Ireland’s Future: British government must work with all families on agreed way forward for legacy

Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes told the British Secretary of State Hilary Benn on Thursday at the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement that the ICRIR does not have the confidence of the majority of families here.

The Newry and Armagh MP said, “The majority of families have been abundantly clear that the ICRIR does not command their confidence, and at yesterday’s committee I made that exact point to British Secretary of State Hilary Benn.

“This is a result of a number of flaws with the body, not least the question around its impartiality and the role of the British Secretary of State.

“I also raised the case of Sean Brown and his family’s courageous efforts to achieve full truth and justice. The British government must establish a public inquiry, as widely supported, without delay.

“The British Labour Party made a commitment to ‘repeal and replace’ the Legacy Act in full, and it should now get on with doing so without delay.

“The British government must work with all families on an agreed way forward for legacy by returning to the key principles and mechanisms agreed at Stormont House.

“Heartbroken families have been fighting for decades to uncover the full extent of what happened to loved ones. Now is the time to support these families in their dignified efforts for truth.”