ICRIR: Accountability Update1 September 2024 - 31 March 2025

Our investigations

In the period from 1 May 2024 to 31 March 2025, 154 people (Requesting Individuals) have come to the Commission. There are 50 live investigations underway.

We can accept Requesting Individuals affected by the Troubles/Conflict, from any jurisdiction. A number of Requesting Individuals have made more than one request. Some individuals’ requests have been withdrawn or closed, for example if an individual decided not to proceed. Nevertheless, numbers continue to grow.

We publish details of our live investigations on our website here. The published details do not reflect every request that is being investigated, rather they reflect those which Requesting Individuals, in agreement with the Commission, have confirmed can be made public.

There may be reasons, such as prejudice to obtaining evidence, threat to life or other matters which mean that the fact of an investigation being underway is not published. Such decisions are kept under review, and in any event the final Report from the investigation will always be made public.

Lines of Inquiry

Commissioner for investigations Peter Sheridan said: “There are forensic opportunities. There are investigative lines of inquiry.

“Our work is not a ‘light-touch review’.

“We’re trying to encourage people and build confidence in this commission.

“I will sit down with anyone and explain how, in every single case, I put senior investigating officers in to investigate all of the information available.”

Latest Cases

The commission, headed by former Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, has faced opposition from political parties and victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland, and its powers have been subject to legal challenges.

The latest case which the ICRIR has said publicly it is investigating is the murder of an RUC reserve constable by the IRA in October 1982.

John Eagleson, a father of three, was shot in the chest while making his way to work on his motorbike.

The commission is also investigating the murder of Judge Rory Conaghan, who was shot dead by an IRA gunman in front of his daughter at their Belfast home in September 1974.

London office

The accountability update said the ICRIR now has 172 staff, with 66% based in Belfast and 34% in London.

It said: “As at March 31 2025, 43 staff work in the information recovery (IR) team of the investigations directorate; 65% are based in London with 35% based in Belfast.

“This includes senior investigating officers, IR team supervisors, investigating officers and investigation support officers.

“The wider operations work also includes case support and findings.

“Of the 86 people working in operations, 45% have investigative experience in Northern Ireland.

“A further 36% have investigative experience solely outside of Northern Ireland.

“The remaining 19% of people have other relevant experience for the delivery of the commission’s work.”