{"id":22811,"date":"2021-08-19T07:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T11:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22811"},"modified":"2021-08-20T11:30:12","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T15:30:12","slug":"brandon-lewis-meets-with-group-representing-northern-veterans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22811","title":{"rendered":"Brandon Lewis Meets With Group Representing Northern Veterans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has met with a group representing army veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Northern Ireland Veterans Movement (NIVM) has supported the UK government\u2019s bid to introduce a statute of limitations on Troubles-era legacy killings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, NIVM said the statute of limitations combined with an end to legal aid and the funding of legacy cases would stop an \u201cexpensive and deeply flawed propaganda offensive\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere will be no more show trials, no more legacy inquests costing millions of pounds, no more hugely expensive police enquiries directed at the security forces,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith that guarantee in place, we will bring our full strength and influence to bear in support of any proposed legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis announced plans for a statute of limitations which would end all prosecutions for Troubles incidents up to April 1998 and would apply to military veterans as well as ex-paramilitaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposals, which Boris Johnson said would allow the North to \u201cdraw a line under the Troubles\u201d, would also end all legacy inquests and civil actions related to the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan has been heavily criticized by all the main political parties in the North, as well as the Irish Government and a range of victims and survivors groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A UK government spokesman said: \u201cThe Government is committed to continuing engagement with a range of stakeholders to find a way forward on legacy issues that focuses on reconciliation, delivers better outcomes for victims and ends the cycle of investigations that is not working for anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

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