Clonoe Inquest

Lord Caine Excerpts

Wednesday 12th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Caine (Con)]

My Lords, on 16 February 1992, known IRA terrorists armed with a heavy machine gun and AKM rifles fired 30 rounds at Coalisland RUC station before driving to Clonoe, where they were engaged by soldiers, who shot dead four of them. Given that the terrorists were clearly on a mission to murder that night, does the Minister understand why so many people have reacted with anger to the coroner’s court finding that the use of lethal force was “unjustified”? The Secretary of State has said that the MoD is considering that finding. Could the Minister say what options are open to the Government and does she accept that the Government’s decision to restore coronial inquests in legacy cases will lead to yet more veterans being dragged before the courts?

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent) (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his remarks. We owe a huge debt to our Armed Forces, the vast majority of whom served in Northern Ireland with distinction and many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. The findings of the independent coroner are being considered by the Ministry of Defence, including next steps that I cannot comment on. The matters that happened last week are clearly very important and require very careful reflection. Having said that, we do appreciate the anger and hurt that is being felt by many in Northern Ireland, especially this week of all weeks, given the anniversaries which we are currently reflecting upon.

However, with regard to the reinstatement of inquests, I will be very clear with the noble Lord: I believe that the people of Northern Ireland deserve exactly the same rights as the people of Great Britian. Reinstating civil cases and inquests for the people of Northern Ireland so that they have the same rights as you and me is what we are delivering, and we are making sure that we do so in a lawful way.