Reforms of new Troubles commission needed to secure trust of families, says Benn

Britain’s Northern Ireland secretary has said he appreciates why families of some Troubles victims remain sceptical about a new investigatory and truth recovery body.

Hilary Benn said he knows reform of legislation underpinning the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is required to secure the confidence of bereaved relatives.

The ICRIR was set up by the last government as part of its contentious Legacy Act.

While the UK Labour government has vowed to repeal parts of the Act, including the contentious offer of conditional immunity for perpetrators of Troubles killings, it has decided to retain the commission.

However, last year the Court of Appeal in Belfast ruled that a UK government veto power over what sensitive material can be disclosed to families by the commission is incompatible with human rights laws.

The court also found that the work of the commission does not…

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