Simon Harris: Every victim of Troubles deserves 'answers and truth'

North-South Ministerial Council meeting told the Government will 'not be found wanting' in helping families to find resolution

From left: Tánaiste Micheál Martin; Taoiseach Simon Harris; Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill; and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Dublin Castle.

Every victim and family of the Troubles deserves “answers and truth”, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said the Government would “not be found wanting” in helping to provide answers to families who had loved ones killed during the Troubles.

“I know this is a sensitive area. It requires sensitive engagement and we stand ready to play our part,” he said.

Mr Harris made the comments following the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin Castle, where political leaders from the Government and Northern Ireland Executive met on Friday.

The Taoiseach was responding to a question about what he would say to families who have not had public inquiries into the deaths of loved ones, following the announcement of an inquiry into the death of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989.

Mr Harris said the inquiry itself should be seen in relation to the Weston Park agreement, which called for an inquiry into Mr Finucane’s death.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill agreed with Mr Harris, saying it is important that no attempts are made to pit one family against another.

“Anyone that’s lost a loved one in the conflict deserves to have truth and justice and we need to find ways to ensure that is the case,” she said, while also welcoming the new British government’s decision to scrap the controversial legacy act.

I think that we need to find a way, for once and for all, to sensitively deal with the past in a way that allows families to get access to what it is that they need because different families want different things.” 

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said that “every family” deserves the same access and opportunity to the truth.

She said that the establishment of the Finucane inquiry creates “an inequality” and a hierarchy of victims.

“That is a two-tier approach to this issue and that has caused hurt and pain,” she added.

The meeting also held discussions on cross-border co-operation between the two governments on mother and baby homes, with it seeking in particular to codify the sharing of information and records.

Ms O’Neill said that it was important the two governments had a “very strong joined-up approach” to sharing information.