Clonoe Inquest
Debate between Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, I totally agree with the noble Baroness’s comments, especially with regard to the appalling actions that we saw in the terrorist atrocities that happened during the Troubles. Over 3,000 people were killed by terrorists. This week, we mark far too many anniversaries of those who were brutally and outrageously murdered.
We owe it to the people of Northern Ireland and all those affected by the Troubles to ensure that they have a legacy programme that is legal and compliant, and gives them what they need in terms of next steps, answers and a level of justice, whatever that looks like for them. We need to make sure that we do this with as much support as possible—which, candidly, the previous Government failed to do. Therefore, there is a balance here to ensure that we have the appropriate engagement so that the legislation will work and has support. We are currently undertaking the engagement exercise. The remedial order to ensure that the parts of the legislation that are not legally compatible is being dealt with, and we will all be debating it on 26 February. On the primary legislation, as many of us who were here until 1 am this morning know, time is challenging in this place. We will bring forward the legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (DUP)
My Lords, I represented this area for 14 years in the other place. On 16 February 1992, four IRA terrorists in a lorry with a mounted heavy machine gun and three other AKM rifles attacked the Coalisland police station, like a scene from the Wild West. After doing so, they intended to return to their masters to report and gloat over their evil activity. But, that night, they met a professional Army, which engaged them and finally neutralised them. However, in my opinion, a perverse ruling by a coroner over 30 years later has left these brave soldiers vilified and denigrated, when they ought to have been decorated for their gallantry in the face of cold-blooded terrorism. Can the noble Baroness tell me how this Government will effectively protect our security forces, many in the latter years of their life, from vexatious criminal proceedings? How can they stop republicans rewriting their brutal history of murder and mayhem during our years of trouble?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for his service as a politician in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and for what he continues to do in support of delivering justice for those who were touched by the Troubles, and of protecting service personnel. The noble Lord knows that I am an honorary captain in the Royal Navy and consider myself part of the military family. I definitely do not support a rewriting of the past and neither do this Government. I will always stand with our Armed Forces. The MoD is currently reflecting on the coroner’s verdict and it will come forward in due course.
On protecting veterans, they are a core part of the stakeholder community that we are engaging with in delivering the primary legislation, which should be forthcoming. I am part of that engagement process and was in Northern Ireland last week to engage. We will endeavour to do everything, working with them and the new Northern Ireland Armed Forces commissioner, to make sure that they have the appropriate support where needed.
Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
Debate between Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
The noble Baroness is right. Let us be clear—this is about the victims of the Troubles and giving their families and those still affected by the Troubles the answers they so desperately need. Too many people have had to wait for too long. The Government are engaging with all parties in a spirit of openness to deliver on the promise of the Good Friday agreement, as well as on the Stormont House agreement. We will bring forward draft legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (DUP)
My Lords, I belong to one of the families of those victims. Does the Minister accept that resolute action must be taken to deal with the legacy of the past? Without it, former soldiers will continue to find themselves in court, facing vexatious claims, while prominent terrorists such as Gerry Adams will fill their pockets with British taxpayers’ money to the horror of innocent victims and to the shame of this Government.
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, I have already touched on that last point and how we will deal with it. On next steps and protecting veterans, both the pain of those victims and the fear and concern of our military community need to be established. I put on record and declare my interest as an honorary officer of the Royal Navy and part of the defence family. It is clear that we need to act to protect veterans. Any veteran who needs to go through legal proceedings will receive welfare and, where appropriate, legal support. I am pleased that, last month, the Secretary of State announced the appointment of David Johnstone as the new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner. This will ensure that veterans’ voices across Northern Ireland will continue to have a strong advocate to support them.
Patrick Finucane Murder
Debate between Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent(5 months, 1 week ago)
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Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
There are so many noble Lords in this House who participated and delivered peace in Northern Ireland—none more so than my noble friend Lord Murphy. I am very grateful, both for his mentorship and for the work that he did throughout his time as Secretary of State and that he continues to do to ensure that these matters are raised on a regular basis.
On the specific questions that my noble friend raised, he will know much better than I, given his former roles, that on the timescale, as fast as we may wish to go, we have responsibilities under the Inquiries Act 2005, which we will follow, and we will report to the House in due course. We hope to establish the public inquiry as quickly as possible, and I look forward to returning to your Lordships’ House with more detail as quickly as I can.
With regard to the consultation on future legacy arrangements that I believe my noble friend was touching on, we will of course be working with the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive to make sure that they are fully engaged in our future arrangements, and that any future changes to the legacy Act have their confidence to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland. On that note, I want to put on record how delighted the Government are that both the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive are up and running and that their programme for government was published this week. In terms of engagement with the Republic of Ireland, before we announced the inquiry, the Secretary of State engaged with the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, and spoke to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland to make sure that everybody was up to date and informed before a decision was made.
Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (DUP)
My Lords, I join others in welcoming the noble Baroness to her place. She said that the Finucane family had been waiting for many years—30 years—for answers. Well, my family has been waiting 48 years for answers. Nobody has been brought to court. No one has been charged. Yet we are left with the same heartache and heartbreak that they say the Finucane family has. The Finucane family has already had millions of pounds spent on investigations. Is the message from this Government that there is a hierarchy of victimhood in Northern Ireland and that, as far as the Government are concerned, the ICRIR will be good enough for the rest but not for the Finucanes? Is it “he who shouts the loudest” who seem to be the only ones that hurt?
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)
My Lords, I am so sorry to hear of the heartbreak and heartache that the noble Lord has had for the last 48 years. Every victim of the Troubles deserves information, peace and closure. We will do everything that we can to support every victim in making sure that they know the reality of what happened and how it happened. As I have said, there is no hierarchy in this area—no hierarchy of pain, no hierarchy of justice. We made a commitment in 2001 to four public inquiries. We are delivering on the one that is outstanding, following on from the court decisions and the processes that have been followed. With regards to the commission, I am aware of the noble Lord’s previous concerns about the legacy Act. I look forward to working with him and Members across the House as we move forward with amendments to the legacy Act and we seek to ensure that it and the commission have the confidence of every member of the community.