On Monday 29 July 2024, the Northern Ireland Office announced that it had abandoned its appeal against the Belfast High Court’s Dillon and others ruling – while committing to scrapping the amnesty contained in the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (the ‘Legacy Act’).
This is a momentous event for victims and survivors of the conflict whose long-fought legal claims were unjustly shut down.
Back in February, the Belfast High Court ruled that the Legacy Act was unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 2 of the Windsor Framework.
While the government’s actions are a good first step towards reopening justice, RSI continues to call on the government to scrap the Independent Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), which we believe cannot independently and effectively investigate conflict-related crimes.
Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, also announced that the government will consult on ways of addressing the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland. RSI will continue pursuing meaningful and lasting justice for victims and survivors.
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