Robinson says many questions on new legacy framework still unanswered

A new framework for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles could result in a “disproportionate” investigative focus on actions of the state, Gavin Robinson has warned.

The DUP leader was speaking after meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Belfast on Thursday.

Last month, the UK and Irish governments unveiled a joint package of measures aimed at breaking a long impasse over how best to approach outstanding issues from the conflict.

The framework will result in a major overhaul of policies unilaterally introduced by the last UK Conservative government in its contentious Legacy Act.

It will see the removal of the Legacy Act’s bar on legacy-related civil cases in UK courts and allow the resumption of inquests that were halted by the Act.

There will also be a significant restructuring of the existing Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) – a body empowered to investigate Troubles killings.

A separate truth recovery mechanism will also be created called the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval.

The Irish Government has committed to the “fullest possible” co-operation with the structures in Northern Ireland and it is creating a new dedicated Legacy Unit within An Garda Siochana.

The Dublin administration is also ring-fencing 25 million euros to support victims and survivors in participating and engaging with legacy bodies.

Mr Robinson said there were still many unanswered questions about the framework. He said his party had not yet been given sight of the legislation the UK government is planning to bring forward to implement some of the measures.

“We’ve had a useful meeting with the Secretary of State where we’ve reiterated our position yet again on his legacy proposals, where we will stand full square for truth and justice, where we do not believe in rewriting the past,” the DUP leader told reporters.

“And we have some concerns about the proposals that he intends to bring forward in Westminster in the coming weeks, in legislative terms that some of those processes will make it easier for people to put a disproportionate focus on the state, that there won’t be the same opportunities for investigations or inquisitorial processes for all families, and that there are three layers to the potential for investigations.

“You should know that we will always stand up for innocent victims in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Robinson said he restated to Mr Benn his concerns that the Irish government had been given too much of a role in developing the framework.

The DUP leader expressed concern that the 25 million euro fund proposed by the Irish government would be “anti-state” in emphasis, and support cases focused on UK state actions.

Mr Robinson said there were also questions around accountability of the new Garda unit.

“There’s no answers to any of that, and nor is the Secretary of State in a position to give them,” he added.