Latest news with #IndependentCommissionforReconciliationandInformationRecovery
RTÉ News
29-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Appeal for witnesses in two deaths during Troubles
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) in Northern Ireland has appealed for witnesses to come forward in relation to two investigations following requests from the victims' families. They relate to the deaths of two people in Belfast in the seventies and eighties. Teresa Carson was found dead at the side of the Glen Road in November 1974. She was 47 years old. William Marchant was shot on the Shankill Road in April 1987 and later died in hospital. He was 39 years old. In both cases the families who lost their loved one came to the Commission seeking the truth about what happened. Last seen getting into a white coloured car Teresa Carson was found dead at 12.40am on Sunday, 24 November 1974 at the side of the Glen Road close to the junction with the Shaw's Road. It is thought that Ms Carson attended St John's GAC Social Club on the Whiterock Road and that she was a witness to a robbery at the club. She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12.15am on Sunday, 24 November 1974, getting into a white coloured car. William Marchant, known to his family as Billy and more widely as Frenchie, was shot outside the PUP offices on the Shankill Road at approximately 3pm on Tuesday, 28 April 1987. He later died at the Mater Hospital. Datsun Bluebird Car used in attack A brown, Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack. The car had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight in Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast. It is thought that the car was driven away from the scene on the Shankill Road via Bellevue Street and was found on fire later that evening on Springfield Avenue. Launching the witness appeals today, it was said it would involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations. Assistant Commissioner Amanda Logan is leading the Investigations team and is urging anyone with information to come forward to help the families involved. "Today our thoughts are very much with the families of Teresa Carson and William Marchant. They have come to the Commission and asked us to help them find out what happened to their loved one. "We have always underlined the Commission's unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals," she said. Relatives believe 'someone may hold vital information' "The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations." The Assistant Commissioner added :"These families have waited many years for answers and we at the Commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward. "No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence." The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is the central plank of the UK government's controversial Act to deal with the legacy of the troubles. The Commission was established by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Act) 2023 and in operation since last year. It has the remit to investigate hundreds of unresolved legacy deaths and cases of serious harm which happened before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Series of public inquiries on Troubles incidents ‘not the way forward'
Mr Benn insisted that a reformed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) will be able to deal with the cases. Campaigners outside Belfast High Court during a challenge to the Legacy Act (Brian Lawless/PA) The body led by Sir Declan Morgan, a former lord chief justice for Northern Ireland, was set up by the former government's Legacy Act after scores of legacy inquests and other court cases relating to the Troubles were halted. The Kingsmill massacre and the Guildford pub bombings are among cases it is currently looking at. Mr Benn told MPs they are working to change disclosure arrangements and to make it compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 'In the end, we're not going to deal with legacy with a whole series of public inquiries,' he said. 'We're doing all this work to try and create a body which is capable of delivering justice for all, information for all, answers for all. 'That is what I am trying to do at the moment because of the incompatibilities identified.' He was asked about his decision not to call a public inquiry into the circumstances around the murder of GAA official Sean Brown in 1997. In May the UK Government confirmed it will seek a Supreme Court appeal over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into Mr Brown's murder. Supporters of the family of GAA official Sean Brown, with widow Bridie Brown (centre), daughter Clare Loughran (left) and daughter Siobhan Brown (right) (Liam McBurney/PA) The 61-year-old then-chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. Asked about Mr Brown's case, Mr Benn told MPs: 'It's an awful, awful case. 'The murder of Sean Brown was shocking, deeply violent, and this has caused immense suffering to the family, to his widow Bridie and to the wider community, including the GAA family, because of the role that he undertook. 'But I came to the conclusion that the commission reformed would be capable of looking into it, and there's an issue of principle here in respect to the court ruling. 'Up until this moment, the courts accepted that it is for governments to decide whether public inquiries are ordered, not for the courts. 'What the courts have tended to say is, this is the test that has to be met, the way in which the government chooses to meet that test is a matter for governments to decide. 'There is a margin of appreciation that is made available. 'In this particular case, the court has decided to order a public inquiry. 'We're seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court because of that fundamental principle, which is, courts do not order public inquiries, governments do, and that is very important because of the nature of the mandatory order I am not able to do anything else other than order a public inquiry, which I made it clear that the Government is not going to do, because I believe there's another means of dealing with this case.' Mr Benn said there are five other cases that are in the same position. 'People say the Sean Brown case is unique. All murders are unique and uniquely painful for the family, but it is not a unique case,' he said. 'This is not a unique case, and I would also say we are not going to deal with legacy by having a whole series of public inquiries. 'That is not a way forward. That is why we have to make the reform of the commission to win public confidence. 'To make it ECHR compliant is so important because then you have a mechanism that you can use to deal with all of them and all of us, the committee, the whole team, everybody needs to be concerned about justice for everyone.' He added: 'It is open to the Brown family to go to the commission today, the commission will start work on investigating.'
RTÉ News
04-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
NI Secretary to meet political parties over legacy legislation
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn is set to hold a series of meetings with political leaders over fresh legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. Mr Benn will meet with the leaders of the four larger political parties which comprise the Stormont Executive in Belfast. Speaking ahead of the meetings, Mr Benn emphasised that any new arrangements must have the confidence of bereaved families and of all communities. The previous UK government's contentious Legacy Act has been almost universally opposed by political parties and victims groups. It halted scores of cases going through the courts and inquests concerning the Troubles, and set up the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Mr Benn also reiterated that the government will repeal and replace the Legacy Act. The ICRIR is expected to be retained. "This UK government is committed to (repealing and replacing) the previous government's Legacy Act and to ensuring we have a system that is capable of delivering for all families who are seeking answers around the loss of their loved ones," he said. "I am continuing to work with all of the Northern Ireland parties over what should be included in that legislation. "It is important that new legacy arrangements are capable of commanding the confidence of families and of all communities," the Northern Ireland secretary added.
Powys County Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
NI Secretary to meet with parties over how to deal with legacy
The Northern Ireland Secretary is set to hold a series of meetings with political leaders over fresh legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. Hilary Benn will meet with the leaders of the four larger political parties which comprise the Stormont Executive in Belfast on Wednesday. He met with the SDLP on Tuesday. Speaking ahead of the meetings, Mr Benn emphasised that any new arrangements must have the confidence of bereaved families and of all communities. The previous government's contentious Legacy Act has been almost universally opposed by political parties and victims groups. It halted scores of cases going through the courts and inquests concerning the Troubles, and set up the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Mr Benn also reiterated that the Government will repeal and replace the Legacy Act. The ICRIR is expected to be retained. 'This UK Government is committed to (repealing and replacing) the previous government's Legacy Act and to ensuring we have a system that is capable of delivering for all families who are seeking answers around the loss of their loved ones,' he said. 'I am continuing to work with all of the Northern Ireland parties over what should be included in that legislation. 'It is important that new legacy arrangements are capable of commanding the confidence of families and of all communities.'
ITV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
NI Secretary to meet with parties over how to deal with legacy
The Northern Ireland Secretary is set to hold a series of meetings with political leaders over fresh legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. Hilary Benn will meet with the leaders of the four larger political parties which comprise the Stormont Executive in Belfast on Wednesday. He met with the SDLP on Tuesday. Speaking ahead of the meetings, Mr Benn emphasised that any new arrangements must have the confidence of bereaved families and of all communities. The previous government's contentious Legacy Act has been almost universally opposed by political parties and victims groups. It halted scores of cases going through the courts and inquests concerning the Troubles, and set up the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Mr Benn also reiterated that the Government will repeal and replace the Legacy Act. The ICRIR is expected to be retained. 'This UK Government is committed to (repealing and replacing) the previous government's Legacy Act and to ensuring we have a system that is capable of delivering for all families who are seeking answers around the loss of their loved ones,' he said. 'I am continuing to work with all of the Northern Ireland parties over what should be included in that legislation. 'It is important that new legacy arrangements are capable of commanding the confidence of families and of all communities.'
