At a joint press conference with Benn at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast, Harris emphasized, “Our shared duty is to ensure that trauma does not pass to another generation.”
The Legacy of the Troubles agreement addresses the three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, which resulted in over 3,600 deaths before the 1998 U.S.-brokered Good Friday peace accord. This includes nearly 250 people killed in attacks in England and the Republic of Ireland.
Despite long-standing ceasefires by the IRA and “loyalist” paramilitary groups since the mid-1990s, members of these groups have not admitted to specific acts of violence. Their silence partly stems from a desire to avoid legal consequences and potential lawsuits from victims. The Provisional IRA enforces a strict code of silence among its members.
No immunity
The proposed Legacy Commission will not offer conditional amnesties to former militants who come forward, avoiding potential reputational risks for both governments. This is due to concerns that militants might disclose their cooperation with police, soldiers, and intelligence agencies.
Various anti-terrorist agencies in Britain and Ireland had agents in all illegal groups, allegedly influencing life-and-death decisions while protecting their agents. The new Legacy Commission’s plans are vague on investigating state collusion with terrorists.
The U.K.’s previous Conservative government attempted to end such investigations with the unilateral Legacy Act in 2023, aiming to protect former British soldiers from prosecution for historic offenses.













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