Chai Brady
Boris Johnson Boris Johnson has shown “contempt” for the people of Northern Ireland after pledging to protect British veterans from prosecution, according to a priest based in Fermanagh.
Under the proposals the Conservative party would amend the Human Rights Act so that it wouldn’t apply to issues such as killings during the Troubles. This was announced on Armistice Day.
“It’s an election ploy anyway, to gather votes from the military people and their fans and friends over there. It won’t be accepted by nationalist people in the North, nor by the Dublin Government. It won’t pass anyway, no matter what they try,” said Fr Joe McVeigh who is based in Enniskillen.
“The people up here have suffered dreadfully over the years and haven’t got justice or truth, there’ll be no closure here until there’s justice – people are still hurting,” Fr Joe McVeigh said, “Torys want to get support at the present time, they’re desperate for support for their Brexit.”
Perspective
Criticising Boris Johnson, he added that the Prime Minister doesn’t seem to grasp the situation, particularly from a Nationalist perspective.
The announcements comes as six soldiers who were stationed in the North of Ireland during the Troubles are facing prosecution. The cases relate to two people killed on Bloody Sunday in Derry as well as the deaths of four others in separate incidents.
Political parties were quick to criticise the proposals, including Ulster Unionist, Sinn Féin and Alliance politicians. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the move was “very concerning”.
Limitations
He posted on Twitter: [The] governments and parties have agreed an approach on legacy and reconciliation in NI. There is no statute of limitations, no amnesty, for anyone who committed crimes in NI. The law must apply to all, without exception, to achieve reconciliation.”
Speaking in Brussels on Monday he said that within the Stormont House Agreement “there is no amnesty for any one sector within Northern Ireland…”
The Human Rights Act is enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement, which would make following through with the proposals extremely complex. The UK’s general election takes place on December 12.