Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Troubles-era Violence: IRA Accountability

Wednesday 11 February 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions focused on Troubles-era violence and IRA accountability.
  • David Davis asked about the number of prosecutions of IRA members for Troubles-era violence.
  • Tonia Antoniazzi inquired about the Government's delay in naming agent Stakeknife due to ongoing civil proceedings and the Supreme Court's Thompson judgment implications.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Northern Ireland
Context

The question arises from the need to ensure accountability for IRA paramilitaries involved in Troubles-related killings. There are currently 19 IRA members in prison, with 2,058 people killed by republican paramilitaries during the conflict.

Question

What steps he is taking to help ensure adequate accountability for troubles-era violence for members of the IRA. Some 2,058 people died at the hands of republican paramilitaries during the troubles but only 19 IRA members are in prison. Can he tell the House how many prosecutions of IRA members he expects under his Troubles Bill and how many families will find out what happened to their relatives?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The number of prosecutions of IRA members will depend on evidence in individual cases, decided by public prosecutors. The aim of the reform is to ensure more families can find answers about what happened to their relatives during the Troubles.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Expected number and timeline for prosecutions under the Troubles Bill

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Q2 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Justice & Courts Northern Ireland
Context

The question pertains to the lack of prosecutions for IRA members despite Troubles-related killings, with only 19 individuals in prison out of an estimated 2,058 deaths.

Question

Some 2,058 people died at the hands of republican paramilitaries during the troubles—2,058—but despite that fact, only 19 IRA members are currently in prison. The Secretary of State laughably claims there was no amnesty under the Good Friday agreement, and he gives us only the few he has just mentioned. Can he tell the House how many prosecutions of IRA members he expects to arise under his troubles Bill, and how many families of people murdered by the IRA will find out what happened to their relatives?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The number of prosecutions will depend on evidence in individual cases. The aim is to ensure more families can find answers about what happened during the Troubles.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Expected number and timeline for prosecutions under the Troubles Bill

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Q3 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question concerns a report published by the Committee calling for the Government to formally name Stakeknife, an agent infiltrated into IRA ranks. The Supreme Court judgment in the Thompson case has implications for this decision.

Question

This week my Committee published a unanimous report calling on the Government to formally name agent Stakeknife. The Government have said that the Supreme Court judgment in the Thompson case has implications for their decision, but lead officers have said it does not. What is preventing the Government from naming Stakeknife, and when do they plan to do so?

Answer from Hilary Benn

There are ongoing civil proceedings and the Government are considering the implications of the Supreme Court's Thompson judgment. I have promised to return when a decision has been made.

Not addressed: Planned timeline for naming Stakeknife

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