Troubles body has to look at a killing a day

A COMMISSION to investigate killings during the Troubles will have to solve one murder every day to complete its work within its five-year time frame, it emerged yesterday.

Government sources admitted that the workload will be “fairly intense” for the new body to finish on time.

The office will investigate 1,500 unsolved killings in Northern Ireland and on the mainland between 1966 and 1998 as well as reporting on a further 2,000 deaths which led to convictions.

The details of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) were made public in the new Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill placed before Parliament yesterday.

The Bill fulfils a Conservative manifesto pledge to protect former British troops from prosecution provided they co-operate with the new commission.

Terrorists on both sides receive the same immunity from prosecution.

A retired judge, possibly from abroad, will head the commission with a former senior police officer, also likely to be recruited from overseas, as Commissioner for Investigations. The ICRIR will decide if a suspect has co-operated sufficiently to be granted immunity from prosecution. The Bill will prevent future inquests, civil claims and criminal prosecutions being brought against military veterans as well as terror suspects.

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said in a statement: “The current system is failing; it is delivering neither truth nor justice for the vast majority of families. It is letting down victims and veterans alike.

“Every family who lost a loved one, no matter who they were, will be provided with more information than ever.”