UN experts express "grave concerns" about British government legacy plans

Q Radio News

United Nations experts have expressed what they're calling "grave concerns" about British government proposals to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

They say the government plan would institute a de facto amnesty as well as blanket impunity for human rights violations committed during the conflict.

The UN intervention has been welcomed by Grainne Teggart from Amnesty International

She says it's a boost to the cross-community campaign for the controversial proposals to be scrapped.

Amnesty International has issued this statement:

In response to UN experts voicing concern at proposed blanket impunity to address legacy of “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland, Grainne Teggart, Amnesty UK's Northern Ireland Campaigns Manager said:

“We strongly welcome this statement from UN experts' rightly expressing grave concern about the UK Government’s plans to introduce a de facto amnesty for human rights abuses committed during the 'troubles'.

“All eyes are on the UK Government and their unacceptable proposals to close down paths to justice for victims forever.

"We call on the UK Government to heed the UN experts’ statement and reverse course. We will fight to ensure that the UK Government's intent to put perpetrators of human rights violations above the law and beyond accountability does not succeed."