Irish Government criticises UK government ‘statute of limitations’ plan

The Irish Government has criticised UK government plans to introduce a statute of limitations to block the investigation of crimes committed by security forces during the Troubles.

The proposal, fiercely criticised by Sinn Féin and Amnesty International, will form part of the consultation on the new Stormont House Agreement Bill.

Speaking to the Oireachtas committee on the Good Friday Agreement, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said he would raise the issue with Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire.

He said the consultation should not have been widened to include measures not included in the Stormont House Agreement.

Francie Molloy, Sinn Féin MP and legacy spokesperson, said: “Today’s comments from Simon Coveney are a necessary intervention in response to a damaging act of bad faith by the British government.

“The whole concept of an amnesty for human rights abuses and war crimes by British forces would run entirely contrary to the Good Friday Agreement.

“I welcome the Irish government’s opposition to this proposal. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement they should now act decisively to prevent the undermining of this international agreement being by a right-wing Tory-DUP pact.”