On Tuesday, the Government informed Parliament that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would be presented the following day. The legislation is intended to provide legal protections for veterans who served during the Troubles. However, concerns have been raised that the same protections could also extend to individuals associated with paramilitary groups.
Prior to the Bill’s introduction, the Prime Minister stated in a BBC interview on 25th September that these protections would not be applied equally. During the debate, Gregory asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to confirm this position and provide assurance that immunity would not be granted to paramilitaries. The Secretary of State was unable to offer a clear answer.
Gregory said he remains concerned that the legislation, as currently drafted, lacks the statutory instruments required to ensure that protections are afforded exclusively to veterans. As it stands, there is a real risk that those linked to paramilitary activity could also benefit from the same provisions.
