The UK Government’s proposed legacy legislation is one of the most significant and sensitive pieces of law to come before Parliament in recent years. While its stated aim is to address the legacy of the Troubles, the complexity of the proposals demands careful scrutiny. Ulster Unionist Party Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has written to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee to outline the party's initial concerns and priorities. This legislation will only be credible if it is firmly victim-centred and justice-focused, and we will oppose any attempt to dilute those principles

Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA said,

“It is clear that the UK Government’s legacy legislation - the Legacy Commission - is complex and will need deeper scrutiny.  However, as the Ulster unionist Justice Spokesperson, I have written to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) with our first thoughts on the legislation. 

“There are a number of issues regarding the legislation, but what must first be made clear is that this legislation will only work if it is both victims’ and Justice centred.  We will not accept any form of amnesties as we found with the Stormont House Agreement (SHA), which other parties supported, and we have alarm bells when the Secretary of State continues to refer back to the principles of the SHA. What is clear, as the Northern Ireland Office and the UK and Irish Governments trip over themselves to present this as a credible solution to legacy, is that it will only be credible if it delivers for the victims.

“One area we are concerned with is the dual Directors of Investigation role.  It is important that former RUC senior officers are not stopped from taking up one of these posts, indeed, it would be incredible if it was not a senior RUC officer who was selected.  The second Director of Investigations with the relevant experience must come from within the UK.  To allow an Irish Director of Investigations would undermine the process given the Irish failure to instigate any meaningful legacy mechanisms and their failure to engage with the legacy of the past, giving terrorists a virtual amnesty following the Belfast Agreement. 

“It is also important that the failure of the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 to give a proper definition of a victim is not repeated by this legislation. There can be no equivalence between victims and perpetrators; this must be made clear with the Victims and Survivors Advisory Board, ensuring no terrorist, terrorist supporter, or anyone with a link to terrorism is allowed on the board. 

“It is right there is a veto to ensure that national security information is redacted from family reports. 

“We are clear that there are no new protections for veterans in this legislation, no matter how much the government tries to spin it.  However, we will bring forward an amendment that, if accepted, would ensure there will be no repeated investigations against those who served, both military and police, unless there is new and compelling evidence that warrants a new investigation.

“Time will tell if this new legislation spends its time with the Legacy Commission investigating the state and security forces as they retained records, while the terrorist actions are pushed to the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR) due to a lack of evidence.  What is needed is a clear commitment from Hilary Benn MP that the Legacy Commission will investigate those who directed terrorism throughout the Troubles and those political parties who supported them throughout”.