King's Speech: Troubles Act repeal will 'right a historic wrong'
Responding to the commitment made today in the King’s Speech to repeal and replace the widely opposed Northern Ireland Troubles Act, Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International UK’s Northern Ireland Deputy Director, said:
“Today is an important step toward overturning an atrocious attack on rights.
“The new Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Troubles Act is welcome. Repealing and replacing the Troubles Act is necessary to right a historic wrong. The UK Government must show a complete change in approach to the last government; listen to victims and prioritise their rights.
“There must be no delay in getting the wheels of justice turning. We want to see Stormont House Agreement plus legislated for and an urgent reinstatement of judicial processes, such as inquests, for all who need them.
“Victims deserve longed for answers and independent legacy mechanisms. Providing these will contribute to healing and building a just society.”
Martina Dillon’s husband was shot and killed in 1997. The circumstances of the killing suggest the role of collusion. Martina’s inquest was brought to an end under the Troubles Act. Martina is one of the victims who has taken a legal challenge on the human rights compliance of the Act. A court of appeal hearing took place in June.
Martina, said:
“I am relieved to see the Labour government commit to getting rid of this awful law, which we didn’t want in the first place. They need to follow through quickly.
“I’ve fought for 27 years to get truth and justice for my husband. I had an inquest underway, to then have that cruelly removed by the Troubles Act has been devastating.
“All victims deserve answers and victim-centred processes. Truth and justice are not much to ask, we shouldn't have to fight for decades to get it.”
Michael O’Hare’s 12 year old sister Majella O’Hare was shot and killed by a British army soldier on her way to church with a group of friends in August 1976. Despite an apology from the MOD in 2011, an independent investigation has never been carried out.
Michael O’Hare, said:
“This is an important day for families like ours, who thought we’d seen the door closed forever on these cases.
“Majella was just an innocent little girl who didn’t deserve to be gunned down when walking along the road with her friends.
“We deserve truth and accountability. It’s a huge relief that that is now a possibility again, even if we’ve had to wait half a century. It’s never too late to do the right thing.”