Emotional scenes in Commons during NI Legacy Bill debate

AN MP from Northern Ireland has broken down in tears in the House of Commons while speaking of the murder of his cousin and a friend in 1972.

It came ahead of a key vote on the government's controversial Northern Ireland Legacy Bill.

The DUP's Jim Shannon (Strangford) appeared tearful and emotional as he spoke of his cousin's killing.

He said: "Our pain is still here, our pain is still raw and our people grieve and my constituents grieve and really you say you're going to have justice, we can't see justice, we don't see it."

He added: "Where's the justice for my family and for my constituents, I don't see it."

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris replied: "My heart goes out to (him) and I know this is an imperfect bill in this space for him, but it might just work for some others and it's a really difficult balancing act as a piece of legislation."

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the legislation contains "finely balanced political and moral choices that are uncomfortable for many", telling MPs: "But we should be honest about what we can realistically deliver for the people in Northern Ireland in circumstances where the prospects of achieving justice in the traditional sense are so vanishingly small.

"This Bill seeks to deliver an approach that focuses on what can be practically achieved to deliver better outcomes for all those who suffered, including those who served, and aims to help society to look forward together to a more shared future."

Mr Heaton-Harris reiterated the Government could not accept a Lords amendment designed to remove the contentious immunity provision from the Bill.

He said: "Conditional immunity is a crucial aspect of the information recovery process and this Government believes it is the best mechanism by which we can generate the greatest volume of information in the quickest possible time to pass on to families and victims who have been waiting for so long.

"That's why the Government cannot accept Lords amendment 44, which seeks to remove clause 18 and conditional immunity from this legislation."

Conservative former minister Mark Francois said of the Bill: "I fear that some of the Government's own amendments introduced in the Lords have had the effect of swinging the pendulum too far, in what I admit is a delicate balance, against our veterans who served in Operation Banner in Northern Ireland."