British state impunity in North and Britain highlighted at event in London
'State Impunity and Injustice: Northern Ireland, Britain, and the Fight for Accountability' took place in St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
Campaigners, lawyers, bereaved families and human rights NGOs have taken part in day-long series of workshops examining the "enduring problem of state impunity" in the North and Britain.
'State Impunity and Injustice: Northern Ireland, Britain, and the Fight for Accountability' took place in St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in London, on June 30.
It was co-hosted by the Pat Finucane Centre (PFC), the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), INQUEST, and the International Expert Panel convened by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights.
The first panel addressed the legacy of the conflict in the North, drawing on the 2024 Bitter Legacy report; legal developments in the Sean Brown case; and the impact of the British Government’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.
The second panel explored how similar patterns of impunity play out in the investigation of deaths in custody and other deaths in Britain – such as Grenfell and Hillsborough.
It considered the role and limitations of inquests and public inquiries, and reflected on how legal action, campaigning and public pressure have driven systemic change.
John Finucane MP (Sinn Féin) was among those in attendance. Many in the audience have been directly involved in challenging state violence, cover-up and denial in both Northern Ireland and Britain.
Held at a centre dedicated to reconciliation and peace, the event emphasised how legal strategies, public pressure, and solidarity between campaigns can challenge institutional failures to investigate and prevent state-related deaths.
Renowned human rights solicitor Gareth Peirce, part of the legal team representing a member of Irish rap group Kneecap facing a terrorism charge, spoke in a personal capacity on the patterns of impunity she has seen across decades.
Peirce has previously represented Gerry Conlon and the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and Guantánamo detainees, and remains active in resisting state abuse of power.
Brian Dooley, Senior Advisor at Human Rights First, commented: “The Northern Ireland conflict was and still is too often a blind spot for much of Britain. Levels of knowledge about what happened, and is still happening, are shockingly low, even among those who are otherwise well informed about politics.
"It’s vital to bring these issues to London and other major centres in Britain to help educate the public.
"The event demonstrated how patterns of secrecy, delay, and denial continue to undermine justice and accountability in both Northern Ireland and Britain, and highlighted the importance of solidarity between campaigns confronting state harm in all its forms."