Irish Govt Announces Legacy Bill Court Action

The Irish government has announced that it will begin an Interstate Case against the UK governments controversial Legacy Bill.

Reportedly introduced to "draw a line under the Troubles", the Bill, which offers immunity for Trobules-ear crimes, has been widely criticised since it was launched by all of NI's political parties and the Irish government.

The Ulster Unionist Party welcomed the move by the Irish government. Leader Doug Beattie said: "The Ulster Unionist Party have been clear in our opposition to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act. On multiple occasions we have challenged both the United Kingdom Government and the Irish Government over their inaction regarding legacy. We were the only one of the five main political parties to oppose the Stormont House Legacy mechanisms that gave virtual amnesties to those involved in troubles related crime short of murder.

"The news that the Irish Government will take an Interstate Case against the United Kingdom is not surprising. With an election year on the horizon they will have taken that opposition attack line off the table. This might sound cynical; but the reality is the Irish Government have done nothing to address the legacy of our past, they have refused to open parallel mechanisms or deal with the very real fact that Ireland was not an innocent bystander in the troubles.

"My concern that somehow the solution is to return to Stormont House, where those who were left blind, burned, limbless or physiologically damaged will not receive an investigation purely because they dared to live. Likewise to say, as the Stormont House Agreement says, that if you were murdered outside of Northern Ireland you will not get an investigation or if you had a Historical Enquiries Team desktop review you will be bypassed is certainly not the answer.

"Any interstate case will go through the courts and there will be an outcome at the end. But if both the United Kingdom Government and the Irish Government are not willing to fix the wrongs of the past then it will be the victims who suffer once again."

NI Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, has said that the UK government "profoundly regrets the decision taken by the Irish Government today to bring this unnecessary case against the UK".

Adding: "The decision comes at a particularly sensitive time in Northern Ireland. It did not need to be taken now, given the issues are already before the UK courts."