Soldiers’ amnesty dismissed by Varadkar
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said he raised the issue of an amnesty for soldiers who served in Northern Ireland with the British government.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made an election promise that he would protect soldiers sent here during the Troubles from prosecution.
The Conservative pledge, announced on Monday, would prevent veterans facing “vexatious” legal action over historical allegations by changing the law.
During a press conference at the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit yesterday, Mr Varadkar said he brought the issue up with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith. “Yeah, we actually discussed that matter last night, and I expressed the very strong view of the Irish government, that there shouldn’t be any amnesty for anyone who perpetuated crimes in Northern Ireland, no matter whether they were state actors or not,” he said.
When the issue was put to Mr Smith, he said the British government is dedicated to the agreement previously signed by both governments.
“The British government, as you know, on legacy is dedicated to the
Stormont House Agreement,” he said.
“We are talking at the moment about how we ensure the Stormont House Agreement is implemented in full, and we are talking at the moment — depending on the election result, we will push forward in consultation with all groups and want to deliver on that.”
On Monday, Mr Johnson told veterans: “We will always support you.”
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said that under the proposals, the Human Rights Act “will be amended to specify that it doesn’t apply to issues — including NI — that took place before the Act came into force in October 2000”.
The Irish government has been open in its opposition to the idea, noting it would be in contravention of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.
Within the agreement it states there is no amnesty for any one sector within Northern Ireland, or people who are involved in breaches of the law during the Troubles.
The idea of such an amnesty has been floated over a number of years, with calls for its implementation rising after a decision earlier this year to charge one soldier, known as Soldier F, for his part in the death of two people on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972.