By Tristian Whitney

Victims’ advocates say a new UK-Ireland legacy framework has to deliver a “legitimate pathway” to justice and accountability for unresolved Troubles cases.

The UK and Irish governments published the joint framework in September, to replace key elements of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Kenny Donaldson, director of the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), said victims and survivors would judge the plan on whether it delivers outcomes, not promises.

“We’ve got to have an outcome where all victims and survivors can see a legitimate pathway to pursue justice, truth and accountability,” Mr Donaldson said.

He said both governments had to find the political will to ensure those who committed crimes during the Troubles wereheld responsible and warned against “a minimalist approach” to reform. Mr Donaldson said survivors were waiting to see a legacy unit established with robust accountability measures in both jurisdictions.

Under the proposals, the UK government said it would repeal and replace the 2023 Act, including ending its conditional immunity scheme. It also said it planned to reform the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) and rename it the “Legacy Commission”, with changes to governance, oversight and investigative powers.

The 2023 Act drew widespread opposition from many victims’ groups and political parties in Northern Ireland, and the Irish government initiated an inter-state case at the European Court of Human Rights challenging the law.

The Irish government said the package would lift the prohibition on civil cases and restore inquests halted by the 2023 legislation, while establishing a new judge-led inquisitorial mechanism with public hearings and participation by next-of-kin.

Dublin also said it planned to set up a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána to investigate unresolved Troubles-related incidents in the Republic and make ring-fenced funding available to support victims and families engaging with legacy processes.

In Donegal, Sinn Féin councillor Gary Doherty said he was “cautiously optimistic” the framework could deliver a better resolution for victims and survivors. However, he said his party was reserving judgment until draft legislation waspublished.

“We have to take learnings from previous experiences that we had about promises that were made… and then weren’t delivered upon,” he said.

Mr Doherty said the needs of victims’ families and survivors had to come first in any legislation flowing from the announcement.

“We, as elected representatives, need to take our lead from the victims,” he said.

Mr Doherty said: “How we deal with the past is hugely important when we look to move forward, working towards the prosperity of everyone that lives on the island”.