Flawed legacy bill should be scrapped – Finucane

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has said the British Government’s legacy bill remains fundamentally flawed and should be scrapped.

Responding to comments by Lord Caine on planned changes to the legislation, the North Belfast MP said, “The British Government continues to push ahead with its legacy bill despite opposition from victims, relatives, governments, human rights experts and the UN.

“Amendments will not change the fundamental flaws at the heart of this bill, and that’s the cynical attempt to block thousands of victims and families from getting truth and justice through the courts.

“This cruel and callous legislation is about one thing – cover up and letting British state forces who killed Irish citizens off the hook. It should be scrapped.

“I am reiterating Sinn Féin’s call for an urgent summit involving the British and Irish governments and political parties on the issue of legacy.

“If the British government is serious about upholding the legal right of victims and families to truth and justice, they will stop the passage of the Legacy Bill to allow for dialogue now.

“The legacy mechanisms agreed by the main political parties, the Irish government and the British government at Stormont House in 2014 is the best way of dealing with legacy issues and that must be implemented in a human rights compliant manner without delay.”