07 July 2023
Law Society Statement on Legacy Bill
The Human Rights &
Equality Committee of the Law Society of Northern Ireland has raised concerns about
the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. The Committee has been monitoring this Bill,
which will close down all current investigations into Troubles related cases
including inquests, Police Ombudsman investigations, civil cases and police
investigations. It also provides for a ‘conditional immunities’ scheme for
perpetrators.
The Law Society opposes
the denial of access to justice for victims and survivors and considers that
this is incompatible with Article 2 ECHR (right to life).
Notwithstanding the near universal
criticism this Bill has attracted, it seems likely that it will become an Act
of Parliament later this year. Lawyers
in Northern Ireland will soon have to decide how to respond to this new
legislation.
In order to inform our
response to the new legislation the Law Society of Northern Ireland will be
holding a major conference on Legacy later this year.