{"id":22916,"date":"2021-08-30T14:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T18:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22916"},"modified":"2021-09-01T09:03:27","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T13:03:27","slug":"major-parties-in-belfast-and-dublin-reject-british-plans-for-troubles-amnesty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22916","title":{"rendered":"Major Parties In Belfast And Dublin Reject British Plans For ‘Troubles Amnesty’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Representatives from all the major parties, North and South, have signed a document outlining their rejection of the UK government proposals to introduce an \u201camnesty\u201d for legacy killings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families of Troubles victims hailed the meeting as a \u201chistoric day\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The document, signed by all the main parties in Belfast and Dublin, states that they reject the British government\u2019s proposals on dealing with the past, including amnesty for those accused of murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation of TDs and senators \u2013 as well as members of the DUP, Sinn F\u00e9in, the SDLP and Alliance \u2013 met with the cross-community group of victims\u2019 campaigners on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the signatories included Fianna F\u00e1il senator Mark Daly, Labour\u2019s Brendan Howlin, Fine Gael senator Emer Currie, Green Party TD Patrick Costello, and Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s James Lawless, as well as SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly and DUP MP Jim Shannon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking outside Belfast City Hall, Raymond McCord, whose son Raymond Jr was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries, said the document is as important as the Good Friday Agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cThe British government has no choice now. Every major political party in Ireland now support this, they can\u2019t ignore that. The victims\u2019 groups in England is supporting us as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople in the UK and Ireland support this. Boris Johnson is taking on all of the people now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not an orange or green issue, or unionist or nationalist, it is the victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to see Dublin parties and the Taoiseach on board, I want to see the EU on board and the Americans come on board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July, Britain’s 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 Mr 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

Julie Hambleton, whose sister was killed in the IRA\u2019s Birmingham pub bombings, said that victims stand as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Hambleton, who founded the of the Birmingham bombings campaign group Justice for the 21, added: \u201cWe stand as a voice for those who are not here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is obscene, there is no justification, no moral or ethical justification for any government, particularly in Westernized society, to try and implement such a piece of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are looking to introduce and whitewash centuries of legislation and reintroduce new laws that will allow mass murderers to continue to have their liberty and come to any of our cities and kill with impunity without any fear of retribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that the kind of society that current generations and future generations want to have for their children? Where any terrorist organization, no matter who they are, can come to our cites and kill on the basis of a political argument and know they will never serve time because the British government have stated that if other paramilitaries can get away with it, then why can\u2019t we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are setting a precedent that will make us the laughingstock of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are here to fight for them because their lives and deaths matter to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Billy McManus, whose father was killed in the loyalist attack on Sean Graham bookmakers, said there are plans to hold a demonstration outside Downing Street next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McManus said the proposed legislation makes a \u201cmockery\u201d of the thousands of people who were killed during the Troubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt dances on the graves of our loved ones who were murdered,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur voices definitely will be heard. We all stand together to ensure this legislation does not go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Teggart, whose father Danny was killed in the Ballymurphy massacre, described it a historic day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have victims from all avenues of those who were murdered during the Troubles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday we have cross-community groups, and all political parties on both sides of the border, this is the first it has ever happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe thank those who made the effort \u2013 this is only the first step. This (legislation) can be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seanad Cathaoirleach, Mr Daly said: \u201cWe believe victims and their families are entitled to the justice, truth and accountability they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have spoken to members of the European Parliament, the (US) Congress, to get their support and they are willing to support the victims and families to ensure that they get justice that they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Shannon said: \u201cOur party is very clear that we are opposing this legislation. We have expressed that opinion to senior Conservative MPs.\u201d<\/p>\n

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