British Government faces “battle over new legacy proposals” warns Sinn Fein’s president
Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill met with victims’ families today in Belfast.
The President of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald, has said the British Government “now has a fight on their hands” over new legacy proposals for Northern Ireland.
She said: “They simply won't have people acquiesce, or just give way, or roll over, to what amounts to a charter for immunity and impunity for British state forces here in Ireland.”
Mrs McDonald made the statement after meeting Troubles victims today (Monday) in Belfast along with Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill.
Following today’s meeting Mrs McDonald said “families are angry, they are hurt, but they are absolutely resolute that they, and we along with them, will call Boris Johnson and his Government out on these matters and face them down.”
She added: “I think it is very welcome that we have such a level of political consensus across the spectrum in rejecting any notion of an amnesty.
“That has been made absolutely clear.
“The families want an assurance from the Government that cases currently under way, including ombudsman investigations, will proceed.
“They will not accept in any way that because of these proposals that the system now sits down and causes further delays.''
The legacy plans include proposals to put an end to civil actions, prosecutions, and inquests.
The arrangements effectively draw a line under all Troubles related prosecutions for incidents up to April 1998.
Victims groups, church leaders and politicians all hit out at the proposed "amnesty" and was met with widespread rejection and condemnation.
Sinn Fein’s President said she thinks the plans are “in breach of international human rights law''.
She added: “We have spent the morning meeting with a whole variety of groups and individuals most affected by the proposals that have been announced by the British Government in respect of amnesty.
“We have been struck in our meetings with the depth of anger and the depth of hurt felt by so many families who regard this proposal for amnesty, for the ending not just of criminal justice procedures but also civil cases and inquests, to be a slap in the face for them, for their families, many of whom have waited and campaigned for decades, some for as long as almost 50 years, to establish the truth.
“It is very clear from the conversations we have had with victims and survivors, with their advocacy groups and with others, that the proposals envisaged by the British Government are unacceptable and will not fly.
“They clearly breach international human rights law, and they are in violation of Article 2 human rights obligations.
“We can only conclude that the British Government are making these proposals knowing full well that they fly in the face of their international human rights obligations.
“Far from putting victims and survivors front and centre, these proposals disregard and further traumatise victims who have told us that they will take a stand very firmly against these proposals.''
The NI Assembly has been recalled early from summer recess and is due to sit tomorrow(Tuesday) at noon to discuss the concerns politicians and victims have over what has been described as a “de facto amnesty'' for Troubles crimes.
Read More:
NI parties hold "robust" talks with SOS over legacy proposals
SDLP urging Assembly recall over Troubles 'amnesty' row
Secretary of State to give statement on dealing with Troubles legacy cases
How to listen to Downtown Country: