Should Northern Ireland veterans face investigations over Troubles killings like anyone else?
The Legacy Act 2023 offered conditional immunity and barred new Troubles-related criminal investigations. Courts found key parts incompatible with human rights law, and the Government abandoned its appeal. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would repeal and replace much of the Act and turn the ICRIR into a Legacy Commission with investigative powers. It adds veteran protections such as anonymity, remote evidence and no needless duplication of earlier investigations. The bill was introduced in October 2025 and reached Committee of the Whole House stage on 19-20 October 2026.
7 Opinions
Prosecute the soldier but give the IRA member a get out of jail free card. It amazes me the people think any investigation would be done fairly when those giving the information sit on the side of the IRA
Where's the investigations on the other side? Paddy McGuiness should be locked up, not in politics. It needs positive parity.
Hounding veterans who sacrificed so much for this country is the ultimate betrayal.
No. It's in the past. Our military did what they were told to do. The IRA, in another country under similar circumstances would have been "freedom fighters". Leave this particular past there, in the past. The only benefit would be revenge, if you consider that a result.
against individual soldiers? No! There's simply no evidence that British soldiers weren't doing their job, as they were expected to at that time.
Yes. We should also remove immunity from the IRA members who have it. Justice needs to work both ways.
It’s a travesty that the IRA and those responsible for terrorism are given immunity, whilst politically motivated cases are pursued against elderly veterans. Immunity should apply both ways or not at all.