Ireland Challenges UK’s Amnesty Law At European Court of Human Rights

 

Ireland has taken the unprecedented step of filing a case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights over a new law passed in Britain. The controversial British law, called the Northern Ireland Troubles (Reconciliation and Legacy) Act, grants amnesty to former security forces and others accused of offenses during Northern Ireland’s violent decades-long conflict.

It halts nearly all prosecutions related to killings and crimes committed during the period. Ireland has exhausted other avenues to convince the UK to change its approach and respect human rights obligations. 

Many victims’ groups and human rights organizations strongly oppose the law for shielding individuals from accountability for serious human rights abuses. Ireland argues the legislation violates principles of investigations into potential unlawful killings from the European Convention on Human Rights. It represents the latest legal battle over reconciling peace with justice after the Northern Irish peace process agreements.