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Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues
18 March 2020
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Northern Ireland Office
At a Glance
Issue Summary
The statement addresses the legacy issues of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, proposing a new approach focused on information recovery and reconciliation rather than ongoing investigations.
Action Requested
The Government proposes to introduce legislation that will establish an independent body to manage both information recovery and investigative aspects of the legacy system. This body would ensure efficient retrieval of knowledge before it is lost, provide family reports with information about loved ones' deaths, and set clear thresholds for further investigations or prosecutions.
Key Facts
- The Stormont House Agreement in 2014 was a significant milestone but did not stop debates on the issue.
- In 2018, over 17,000 responses were received during the public consultation on ‘Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past’.
- The Government aims to focus on information recovery and reconciliation rather than ongoing investigations due to the diminishing likelihood of justice for most cases as time passes.
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