Northern Ireland

British government says it remains 'committed to finding a way forward' on legacy issues

Secretary of State Brandon Lewis
Secretary of State Brandon Lewis Secretary of State Brandon Lewis

THE British government has said it remains "committed to finding a way forward" on legacy issues after 3,500 relatives of people killed during the Troubles called for elements of the Stormont House Agreement to be implemented.

The call was made this week in an open letter to the British and Irish governments signed by relatives of people killed by loyalist, republican and state players.

The 2014 Stormont House deal included plans to set up a Historical Inquiries Unit, an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an Oral History Archive and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group.

The British government has failed to implement the agreement and has suggested proposals to limit historical investigations.

Concerns have also been raised that it is considering an amnesty for British soldiers.

In the letter, which was organised by Relatives for Justice, bereaved families called on both governments to fulfil pledges made in the agreement.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has also called on Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to honour agreements on dealing with the past, while Sinn Féin's Linda Dillon has also backed campaigners.

A spokesman for the UK government said it "remains committed to finding a way forward on legacy issues, which have remained unresolved for far too long".

"The government recognises that there are many different views on how best to move forward, which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will continue to engage with all communities across Northern Ireland and beyond to find a way forward that puts information recovery and reconciliation at its heart.

"We welcome the contribution of the relatives of Troubles victims to this process."