ICRIR is probing 24 cases as 120 people seek answers from Troubles legacy body
Belfast Telegraph, January 8th, 2025
Some 120 people have sought investigations from the new body set up by the Government to probe unsolved cases from the Troubles.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) - which is currently looking into 24 cases - has published its second annual work plan, setting out its aims and ambitions for 2025-26.
The body was set up under the Tories' controversial Legacy Act, which was opposed by all the parties here and the Irish Government.
Dublin launched legal action against the Act under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Act ended new Troubles-era cases and inquests as of May 1 last year.
Instead, bereaved families, victims and certain public authorities can request the ICRIR to carry out an investigation.
The new Labour Government had long committed to repealing the bulk of the legislation, including getting rid of a controversial conditional amnesty and allowing inquests to restart, but said it will retain the ICRIR.
The chief executive of the ICRIR, Louise Warde Hunter, said the new year marks the “next important chapter of the commission's work” with the first of its reports likely to be published in the autumn.
As of December 9, the commission said that 120 people had come forward and requested an investigation “in the hope of finding the answers they have been seeking for so many years”.
Of those, 24 have reportedly moved into the information recovery stage of the process.
In addition, the commission said it has accepted a request for an investigation from the Secretary of State.
“We are committed to getting the unvarnished truth for victims, survivors and families. That remains our unwavering focus for this year and beyond.” Ms Warde Hunter said.
“We are pursuing our investigations and will be publishing our first findings reports in the autumn.
“We know that answers, often long sought, cannot be rushed.
“We will continue to demonstrate care and diligence in how we deliver for those who have come to the commission.”
The commission insists it operates independently of the Stormont Executive, UK Government and any other body or outside interest.
Established in December 2023, it aims to provide information to families, victims and survivors of Troubles-related deaths and injuries and promote reconciliation. The ICRIR determines what type of investigation is appropriate or necessary in different circumstances.
It could be a liability investigation that may lead to a criminal prosecution where judged appropriate, or a focused probe, or a culpability investigation.
Its chief commissioner is former Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, while its commissioner for investigations is Peter Sheridan, a former senior PSNI officer.
In September, the Court of Appeal ruled that the new truth recovery body is currently not capable of carrying out human rights-compliant investigations into Troubles-era murders in Northern Ireland.
Senior judges held that the ICRIR cannot ensure effective participation for next of kin.
Government powers to veto the disclosure of sensitive material were also declared to be unlawful.
A spokesperson for the UK Government said then that it is committed to addressing the legacy of the past “in a way that can obtain the support of victims and survivors, and comply with our human rights obligations.”
A statement concluded: “We note the court's ruling and will take the necessary time to consider our next steps on this complex judgment.”
Speaking after the publication of the ICRIR's second annual work plan, Sir Declan said: “We have designed our TRIM (Trauma and Resiliency Informed Model) approach to address the needs of people as we work with them through this process.
“Their needs are uppermost in our minds as we take the work of the commission forward into next year.
“We value open, honest and respectful dialogue with victims, survivors and families and wider stakeholders.
“Reconciliation can only be achieved in our community if we tell the unvarnished truth about what happened during the Troubles/conflict.”
First reports from legacy body expected in autumn
Rebecca Black, Irish News, January 8th, 2025
THE first reports from a new body set up by government to probe cases from the Troubles are expected to be published this autumn.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) said it is investigating 24 cases and has also accepted a request for an investigation from the secretary of state.
Commission chief executive Louise Warde Hunter said the new year “marks the next important chapter of the commission’s work with the first of its reports likely to be published in the autumn”.
She said the commissioner’s second annual workplan, setting out areas of focus and ambitions for 2025-26, marks “significant progress made so far”.
“We are committed to getting the unvarnished truth for victims, survivors and families. That remains our unwavering focus for this year and beyond,” she said.
The ICRIR was created by the Conservative government’s controversial legacy act which halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths. Bereaved families, victims and certain public authorities can instead request the ICRIR carry out an investigation.
While Labour has committed to repealing the act and has said legacy inquests will resume, it is continuing with the ICRIR.
While the ICRIR does not appear to have won the confidence of many victims’ groups, it said that as of December 9 some 120 people have come forward and started an investigation with the commission in the hope of finding answers.
They said of those 24 have moved into the information recovery stage of the process and the commission has accepted a request for an investigation from the secretary of state.
Ms Warde Hunter said: “We are pursuing our investigations and will be publishing our first findings reports in the autumn. We know that answers, often long sought, cannot be rushed. We will continue to demonstrate care and diligence in how we deliver for those who have come to the commission.”
ICRIR chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan said: “We have designed our TRIM (trauma and resiliency informed model) approach to address the needs of people as we work with them through this process.
“Their needs are uppermost in our minds as we take the work of the commission forward into next year.
“We value open, honest and respectful dialogue with victims, survivors and families and wider stakeholders. Reconciliation can only be achieved in our community if we tell the unvarnished truth about what happened during the Troubles/ conflict.”
US committee accuses Britain of ‘delaying justice’
Connla Young, Irish News, January 8th, 2025
A PROMINENT US committee has accused the British government of seeking to “delay and deter justice” by appealing a court ruling to set up a public inquiry into the murder of Co Derry GAA official Sean Brown.
The government lodged the challenge after it was found to be in breach of a human rights obligation to probe the full extent of state collusion in the May 1997 murder.
Mr Brown was attacked and beaten by a LVF gang as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC and later shot dead.
It emerged during an inquest hearing into his death last year that more than 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.
Earlier this week it emerged an appeal against a court ruling that a public inquiry should be held will now be fast-tracked.
In a statement Washington DC based Ad-Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement co-chair
Bruce Morrison accused the British government of “backsliding” on commitments to repeal and replace the controversial Legacy Act.
He added: “This is just the latest case of seeking to delay and deter the proper application of GFA Human Rights requirements to victims in Northern Ireland.
“The spectre of state collusion followed by cover-up is as familiar as it is disturbing.”
The NIO previously said the “appeal will not delay the government’s determination to repeal and replace the legacy act”.
