UK’s New Body on Troubles Deaths Pledges Human Rights Focus

The head of the United Kingdom’s newly established Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), Sir Declan Morgan, emphasized the organization’s dedication to human rights as it begins to tackle hundreds of unresolved deaths from the Troubles. During a visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Sir Declan, a retired judge and former lord chief justice for Northern Ireland, outlined the commission’s approach and its operational framework. The ICRIR, which was launched earlier this month, is a result of the UK government’s Legacy Act, which faced significant opposition but aims to provide a new pathway for investigating Troubles-related deaths.
The commission’s creation has halted all new civil litigation and inquests into Troubles deaths that had not yet completed oral evidence, directing families and certain public authorities to request investigations through the ICRIR instead. This shift has sparked protests in Belfast, with critics arguing that it restricts access to justice for the victims’ families. Sir Declan’s discussions in Strasbourg with human rights officials underscored the ICRIR’s commitment to compliance with human rights standards and its efforts to engage with international bodies and the affected communities to build trust and ensure transparent, effective investigations.
Despite challenges, including legal scrutiny over aspects of the Legacy Act and the commission’s methods, the ICRIR aims to conduct investigations that honor the rights and memories of the victims while navigating the complex legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.