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New British-Irish framework on Troubles legacy aims to boost reconciliation
The British and Irish governments are set to present a new framework addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, a decades-long conflict that claimed more than 3,500 lives. The initiative is intended to resolve long-standing disputes over how past crimes should be investigated and remembered, while also easing tensions between London and Dublin.
Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn and Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Harris are expected to unveil the proposals at Hillsborough Castle in County Down. The framework, the product of a year of negotiations, would replace the controversial Legacy Act passed in 2023 by the former Conservative government.
The plan includes the creation of a new legacy commission with broader powers to investigate Troubles-era crimes, replacing the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). A separate body would focus on helping families obtain information about the deaths of their relatives.
Dublin has emphasized that the new measures must align with the European Convention on Human Rights. Ireland currently has a case pending against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the 2023 Legacy Act breached international standards by halting inquests and prosecutions. Officials suggest the case will remain active until progress is made on enacting the new framework into law.
The proposals also symbolize a thaw in British-Irish relations after years of strain linked to Brexit and legacy disputes. A recent meeting between UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin helped clear the way for the joint announcement.