British Govt. To Propose Statute Of Limitations To End All Troubles Related Prosecutions Before 1998.

The plan will apply to former members of the security forces as well as former paramilitaries.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis will make a statement to the British parliament today dealing with legacy issues from the Troubles.

The British Government's proposal involves a statute of limitations that would end all prosecutions related to the Troubles prior to 1998.

The plan will apply to former members of the security forces as well as former paramilitaries.

Suzanne Byrne reports.

"The plan, which has been sharply criticised by the The Irish Government, the five main political parties in the Norh and victims groups, is seen as a response to a demand by MPs to address the issue of prosecution of British army veterans.

Critics have called it a de facto amnesty that could render British soliders vulnerable to prosecution at the International Criminal Court

It's also been suggested such a move would contravene the Stormont House Agreement on legacy which has yet to be implemented.

That agreement included provision for an independent historical investigations unit to take forward inquiries into outstanding Troubles-related deaths

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has also said they're concerned Downing Street is also considering ending Troubles linked inquests and civil cases.

The British Government says it' hopes to pass the neccesary legislation in the autumn

So far, there has only been one meeting involving party leaders on the issue."

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis to announce plan to end all prosecutions related to the Troubles prior to 1998 https://t.co/fK4fWRk0YD

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 13, 2021

Stephen Travers is a survivor of the 1975 Miami Showband Massacre of which the British Army are still implicated.

He says this move by the British Government is a sign that they know they face multiple defeats in the courts and want to close this avenue down arising from the precedence set by the Ballymurphy massacre ruling earlier this year.

Any such proposal would be at odds with human rights and the rule of law. If imposed over the heads of local parties and in particular victims groups, it would carry no legitimacy or credibility. https://t.co/ugRu0NWhxp

— Stephen Farry MP (@StephenFarryMP) July 13, 2021

Mickey McKinney, whose brother William died during Bloody Sunday, says the move will only add to the pain

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