland’s past give it “maximum control” over the release of sensitive information, a parliamentary human rights committee has warned.

Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human Rights said the bill should transfer decisions about disclosure to families from the Northern Secretary to judicial figures serving on the proposed Legacy Commission. The Northern Secretary would retain the ability to challenge a disclosure decision if necessary.

maximum control

· Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human RightsThe committee’s description of the British government’s control over sensitive information disclosures under the proposed legislation.

Under the legislation as currently drafted, the Northern Secretary can block disclosures on national security grounds. Critics say that could cover information about alleged state involvement in murders and other crimes. The committee warned that retaining the power could create mistrust in the British government’s motives and hamper efforts to build confidence in the new arrangements.

hamper

· Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human RightsThe committee’s warning about the effect of the current disclosure arrangements on trust.

The report also said the judicial figures should be appointed by an independent panel rather than by the Northern Secretary. That, it said, would strengthen confidence in their independence. The issue of disclosure has remained central to debate over the proposed legacy system, which is still progressing through Westminster.

The UK government has said it will introduce a series of amendments, including stronger protections for British Army veterans. The committee acknowledged that veterans have “sincerely held concerns” about the Troubles legacy process, but said allegations of “lethal wrongdoing” must remain open to investigation.

sincerely held concerns

· Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human RightsThe report’s description of veterans’ concerns about the Troubles legacy process.

It recommended requiring the UK Attorney General’s consent before future Troubles-related prosecutions. The report said this could provide an additional safeguard around prosecution decisions. It also called for wider next-of-kin rights to request investigations and greater clarity on future funding.

lethal wrongdoing

· Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human RightsThe report’s phrase for allegations that must remain open to investigation.
About this summary

Originally published by RTÉ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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