Ministers being urged to delay Troubles legislation

Ministers are facing calls at Westminster to delay controversial legislation dealing with Northern Ireland's violent past.

The legislation would provide immunity for people accused of Troubles offences, as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body, and would also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict.

In the face of strong opposition, the UK Government has proposed several amendments to the Bill, though the main elements of it remain.

As peers were due to start their detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, independent crossbencher Baroness O'Loan has launched a bid to halt its passage until approval is secured from Stormont.

However, the Northern Ireland Assembly is currently not sitting because of the political impasse over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which have created economic barriers with the British mainland.

Many unionists are vehemently opposed to Northern Ireland Protocol, which they claim has weakened the region's place within the union.

The DUP has been blocking powersharing at Stormont in protest and is demanding major changes to the deal.

Former SDLP leader Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick backed calls for the Bill to be put on hold.

Referring to victims, she said: "They feel this Bill robs them of their opportunity to access justice, to access investigations and to access inquests, which they believe, quite rightly, is their right. I agree there should be a pause placed on this Bill. That the Government should go away and think again."

She added: "I believe that the fulfilment of rights and the rule of law must be central to the legacy process."

Former head of the army Lord Dannatt said while he understood the criticism of the Bill, argued the voice of veterans, who served in Northern Ireland, "must be heard".

The former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Lord Eames, warned the proposed law would deny many justice in the region.

He said: "I have never, never come across such widespread opposition to a proposal such as this.

The independent crossbencher added: "There are so many people in Northern Ireland who are going to be denied justice. Denied the opportunity to be heard.

"I see this as nothing less than a tragedy." Urging minister4s to "think again", Former deputy DUP leader Lord Dodds of Duncairn said: "It's very, very clear that victims have been treated abominably by this Bill and this Government.

"That's a terrible thing to have to say about a Government which is committed to the union. Although its actions in recent times both on the protocol and on this would cause many unionists to doubt what exactly is now going on with the Conservative and Unionist Party."

Raising his objections to the draft legacy legislation, DUP peer and former education minister in Northern Ireland Lord Weir of Ballyholme said: "The Bill represents very clearly a denial of justice."

Labour leader in the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon said: "Our position reamins the same. We do not support this Bill. We share the desire there should be a process. We share the desire to move forward and deal with the issues, but I have to say we do not believe this Bill is the case."

Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine said: "I never anticipated that the amendments that I bring forward for this stage of the Bill would necessarily be the end of the story.

"I am looking at what more can be done... that will meet more of the concerns of victims and survivors."

He added: "If as some people are proposing we simply withdraw, delay or start again... then I think we really do risk spending at least another five years on this issue."

Labour former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain said: "It can't be resolved in a way that antagonises everybody. That's the problem."

Former SDLP leader Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick backed calls for the Bill to be put on hold.

Referring to victims, she said: "They feel this Bill robs them of their opportunity to access justice, to access investigations and to access inquests, which they believe, quite rightly, is their right. I agree there should be a pause placed on this Bill. That the Government should go away and think again."

She added: "I believe that the fulfilment of rights and the rule of law must be central to the legacy process."

Former head of the army Lord Dannatt said while he understood the criticism of the Bill, argued the voice of veterans, who served in Northern Ireland, "must be heard".

He said: "The voice that I speak for is the voice that has had enough of investigations being mounted on now quite elderly soldiers, on the whim of evidence, often causing a lot of fear and upset to them. Some of them going to their grave with the allegations not fully investigated."

He added: "If this Bill is lost... what must not be lost is some way that veterans who did their duty are protected."

The former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Lord Eames, warned the proposed law would deny many justice in the region.

He said: "I have never, never come across such widespread opposition to a proposal such as this.

The independent crossbencher added: "There are so many people in Northern Ireland who are going to be denied justice. Denied the opportunity to be heard.

"I see this as nothing less than a tragedy." Urging minister4s to "think again", Former deputy DUP leader Lord Dodds of Duncairn said: "It's very, very clear that victims have been treated abominably by this Bill and this Government.

"That's a terrible thing to have to say about a Government which is committed to the union. Although its actions in recent times both on the protocol and on this would cause many unionists to doubt what exactly is now going on with the Conservative and Unionist Party.

"At the centre there is something deeply and fundamentally wrong with how Northern Ireland is now being treated as part of this United Kingdom.

"And this is one of the most egregious examples. Where victims and their views are being set aside, where there is universal opposition and yet this Government is intent on proceeding. I would appeal - listen to the victims."