Latest news with #DeclanMorgan
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Legacy body to investigate Narrow Water and M62 bombing atrocities
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information (ICRIR) will also investigate the 1974 M62 coach bombing in England, which killed nine soldiers and three civilians. They are among the latest cases that have been accepted by the commission and are in the information recovery stage. The Narrow Water atrocity occurred on August 27 1979, as a convoy of vehicles transported Parachute Regiment soldiers from Ballykinler barracks to Newry. As they passed the old Narrow Water castle ruins, IRA terrorists remotely detonated the two bombs from a firing point across the Newry River in the Republic of Ireland. Eighteen soldiers were killed, the highest death toll suffered by the Army in a single day during the Troubles. There was also a 19th victim – Michael Hudson, who had been visiting the Republic of Ireland from London, who was killed by army gunfire across the river following the blasts. Nobody was ever convicted over the attacks. The incident came just hours after Lord Mountbatten, two members of his family and a Co Fermanagh teenager had been killed by the IRA in a boat bomb in Co Sligo. Sir Declan Morgan, Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Liam McBurney/PA) The M62 coach bombing in West Yorkshire occurred on February 4 1974. The coach was carrying soldiers and their families back to their Catterick base when an IRA bomb hidden in the luggage compartment of exploded. Twelve people were killed, including two children aged five and two. The ICRIR was created by the previous government's controversial Legacy Act and is headed by former Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan. Bereaved families, victims and certain public authorities can request the commission carry out an investigation into Troubles incidents. While the Labour Government has said it will repeal and replace parts of the Act and reinstate inquests and civil cases, it is retaining the ICRIR. Many bereaved families are unhappy with the retention of the commission and have vowed not to engage with it. Victims have questioned the body's independence and its ability to uncover answers about Troubles crimes. The commission has previously revealed that it is carrying out an investigation into the Guildford pub bombings of 1974 and has also been asked to investigate the Kingsmill massacre in Co Armagh in 1976.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Legacy body to investigate Narrow Water and M62 bombing atrocities
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information (ICRIR) will also investigate the 1974 M62 coach bombing in England, which killed nine soldiers and three civilians. They are among the latest cases that have been accepted by the commission and are in the information recovery stage. The Narrow Water atrocity occurred on August 27 1979, as a convoy of vehicles transported Parachute Regiment soldiers from Ballykinler barracks to Newry. As they passed the old Narrow Water castle ruins, IRA terrorists remotely detonated the two bombs from a firing point across the Newry River in the Republic of Ireland. Eighteen soldiers were killed, the highest death toll suffered by the Army in a single day during the Troubles. There was also a 19th victim – Michael Hudson, who had been visiting the Republic of Ireland from London, who was killed by army gunfire across the river following the blasts. Nobody was ever convicted over the attacks. The incident came just hours after Lord Mountbatten, two members of his family and a Co Fermanagh teenager had been killed by the IRA in a boat bomb in Co Sligo. Sir Declan Morgan, Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Liam McBurney/PA) The M62 coach bombing in West Yorkshire occurred on February 4 1974. The coach was carrying soldiers and their families back to their Catterick base when an IRA bomb hidden in the luggage compartment of exploded. Twelve people were killed, including two children aged five and two. The ICRIR was created by the previous government's controversial Legacy Act and is headed by former Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan. Bereaved families, victims and certain public authorities can request the commission carry out an investigation into Troubles incidents. While the Labour Government has said it will repeal and replace parts of the Act and reinstate inquests and civil cases, it is retaining the ICRIR. Many bereaved families are unhappy with the retention of the commission and have vowed not to engage with it. Victims have questioned the body's independence and its ability to uncover answers about Troubles crimes. The commission has previously revealed that it is carrying out an investigation into the Guildford pub bombings of 1974 and has also been asked to investigate the Kingsmill massacre in Co Armagh in 1976.
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Legacy body to investigate Narrow Water and M62 bombing atrocities
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information (ICRIR) will also investigate the 1974 M62 coach bombing in England, which killed nine soldiers and three civilians. They are among the latest cases that have been accepted by the commission and are in the information recovery stage. The Narrow Water atrocity occurred on August 27 1979, as a convoy of vehicles transported Parachute Regiment soldiers from Ballykinler barracks to Newry. As they passed the old Narrow Water castle ruins, IRA terrorists remotely detonated the two bombs from a firing point across the Newry River in the Republic of Ireland. Eighteen soldiers were killed, the highest death toll suffered by the Army in a single day during the Troubles. There was also a 19th victim – Michael Hudson, who had been visiting the Republic of Ireland from London, who was killed by army gunfire across the river following the blasts. Nobody was ever convicted over the attacks. The incident came just hours after Lord Mountbatten, two members of his family and a Co Fermanagh teenager had been killed by the IRA in a boat bomb in Co Sligo. Sir Declan Morgan, Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Liam McBurney/PA) The M62 coach bombing in West Yorkshire occurred on February 4 1974. The coach was carrying soldiers and their families back to their Catterick base when an IRA bomb hidden in the luggage compartment of exploded. Twelve people were killed, including two children aged five and two. The ICRIR was created by the previous government's controversial Legacy Act and is headed by former Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan. Bereaved families, victims and certain public authorities can request the commission carry out an investigation into Troubles incidents. While the Labour Government has said it will repeal and replace parts of the Act and reinstate inquests and civil cases, it is retaining the ICRIR. Many bereaved families are unhappy with the retention of the commission and have vowed not to engage with it. Victims have questioned the body's independence and its ability to uncover answers about Troubles crimes. The commission has previously revealed that it is carrying out an investigation into the Guildford pub bombings of 1974 and has also been asked to investigate the Kingsmill massacre in Co Armagh in 1976.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Up to 80 new jobs across Northern Ireland at private GP provider
Duality Healthcare has announced £4.5m of investment after completing a funding round A private GP provider has announced a £4.5m investment that could create up to 80 new jobs across NI. Duality Healthcare has announced it's completed a round of investment, and aims to use the new funds to expand its number of clinics in Northern Ireland. There are currently locations in Newry, Ballymena and Omagh, with plans to open more this year and in 2026. Duality Healthcare's John McEvoy and Dr Declan Morgan News Catch Up - Thursday 7th August The company also aims to expand its 'virtual care service across the UK' while also investing 'in digital systems to enhance patient experience and clinical efficiency.' The 80 new roles are planned to be in 'clinical, digital and operational roles in Northern Ireland'. Duality is NI's largest private GP service, and was founded in 2023 by Dr Declan Morgan and John McEvoy. It advertises access to its GPs within 24 hours of contact, same-day urgent care, ultrasound and echocardiogram scans and ear care services. Duality Healthcare has announced £4.5m of investment after completing a funding round It describes its mission as 'delivering convenient, high-quality, affordable care to patients across Northern Ireland and beyond with an aim to complement and alleviate pressures on NHS capacity and resources'. John McEvoy, executive chairman and co-founder, said: 'Securing this investment is a significant milestone for our team and a strong endorsement of our vision to provide high-quality, patient-centred healthcare that is affordable and accessible to everyone in Northern Ireland. 'This investment follows a period of rapid growth and with our expansion plans and commitment to innovation, we're proud to be creating new jobs, supporting local communities, and raising the bar for private primary care services in Northern Ireland'.
ITV News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
ICRIR chief tells MPs the government is committed to changing 'imperfect' legacy legislation
The head of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) has told MPs that a Government 'reset' of the controversial Legacy Act , could include the appointment of an Irish Commissioner to assist with the organisation's discovery of information into Troubles killings. The ICRIR, which is currently conducting 60 investigations, also said it wants the power to challenge the government withholding documentation under national security concerns. Sir Declan Morgan, chief commissioner of the ICRIR described a 'reset moment' to improve the 'imperfect' Legacy Act. It comes after the controversial legislation was passed despite widespread opposition and concern from political parties in Northern Ireland and victims and survivors of the Legacy Act halted scores of cases going through the courts and inquests concerning the evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee over how the Government should address the region's past, Sir Declan said the ICRIR has received more than 160 include the deaths of five people in the IRA's Guildford pub bombings in 1974, the death of Alexander Millar in Ardoyne in 1975, the death of Seamus Bradley shot by the Army in Londonderry in 1972 and the death of the judge Rory Conaghan killed by the IRA in Declan told MPs: 'Those would not have happened if we had not looked at the opportunities that this legislation has provided, and we can do all of those things in an Article 2-compliant way, and in a way which will eventually secure the unvarnished truth.'By the end of this year we will have over 100 investigations in relation to probably more than 150 deaths ongoing, and by the time of the legislation we would expect that that number would have significantly increased, as would the number of people that we have been able to help.'The choice was whether to help those people who were anxious to have an answer to what they wanted or stand back and say, this legislation is not perfect. I don't make any apology for the fact that I decided I wanted to help people.'He added: 'I just wonder whether the approach to the work of the commission will be treated in such a negative light, particularly when the two governments reach agreement on what they want to do.'Also giving evidence to the committee, ICRIR commissioner for investigations Peter Sheridan said he absolutely rejects that they are carrying out light-touch reviews.'Let me assure this committee that it is absolutely not,' he told described the first stage of the process as being a cold case review which looks for new evidence, verifies old evidence, identifies investigative failures and re-examines forensics.'That's going to be the key for us because witness evidence from the past is difficult, but new forensic opportunities, and I already see it in some of the cases … so we're examining that with the latest trace evidence that you can use,' he said.'Looking at continuity of evidence in old cases, conduct fresh searches on data bases and use advances in digital forensics, so it is absolutely not a light-touch review.'I am duty-bound under the legislation to look into all of the circumstances of the case, that's what we're doing.'Sir Declan emphasised that the focus of the ICRIR is 'on finding a mechanism to ensure that we achieve the unvarnished truth for victims and survivors'.'The High Court and the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland have found that we are capable of doing this in an Article 2-compliant way in most if not all cases,' he said.'The litigation that has occurred in Northern Ireland has been very hard on families and with hindsight I just wonder whether we could all as lawyers have done better in dealing with it.'This is a reset moment, we need to make the changes to this imperfect legislation that will support the two governments and help us in the project of finding the truth.'Asked about their communication with the Northern Ireland Office over reform of the Legacy Act, ICRIR chief executive Louise Warde Hunter said there has been 'ongoing cordial and robust conversations'.'We are fully committed to the issue of reform, to strengthen in order to deliver for victims, survivors and families,' she Bramley, general counsel at the ICRIR, added that the areas they want to reform include greater independent oversight; a statutory voice for victims and survivors; statutory investigations, not reviews; a statutory conflict of interest policy; a self initiation power where there is a thematic link between different events; and 'a power for chief constables to refer cases directly to us when new evidence comes to light'.
