Taoiseach to meet cross-community group of Troubles victims over opposition to legacy plans

Cross community group of Troubles victims, John Teggart, Eugene Reavey, Fine Gael Senator Currie, Raymond McCord and Paula Rainey, after a meeting Simon Coveney earlier this month. Picture: James Ward/PA Wire

A cross-community group of Troubles victims is to meet the Taoiseach to outline their opposition to the British Government’s legacy proposals.

The Truth and Justice Movement will travel to Dublin on Thursday to garner support from Micheál Martin.

The group of victims, including Michael Gallagher, Raymond McCord, Kate Nash and Cathy McIlvenny, also plan to meet a cross-party group of politicians, including the chair of the Seanad, senator Mark Daly.

Victims’ campaigners have long outlined their opposition to the proposed amnesty for Troubles offences.

Mr McCord, from the Truth and Justice Movement, said they are seeking support from the Irish government.

“Our focus is the British government’s shameful amnesty proposals,” Mr McCord said.

We have the support of every major party, except the Tories, in Ireland and the UK in rejecting the proposals.

“Thirty-six members of Congress in Washington have also rejected the proposals and we welcome their support.

“(UK Prime Minister) Boris Johnson and (Uk Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) Brandon Lewis falsely claim the proposals of giving amnesties to murderers will help reconciliation.

The Truth and Justice Movement will travel to Dublin to meet Micheál Martin. File Picture: PA

“Let’s make this crystal clear – we don’t need to be reconciled as we were never enemies and we come to Dublin as one, with two members from the unionist community and two from the nationalist community, who are long-time friends supporting each other, as many other victims do.

Mr McCord said politicians, both north and south of the border, have been "very supportive" of the group's aim of abolishing the proposals.

“If our meeting with the Taoiseach is as successful as our recent meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, it will be another nail in the coffin of the amnesty proposals.

“We do not need to convince the Taoiseach these amnesty proposals are wrong, he knows that himself."

He thanked politicians and the Taoiseach for meeting her group, noting the Taoiseach’s words against the proposals at the recent Bloody Sunday 50th anniversary event.

Our group comes from both communities but in reality we come from only one community, the truth and justice community.

“Not one victim believes these ‘hide the truth’ proposals are for their benefit. They are simply to cover up elements of the British government’s security forces, agencies and agents’ involvement in countless murders.

“These proposals, which would deny justice to thousands, must be stopped to ensure that no one is above the law, irrespective if they do or do not wear a uniform.”

There has been widespread opposition to the plans to ban future prosecutions of military veterans and ex-paramilitaries for Troubles incidents predating April 1998.