Long restates opposition to Legacy Act after meeting truth recovery body chief

Stormont’s Justice Minister Naomi Long has said her opposition to the UK Government’s Legacy Act remains following a meeting with the new truth recovery commission.

Ms Long met this week with Peter Sheridan, commissioner for investigations at the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

Ms Long confirmed that the justice organisations she is responsible for will comply fully with any obligations placed upon them by the Act.

Mr Sheridan, a former senior ranking RUC and PSNI officer, described the meeting with the minister as a “welcome signal” to society.

The ICRIR was established by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Act) 2023, although it operates independently of the Government.

The body has taken on the remit to investigate hundreds of unresolved legacy deaths and cases of serious harm that happened before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

However, the new arrangements have been controversial with victims’ groups and organisations and are opposed by all of the main political parties in Northern Ireland.

Mr Sheridan, who will lead any investigations into unresolved Troubles deaths, said he briefed the Justice Minister on how the commission plans to support victims who request it to carry out a probe.

He said he also outlined how its work would adhere to Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

Mr Sheridan said: “Having begun receiving contact from the public from May to explore how the commission can help them through its investigations, we are assessing initial inquiries.

“This involves interaction with the existing justice organisations.

“We are grateful for the Justice Minister’s confirmation that the justice organisations for which she has responsibility will comply with the statutory obligations placed upon them to facilitate the work of the commission.

“This is an important and welcome signal to the entire justice sector and wider society.”

Ms Long has been critical previously of the Legacy Act, which created the ICRIR and has said there is a lack of clarity over how the commission would operate following a legal challenge.

A statement released to the PA news agency said: “My opposition to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023 and my concerns as to the impact it will have both on the right of victims and survivors to access justice and also wider public confidence in the justice system remain.

“The justice organisations for which my department has responsibility will comply fully with any obligations now placed upon them by the Act and will not seek to obstruct or frustrate in any way the delivery of truth or justice to those impacted most directly by the Troubles.”

In February, a High Court judge ruled that one of the central elements of the Legacy Act, the provision for conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles offences, is not compliant with the ECHR.

The UK Government is appealing that ruling.

However, the judge also ruled that the ICRIR is able to carry out human rights-compliant investigations and is independent.

Mr Sheridan said he also used his meeting with Ms Long to brief her on the enhanced inquisitorial proceedings, a mechanism for testing evidence, which could be used to complete investigations into deaths that were previously subject to inquests.