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Proposed UK Government Amnesty for Troops & Paramilitaries in NI during Troubles

  • 06-05-2021 12:32pm
    #1
    osarusan
    Registered Users Posts: 16,542 ✭✭✭✭


    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57006280
    Reports that the UK government intends to restrict future prosecutions of British soldiers who served in NI during the Troubles have sparked anger.

    The Daily Telegraph and The Times reported legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday.

    It has been reported that the move would also apply to former paramilitaries.

    The Times article linked to is behind a paywall, but this is visible for free:
    British veterans and terrorists will be exempt from prosecution for actions taken during the Troubles as part of plans to draw a line under the past, The Times has learnt.

    Ministers intend to bring in a statute of limitations so no one can be charged over incidents up to the 1998 Good Friday agreement except for cases involving war crimes, genocide or torture.

    Plans included in the 2014 Stormont House agreement to set up a £150 million unit to investigate all deaths during the Troubles will be scrapped, Whitehall sources confirmed. A Nelson Mandela-style "truth and reconciliation" process will be implemented instead.

    Loads of different groups are angry at the idea, for different reasons obviously.

    Reading through the article, apart from no mention of the DUP, it seems like every single party is against it, along with Amnesty and the Northern Ireland Veterans' Commissioner, with the Irish govt against 'unilateral' action also.

    How wide is the amnesty net being proposed? Does it cover basically everything by everybody on all sides, or is it more selective than that? The Times article would suggest it covers everything?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Fandymo
    Registered Users Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    osarusan wrote: »
    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57006280



    The Times article linked to is behind a paywall, but this is visible for free:


    Loads of different groups are angry at the idea, for different reasons obviously.

    Reading through the article, apart from no mention of the DUP, it seems like every single party is against it, along with Amnesty and the Northern Ireland Veterans' Commissioner, with the Irish govt against 'unilateral' action also.

    How wide is the amnesty net being proposed? Does it cover basically everything by everybody on all sides, or is it more selective than that? The Times article would suggest it covers everything?

    except for cases involving war crimes, genocide or torture.


  • #3
    suicide_circus
    Registered Users Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    Good for the goose...


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    Mary Lou, the gift that keeps giving
    Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said the move was an "attack on the rule of law".

    She said what the British government is doing "is an attempt to put British soldiers above the law and prevent investigations into murder, torture, shoot to kill and collusion involving British forces in Ireland".

    "Let's be clear this is not about dealing with the legacy of our past, this is about continuing the decades long cover-ups and frustrating families in their efforts to get truth and justice."


  • #5
    An Claidheamh
    Registered Users Posts: 3,598 ✭✭✭An Claidheamh


    Literally hours after Simon Coventry met NI secretary, British govt announces amnesty for British army child murderers

    Coveney never informed at meeting

    Michéal Martin clueless about it this afternoon

    Almost complete silence from government Twitter accounts (and Amnesty International) about Britain’s unilateral move to protect war criminals


    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/any-unilateral-uk-move-on-soldier-amnesty-a-breach-of-trust-taoiseach-says-1.4557043?mode=amp


    https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0506/1214048-uk-troubles-prosecutions/


    Once again, Irish government looking weak

    Will they dare use European Court of Human Rights/ The Hague against them á la 1970s?

    Or blame Sinn Féin and wait until it dies down?


  • #6
    deeks
    Registered Users Posts: 541 ✭✭✭deeks


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Literally hours after Simon Coventry met NI secretary, British govt announces amnesty for British army child murderers

    Coveney never informed at meeting

    Michéal Martin clueless about it this afternoon

    Almost complete silence from government Twitter accounts (and Amnesty International) about Britain’s unilateral move to protect war criminals


    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/any-unilateral-uk-move-on-soldier-amnesty-a-breach-of-trust-taoiseach-says-1.4557043?mode=amp


    https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0506/1214048-uk-troubles-prosecutions/


    Once again, Irish government looking weak

    Will they dare use European Court of Human Rights/ The Hague against them á la 1970s?

    Or blame Sinn Féin and wait until it does down?

    When was the announcement made?


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  • #7
    An Claidheamh
    Registered Users Posts: 3,598 ✭✭✭An Claidheamh


    deeks wrote: »
    When was the announcement made?

    Today


  • #8
    Smee_Again
    Registered Users Posts: 1,985 ✭✭✭Smee_Again


    Perfidious Albion


  • #9
    MrMusician18
    Registered Users Posts: 7,186 ✭✭✭MrMusician18


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Today

    Hasn't actually been announced. It was leaked to the telegraph as going to be in the Queen's speech next week


  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    Someone has to rip off the sticky plaster at some point.


  • #11
    deeks
    Registered Users Posts: 541 ✭✭✭deeks


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Today

    Do you have a link to the announcement?


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  • #12
    deeperlearning
    Registered Users Posts: 247 ✭✭deeperlearning


    Johnson is sabre rattling as there are elections today.

    OP is a drama llama.


  • #13
    suicide_circus
    Registered Users Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    Weren't hundreds of terrorists released under the GFA?


  • #14
    Necro
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,988 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    Threads merged


  • #15
    An Claidheamh
    Registered Users Posts: 3,598 ✭✭✭An Claidheamh


    deeperlearning wrote: »
    Johnson is sabre rattling as there are elections today.

    OP is a drama llama.


    Leaking to the Daily Telegraph is how the Tories make announcements, the Irish government were clearly not expecting it

    How would elections in Scotland and one by-election in England make Johnson announce something affecting the North?

    You are naive


  • #16
    An Claidheamh
    Registered Users Posts: 3,598 ✭✭✭An Claidheamh


    suicide_circus wrote: »
    Weren't hundreds of terrorists released under the GFA?

    True, but these terrorists have to be trialled and admit their crimes before they can be released though


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Leaking to the Daily Telegraph is how the Tories make announcements, the Irish government were clearly not expecting it

    How would elections in Scotland and one by-election in England make Johnson announce something affecting the North?

    You are naive

    Council elections all over England
    London Mayor election and the Welsh parliament election all today...


  • #18
    Calahonda52
    Registered Users Posts: 12,173 ✭✭✭✭Calahonda52


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Literally hours after Simon Coventry met NI secretary, British govt announces amnesty for British army child murderers

    Coveney never informed at meeting

    Michéal Martin clueless about it this afternoon

    Almost complete silence from government Twitter accounts (and Amnesty International) about Britain’s unilateral move to protect war criminals


    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/any-unilateral-uk-move-on-soldier-amnesty-a-breach-of-trust-taoiseach-says-1.4557043?mode=amp


    https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0506/1214048-uk-troubles-prosecutions/


    Once again, Irish government looking weak

    Will they dare use European Court of Human Rights/ The Hague against them á la 1970s?

    Or blame Sinn Féin and wait until it dies down?
    Lacks balance and objectivity as contribution

    “I can’t pay my staff or mortgage with instagram likes”.



  • #19
    Endaaaagh
    Registered Users Posts: 637 ✭✭✭Endaaaagh


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Literally hours after Simon Coventry met NI secretary, British govt announces amnesty for British army child murderers

    Coveney never informed at meeting

    Michéal Martin clueless about it this afternoon

    Almost complete silence from government Twitter accounts (and Amnesty International) about Britain’s unilateral move to protect war criminals


    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/any-unilateral-uk-move-on-soldier-amnesty-a-breach-of-trust-taoiseach-says-1.4557043?mode=amp



    https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0506/1214048-uk-troubles-prosecutions/


    Once again, Irish government looking weak

    Will they dare use European Court of Human Rights/ The Hague against them á la 1970s?

    Or blame Sinn Féin and wait until it dies down?

    In fairness, they also announced amnesty for IRA child murderers. Why single out the british?


  • #20
    ec18
    Registered Users Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭ec18


    humiliated is way too strong of a word for this


  • #21
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,801 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    The IRA and terrorism have very little to do with whether a British soldier should shoot British citizens who are marching for civil rights.

    Interesting take by the the British.


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  • #22
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,155 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Leaking to the Daily Telegraph is how the Tories make announcements, the Irish government were clearly not expecting it

    How would elections in Scotland and one by-election in England make Johnson announce something affecting the North?

    You are naive

    So it wasn't announced, despite your earlier claims.

    This is the wrong decision. All crimes should be prosecuted.

    Tomorrow, we should remember the deaths of Eric and Desmond Guiney, a milkman and his 14-year old son stoned to death by nationalist thugs, just because they were Protestant.

    http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2006/may5_hunger_strike_riots_swept_city.php

    No cause is worth that sort of behaviour. Those incidents are a stain on this country. The perpetrators of crimes like that should have no escape.


  • #23
    Amirani
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,521 Mod ✭✭✭✭Amirani


    Not sure exactly how this humiliates 2 Irish political parties.


  • #24
    Blackjack
    Registered Users Posts: 3,592 ✭✭✭Blackjack


    Amirani wrote: »
    Not sure exactly how this humiliates 2 Irish political parties.

    I'm sure the Sinn Fein press office will be along at some point soon enough with the appropriate amount of outrage to convince their followers and fellow travellers that it's some sort of humiliation.


  • #25
    An Claidheamh
    Registered Users Posts: 3,598 ✭✭✭An Claidheamh


    Endaaaagh wrote: »
    In fairness, they also announced amnesty for IRA child murderers. Why single out the british?

    So you're happy with that as long as the Brits get off also


  • #26
    An Claidheamh
    Registered Users Posts: 3,598 ✭✭✭An Claidheamh


    Blackjack wrote: »
    I'm sure the Sinn Fein press office will be along at some point soon enough with the appropriate amount of outrage to convince their followers and fellow travellers that it's some sort of humiliation.

    Strange reaction to foreign scumbags murdering innocent Irish children


  • #27
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Almost complete silence from government Twitter accounts (and Amnesty International) about Britain’s unilateral move to protect war criminals

    Doesn't it explicitly exclude war crimes?


  • #28
    Timberrrrrrrr
    Registered Users Posts: 25,396 ✭✭✭✭Timberrrrrrrr


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Strange reaction to foreign scumbags murdering innocent Irish children

    That's no way to talk about the IRA.


  • #29
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,155 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    An Claidheamh wrote: »
    Strange reaction to foreign scumbags murdering innocent Irish children

    As a stain on this country, it is far worse when we see Irish thugs murdering innocent Irish children, Mullaghmore being one example of that.


  • #30
    HBC08
    Registered Users Posts: 3,280 ✭✭✭HBC08


    Clickbait thread title.


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  • #31
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,801 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    suicide_circus wrote: »
    Weren't hundreds of terrorists released under the GFA?

    Yes. Also. And?


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