The brother of a 12-year-old girl shot dead by a British soldier has urged President Joe Biden to help stop the Tory government’s controversial legacy bill.
Michael O’Hare, whose sister Majella was killed in Co Armagh on her way to church in 1976, said the legislation introduced under Boris Johnson’s leadership was “an insult to victims’ families”.
His call came ahead of this week’s visit to the US by British prime minister Rishi Sunak.
The Tory leader will travel to Washington DC on Tuesday and is expected to meet President Joe Biden the following day.
The leaders' meeting, their first since the president's visit to Belfast in April to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, is expected to focus on trade, the war in Ukraine and Northern Ireland.
Mr O’Hare, whose family is seeking an independent investigation into his sister’s killing, said: “President Biden should strongly condemn the Troubles bill and help it to be stopped – it’s an insult to victims’ families and sends a message that the lives of our loved ones didn’t matter. “My sister, our family and all victims deserve truth and justice.”
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill is also in the States, where on Tuesday she will begin a series of meetings with senior US officials and members of Congress.
The first minister designate has already said she will use the visit to press the British prime minister to prioritise restoration of the assembly and executive, however, the Tories' controversial Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is also expected to dominate discussions.
The controversial legislation, which is currently at the report stage in the House of Lords, was introduced under Boris Johnson's leadership.
It faces widespread opposition, with victims' groups, all the north's main parties, and the Irish government calling for it to be dropped.
In January, members of the US Congress sent a letter to Mr Sunak expressing "grave concern" about the legacy plans, which introduce conditional amnesties.
Signed by 27 members of Congress, it described legislation as "dangerous", saying it "directly and unilaterally impacts the peace and stability across the island of Ireland."
The bill would end all future civil actions related to the conflict and there would be no further inquests beyond those already commenced.
"There is deep frustration that the British government's legacy bill which will halt in law the rights of all victims to access truth, justice and accountability is not being heard by the British government," she said.
The regional arm of Amnesty International said the UK government was "on the verge of making a profound historic mistake with this legislation".
Amnesty regional deputy director Grainne Teggart called for President Biden to "reiterate his administration’s strong support for the Good Friday Agreement" and to use the meetings with Mr Sunak to relay US concerns about the bill.
She described the legislation as a "serious violation of the agreement and risks undermining the delicate peace settlement".
"Blocking the victims of Northern Ireland’s conflict from truth, accountability and justice is a significant and cruel betrayal of their rights," Ms Teggart said.
"The UK is on the verge of making a profound historic mistake with this legislation, and Joe Biden must be frank with Rishi Sunak and urge him to drop this deeply-misconceived bill."
Amnesty's advocacy director for the US, Daniel Balson, said the White House must use its meeting with the prime minister to call on him to "reverse course on the Troubles Bill".
"Victims of the Northern Ireland conflict deserve access to justice," he said.
"President Biden should encourage the UK government to pay heed to the overwhelming opposition to the bill and echo calls to abandon it."
