Taoiseach hits out at UK’s Troubles amnesty

THE Taoiseach has said he is opposed to UK plans for a Troubles amnesty as it amounts to ‘get-out-of-jail’ legislation for ex-paramilitaries.

Micheál Martin was also critical of what he labelled a ‘unilateral strain’ within the British government when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking in Belfast following talks with political parties in the North, Mr Martin renewed his serious concerns about new legislation on legacy announced by the UK government. Mr Martin said he was ‘very much opposed’ to the proposals.

He said that the Bill creates ‘essentially the guts of an amnesty for people who committed terrible crimes, irrespective of whether they were security forces or members of various paramilitary groups’. Mr Martin added: ‘For many of those paramilitary groups, this is literally a getout-of-jail legislation from any further investigation.’

The UK Government has said that the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill aims to provide better outcomes for victims, survivors and veterans. As part of the plan, immunity will be offered to those who are deemed to have co-operated with an information retrieval body.