Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alliance Party leader and Justice Minister, Naomi Long

Anger over UK government’s plan to ban Troubles prosecutions continues to grow

A former chief constable said the plans for a statute of limitations did not sit comfortably with him.

A FORMER POLICE chief has condemned proposals to ban prosecutions for people involved in Troubles-related incidents as anger over the Government’s controversial plans continues to grow.

Jon Boutcher, the former chief constable of Bedfordshire who heads Operation Kenova, which is investigating a number of unsolved murders in Northern Ireland, said the proposals did not “sit comfortably” with him.

It comes as the SDLP is seeking to recall the Northern Ireland Assembly from its summer recess to challenge the Government over the row, and a Stormont minister said her party would have to consider if it could take up a ministerial portfolio in the future.

embedded254058677 Former Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher said the Government’s legacy plans ‘did not sit comfortably’ with him Brian Lawless / PA Brian Lawless / PA / PA

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said yesterday that he intends to introduce a proposed statute of limitations which would end all prosecutions for incidents up to April 1998 and would apply to military veterans as well as ex-paramilitaries.

The proposals, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said would allow Northern Ireland to “draw a line under the Troubles”, would also end all legacy inquests and civil actions related to the conflict.

But the proposals have been widely criticised by all the political parties in Northern Ireland, victims’ groups, the Irish Government and church leaders.

Boutcher said: “The rule of law has stood us incredibly well.

“To take away the hope, the prospect, the potential of justice for these families, and these are some of the most heinous crimes committed in the United Kingdom in modern history, certainly doesn’t sit with me comfortably.

“I read the paper last night as many families will have done and my phone rang off from families who were in tears.

“These families have been let down, given unfulfilled promises and endured countless setbacks, but always conduct themselves with the greatest of dignity and humility.”

embedded249569559 Deputy leader of the SDLP Nichola Mallon wants the Northern Ireland Assembly to be recalled from its summer recess Liam McBurney / PA Liam McBurney / PA / PA

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon has tabled a motion to recall Stormont to debate the Government plans.

The motion needs 30 signatures for the Assembly to be recalled.

She said: “To shut down justice and close off avenues for truth and reconciliation by providing an amnesty to state agents and paramilitaries involved in the most serious Troubles-related crimes, including murder, is absolutely abhorrent.

“These proposals are hostile to the interests of victims and survivors, they are opposed by all Executive parties and the British Government must withdraw them now.

“The SDLP has tabled a motion to recall the Assembly from its summer recess to address this matter and send a clear message to the British Government that we will not consent to this course of action.”

A Sinn Féin spokesperson has confirmed the party is backing the recall and will be signing the petition.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said to the Dáil yesterday: “The introduction of what amounts to a general amnesty for all security personnel, and all paramilitaries, for murders and other crimes, up until the Good Friday Agreement is not the right way to go.

“It’s wrong for many, many reasons. I’ve stated that consistently.”

“That process has now started, as you know. The British Government may be setting out its position,” he also said. “But our position as an Irish Government, shared with all of the political parties in the North and all of the victim groups, remain consistent with that of Stormont House.”

Alliance Party leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long said on Twitter that she has added her name to the petition and her party colleagues will do the same.

Long said she expected the Government plans to be challenged in the courts.

She also said her party may not take the Justice portfolio in the future if the proposals were adopted.

She told the BBC: “We would have to reflect very carefully, if the system is to become so corrupted that people are to be denied justice, as to whether that’s a system over which any member of our party would wish to preside in future.”

Northern Ireland’s political party leaders will meet Lewis on Friday to set out their opposition to the UK Government’s plans.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said a process had to be agreed which would allow victims to pursue justice.

He told the BBC’s Nolan Show: “We have made our position clear to the Government, we want to agree a process that enables those victims and families that want to pursue justice to be able to do so, and I think it is wrong to deny them the opportunity of pursuing justice.

“We are, all the party leaders, meeting with the Secretary of State on Friday, so that will be an opportunity to make our views known.

“We cannot continue to fail victims, we cannot corrupt the rule of law.

“When you proceed on the basis that victims no longer have the opportunity to pursue justice, that is how they will regard this.”

embedded249894744 Archbishop Eamon Martin said victims would see the statute of limitations proposal as a ‘betrayal of trust’ Liam McBurney / PA Liam McBurney / PA / PA

Church leaders have also condemned the Government plans, with the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland saying they will be seen by many victims as a “betrayal of trust”.

Archbishop Eamon Martin said: “It is disturbing that victims and survivors, those have paid the highest price for the fragile peace we all enjoy today, once more feel marginalised and neglected.

“I was particularly disappointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s naive comments in the House of Commons suggesting that his legacy proposals would allow Northern Ireland to ‘draw a line under the Troubles’.

“Dealing with the legacy of our shared past is not an easy task.

“It is a complex undertaking which belongs to all of us.

“It has no quick fix.

“No line can be drawn to relieve the deep hurt still carried in the aftermath of years of violence, death and life-changing injury.”

The Church of Ireland Primate of All Ireland Rev John McDowell added: “The announcement yesterday will have created further heartbreak, frustration and anger for victims of the Troubles.

“The degree of suffering endured by victims over the years is not something that can be moved on from.

“It needs to be acknowledged in the full variety of its expression, and dealt with over the long term.

“Regardless of the name it goes under, a general amnesty is what the Government of the United Kingdom is now planning to put in place.”

With additional reporting from Niamh Quinlan.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 22 comments
Close
22 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory Browne
    Favourite Rory Browne
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 7:52 PM

    And the award for most confusing headline ever goes to…..

    131
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan O'Neill
    Favourite Declan O'Neill
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 7:59 PM

    @Rory Browne: Made sense to me

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Horan
    Favourite John Horan
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:06 PM

    @Declan O’Neill: I thought it was about a guy from Warsaw

    65
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finbarr Barry
    Favourite Finbarr Barry
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:48 PM

    @Rory Browne:… Driven by Mr. Murphy from Termonfeckin

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 7:59 PM

    I hope the Man who was injured will be OK, and make a full recovery. While this seems to have been an accident, where I live in Clonmel people intentionally drive at speed on the footpath with scant regard for residents on the Street. I have no doubt that among the respectable local people who’ll be tut-tutting about this over the fence with their neighbours are those who themselves routinely endanger the lives of others as they drive their own little darlings to school. I was subject to a hit and run myself, but while that incident is now a Garda matter, Tipperary Council continue to NOT to do anything 5 years after being informed of the risk to life. My very best wishes to the Man injured; I have been that soldier.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
    Favourite Jim Buckley Barrett
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:11 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: then go to the Gardai station and sign a formal complaint, all you need is the reg of the car

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute páraicS
    Favourite páraicS
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:16 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: Often in hit and run incidents the car drives off before the reg can be noted.

    33
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy McNamara
    Favourite Billy McNamara
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:17 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: You live in Clonmel really?I have lived in Clonmel all my life and have never seen”people driving at speed on foothpaths”.You sure?

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:19 PM

    @Billy McNamara: Yes, Billy.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:38 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: Thanks, Jim, I know how it works! All done ages ago.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Flynn
    Favourite Tony Flynn
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 10:13 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: while I sympathize with your personal misfortune, it is fairly difficult to drive along the footpath in Gladstone St. on a Friday afternoon. Perhaps the driver got I’ll. Hope the pedestrian recovers fully.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shirley Hollingsworth
    Favourite Shirley Hollingsworth
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 11:11 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: phew I thought you had 141 likes…but it’s 41 tg…

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DeeM
    Favourite DeeM
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:24 PM

    What was the Pole’s name?

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Charlie
    Favourite Karl Charlie
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:39 PM

    @DeeM: his name was Pole… Light Pole

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Horan
    Favourite John Horan
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:45 PM

    @DeeM: North, and he has a brother called south. His sister is Ima and she got married to a guy called Brian Dancer she now goes by the name Ima Pole Dancer

    24
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donncha
    Favourite Donncha
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:50 PM

    @DeeM: Tomasz

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DeeM
    Favourite DeeM
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 9:03 PM

    @John Horan: Brilliant!! Seriously though…i hope he’s ok!!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Conway
    Favourite Johnny Conway
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 10:24 PM

    @DeeM: brilliant

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alison Kennedy
    Favourite Alison Kennedy
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 10:39 PM

    @DeeM: I don’t believe he is. Very serious.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aido Yollom
    Favourite Aido Yollom
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 10:01 PM

    So let me get this straight. A polish guy gets struck by a car and takes it out on a pedestrian?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin O'C
    Favourite Eoin O'C
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:32 PM

    Lads, have we gone that PC that quoting (actually, more ‘paraphrasing’) Fr Ted is no longer acceptable?? Christ…

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin O'C
    Favourite Eoin O'C
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:35 PM

    @Eoin O’C: for context, I jokingly commented “feckin Poles? Comin over here, takin our jobs and our women!” – an obvious jibe at the horrendously written title. But no…

    Humour is dead.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DERRY1973
    Favourite DERRY1973
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 8:07 PM

    That’s unlucky at its best.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute patrick hughes
    Favourite patrick hughes
    Report
    Aug 17th 2019, 12:29 AM

    hope the pedestrian is ok. Struck by a pole ? And then it s investigated by the Pol _ ice.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stuart Wootten
    Favourite Stuart Wootten
    Report
    Aug 16th 2019, 11:09 PM

    Was the Pole ok? Just because he’s a foreign national doesn’t mean The Journal shouldn’t report on how badly he or she was hurt!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds