A recent report by a panel of international human rights experts claims that the British government operated a “widespread, systematic, and systemic practice of impunity” that shielded security forces from sanction during the Northern Ireland conflict, which is also known as the Troubles. The report claims that at least 374 people were killed by state actors during the conflict, the majority of whom were civilians and unarmed at the time.
It is further alleged that these killings have not been subjected to just and efficient investigations, thus contravening the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Collusion was according to the report a deeply ingrained function of the practice of state institutions throughout the entire conflict, hinting at British government and security forces deliberately overseeing delinquencies otherwise attributed to non-state agents.
The report recommends that the UK rescind the new Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, predicted to be implemented on May 1. This act is forecasted to prevent new inquests and end many outstanding ones. It devises a new body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), to scrutinize legacy cases. But it is proclaimed by the report that this body will have a substantially weaker investigative mandate than the ones it supersedes.
Concerns about the new legislation were previously voiced by UN experts as well, who cautioned that it could put the UK in clear violation of its international obligations. The Northern Ireland High Court has earlier ruled that the Legacy Act 2023 clashes with the ECHR. This judgment resulted in an appeal by the UK. Furthermore, the government of Ireland has lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights regarding the Legacy Act 2023. A decision on the matter is still pending.