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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/09/cabinet-divided-over-plans-to-investigate-unsolved-ni-killings
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| Cabinet divided over plans to investigate unsolved NI killings | Cabinet divided over plans to investigate unsolved NI killings |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Cabinet ministers are divided over plans for a new unit to investigate Troubles-era killings in Northern Ireland, with the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, said to have raised concerns that veterans would be unfairly pursued. | Cabinet ministers are divided over plans for a new unit to investigate Troubles-era killings in Northern Ireland, with the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, said to have raised concerns that veterans would be unfairly pursued. |
| The row centres on the creation of a historical investigations unit, which the government agreed to establish in 2014 as part of the Stormont House agreement, to investigate unsolved murders committed during the Troubles. | The row centres on the creation of a historical investigations unit, which the government agreed to establish in 2014 as part of the Stormont House agreement, to investigate unsolved murders committed during the Troubles. |
| A consultation on the unit has stalled in recent months, partly due to dealing with the deadlock in restoring the Northern Irish executive. | A consultation on the unit has stalled in recent months, partly due to dealing with the deadlock in restoring the Northern Irish executive. |
| Both Williamson and the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, are understood to have raised concerns with the Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, that ageing ex-soldiers, who had already had claims against them investigated, would not be sufficiently protected from new investigations under the current plans. | Both Williamson and the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, are understood to have raised concerns with the Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, that ageing ex-soldiers, who had already had claims against them investigated, would not be sufficiently protected from new investigations under the current plans. |
| A senior Whitehall source said Williamson believed the protections were “plainly not good enough or strong enough” and that concerns that an amnesty or statute of limitations could be subject to legal challenge could be overcome. | A senior Whitehall source said Williamson believed the protections were “plainly not good enough or strong enough” and that concerns that an amnesty or statute of limitations could be subject to legal challenge could be overcome. |
| The source said: “There needs to be more there to protect veterans. People will always claim there are legal reasons why you can’t, but if there is the will to do right by veterans then there can be greater protections.” | The source said: “There needs to be more there to protect veterans. People will always claim there are legal reasons why you can’t, but if there is the will to do right by veterans then there can be greater protections.” |
| Williamson is said to have argued that soldiers and police would be soft targets for new investigations because records exist of personnel whereas they do not for IRA members. | Williamson is said to have argued that soldiers and police would be soft targets for new investigations because records exist of personnel whereas they do not for IRA members. |
| “Those making objections miss the bigger picture here that the odds are already stacked against veterans,” the Whitehall source said. “Ministers sat around the cabinet table and sent servicemen to bring peace to Northern Ireland and now could be signing them up to be prosecuted.” | “Those making objections miss the bigger picture here that the odds are already stacked against veterans,” the Whitehall source said. “Ministers sat around the cabinet table and sent servicemen to bring peace to Northern Ireland and now could be signing them up to be prosecuted.” |
| The Northern Ireland Office has drafted a consultation document which has been circulated to the main Northern Irish parties, though it is not thought to include any proposal for a statute of limitations. | The Northern Ireland Office has drafted a consultation document which has been circulated to the main Northern Irish parties, though it is not thought to include any proposal for a statute of limitations. |
| Bradley’s office believes the new unit would offer better protections for British soldiers and redress an imbalance, with families currently pursuing former soldiers through the inquest system, a route which is not available to victims of killings by paramilitary groups. | Bradley’s office believes the new unit would offer better protections for British soldiers and redress an imbalance, with families currently pursuing former soldiers through the inquest system, a route which is not available to victims of killings by paramilitary groups. |
| Northern Irish parties including the DUP and Sinn Féin are said to have raised objections to a potential amnesty for elderly former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. | |
| The DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, whose party has a supply and confidence agreement to back the Conservatives in the hung parliament, told the BBC on Wednesday his party had concerns that an amnesty for the British armed forces in Northern Ireland could pave the way for an amnesty for the IRA, which he said would be unacceptable. | The DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, whose party has a supply and confidence agreement to back the Conservatives in the hung parliament, told the BBC on Wednesday his party had concerns that an amnesty for the British armed forces in Northern Ireland could pave the way for an amnesty for the IRA, which he said would be unacceptable. |
| Donaldson said his party would instead push for a statute of limitations to apply to all killings committed by UK armed forces across the world – not just in Northern Ireland. | Donaldson said his party would instead push for a statute of limitations to apply to all killings committed by UK armed forces across the world – not just in Northern Ireland. |
| He said that statute of limitations should apply whenever there had already been an investigation which cleared the soldiers, to prevent cases being reopened when they were in retirement. | He said that statute of limitations should apply whenever there had already been an investigation which cleared the soldiers, to prevent cases being reopened when they were in retirement. |
| But Donaldson said the party would oppose any proposal which “could be used by the IRA and other terrorists to try and push for an amnesty for their crimes and that would be totally unacceptable”. | |
| He said there was no comparison between IRA killings and deaths caused by British soldiers which had been investigated by authorities. “We don’t equate the armed forces with terrorist organisations,” he said. | He said there was no comparison between IRA killings and deaths caused by British soldiers which had been investigated by authorities. “We don’t equate the armed forces with terrorist organisations,” he said. |
| “I do think we need to get a sense of proportion. Over 90% of deaths in Northern Ireland were caused by the IRA and other terrorist organisations and we need to remember that and no one at the moment is investigating those murders and that’s wrong – people are entitled to justice.” | “I do think we need to get a sense of proportion. Over 90% of deaths in Northern Ireland were caused by the IRA and other terrorist organisations and we need to remember that and no one at the moment is investigating those murders and that’s wrong – people are entitled to justice.” |
| Speaking later on Wednesday at prime minister’s questions, Theresa May suggested she wanted to see a solution that would protect veterans. “We have an unfair situation at the moment,” she said. | |
| “The only people being investigated at the moment for these issues that happened in the past are those in our armed force or those who served in law enforcement. That is patently unfair. Terrorists are not being investigated, they should be investigated and that is what the government wants to see.” | |
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