British Army veterans who served during the Northern Ireland Troubles have marched on Parliament, urging the Labour Government to retain the Legacy Act amid plans for its repeal.
Background to the Legacy Act
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 was introduced by the former Conservative Government to halt numerous civil cases and inquiries related to the Troubles. It also proposed conditional immunity for individuals accused of Troubles-related crimes, provided they cooperated with a newly established truth recovery body.
The Act faced opposition from victims’ groups, all major political parties in Northern Ireland, and the Irish Government. Dublin took legal action against the UK in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that the Act violated the European Convention on Human Rights. This case remains ongoing as the Irish Government awaits Labour’s approach to the legislation before making further legal decisions.
Labour’s Move to Repeal the Act
In December, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn announced a “remedial order” in the House of Commons to formally remove the conditional immunity clause and lift the ban on new civil actions. However, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, created under the Act, continues to function.
Veterans’ Protest at Westminster
On Wednesday, veterans marched along Whitehall to Parliament, calling for the retention of the Act. Many wore army caps and carried a banner that read, “Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans: If they won’t listen, we will shout louder.”
Paul Young, the national spokesman for the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, criticised Labour’s decision, stating that it has reignited anxiety among elderly veterans.
“When the Legacy Act was passed, many old veterans like myself, who served during the Troubles, were able to relax and felt things were improving,” Young said. “With a single stroke, the Labour Party has put anxiety back into elderly veterans that fought in Northern Ireland during that period, and we’re back to square one.”
Veteran Geoff Butler, 71, expressed similar frustration, saying, “The Labour Government is throwing us to the wolves.”
