Shock and anger over plan to end prosecutions related to Troubles

Responding to the news that the Government will end legal proceedings for all Northern Ireland Troubles-related crimes before the Good Friday Agreement, the Labour politician condemned the decision to ‘give blanket amnesty to killers and ignore the grief and trauma’ of victims and their families.

Ms Nichols said: “This announcement abandons the prospect of lawful resolution and leaves victims and their families without hope of the dignity and consolation of bringing killers to justice.

“Warrington still grieves the victims of the 1993 bombing and we will not forget Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball.

“Nor do we forget those injured in 1996 in the Arndale bombing, many of whom live locally, or the victims and survivors of terrorist atrocities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland throughout this period.

“There is no statute of limitation on the hurt and continuing impact of these murderous outrages and victims deserve a continued path for legal redress. Despite what the Prime Minister said today, we cannot ‘draw a line under the Troubles’.

“More widely this is the wrong thing to do at the wrong time. We all know that this is a very delicate time in Northern Ireland as tensions have escalated around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“The five major parties in Northern Ireland have all opposed this move by the Government and they should be acting with far more care and judgement not to risk the Good Friday Agreement.

“Rather than taking such unwise unilateral actions, they should follow the Stormont House Agreement framework, working with communities rather than imposing on them.

“But this is part of the pattern that we have seen from the Government. Last year the Prime Minister approved putting Warrington bomb-defender Claire Fox in the House of Lords and tried to avoid responsibility for compensating victims of terror. Ministers are taking huge decisions for political convenience while disregarding victims.

“I commend the continuing work of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation. It is shameful that ministers did not consult them about these amnesty plans, but the Peace Centre is a beacon of hope and solace locally, nationally and internationally.

“If any constituents feel affected by today’s announcement, I urge them to contact them for support.”

Nick Taylor, chief executive of the Peace Foundation, has issued a statement on the matter.

He said: “The Peace Foundation is commissioned by the Northern Ireland Victims and Survivors Service to provide health and wellbeing support to anyone affected by the Troubles who is domiciled in Great Britain.

“The HM Government announcement, including their stated intention to introduce a statute of limitations which prevents legal proceedings, applied equally to all Troubles-related incidents, has come as a shock to many people and is causing upset and anger for many victims.

“The Peace Foundation priority is to support victims in their health and wellbeing and is available to provide free and confidential assistance.

“We can be contacted on support@peace-foundation.org.uk or 01925 581 231.”

Conservative Warrington South MP Andy Carter says ‘there are no perfect ways’ for dealing with legacy issues which arise from the Northern Ireland troubles and that he prefers to wait and study the detailed proposals carefully before rushing to comment on what the Government are proposing here.

He added: “The death of Tim and Johnathan was a terrible tragedy which everyone in Warrington and I will never forget.

“I’ve worked with the Parry family since before I was elected to ensure the Peace Foundation can continue, including speaking directly to the Prime Minister to confirm funding would be made available.

“My focus remains to support the work of Colin and Wendy and the Peace Foundation so that they can continue to campaign for peace knowing that conflict is inevitable but violent conflict is not.”