Victims and survivors of The Troubles are now hoping that Sir Keir Starmer and the new Secretary of States for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, will uphold their manifesto pledge to scrap the controversial Legacy Act introduced under the Conservative Government.
The legislation is opposed by victims’ groups and organisations and all the main political parties in Northern Ireland.
One of those who is hoping for Labour to uphold their promises is Patsy Kelly Junior and the wider Kelly family from Trillick.
Patsy Kelly Jnr. holds a picture of his late father, Patsy, with his mother, Patsy's widow, Theresa, holding a copy of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland's report into Mr. Kelly's murder in 1974. (Image: John McVitty)
His father, a local councillor, Patsy Kelly was shot dead in 1974 after being abducted on his way home from work in the Corner Bar in Trillick, His body was found weeks later in Lough Eyes, near Lisbellaw. No-one has ever been convicted over the killing.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr. Kelly said: “We look forward to the Labour government following through on their commitments to scrap the Legacy Act so that the inquest into my father's murder can finally be heard, now a full 50 years on from his death. “We also look forward to the new Labour government working with all political parties, the Irish government and victims' families towards an agreed victim-centred pathway on legacy that heals instead of hurts."
Continuing he stated: “The Legacy Act was constructed by the self-serving Tory party who sought short-term political gain at the expense of the well-being of victims families.
He added that the Act served “only to cause hurt, to traumatise and to deepen wounds.”
He called for “reconciliation” and “resolution” with the past as he said: “Our society needs the opportunity to achieve not only reconciliation but also resolution with the past.
“That is how we can honour those who lost their lives or had their lives forever changed because of the conflict - by acknowledging the pain experienced by all of those affected to ensure we never, ever return to those dark days.”
A vocal opponent of the Legacy Act was Kenny Donaldson of the Lisnaskea-based South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF).
Kenny Donaldson, SEFF
Speaking following the election he said: "We have consistently been opposed to the methodology of the Legacy and Reconciliation Act, but we are not latecomers to these issues, we have opposed the various efforts taken by the Establishment over the years to murder justice by stealth.
"The new Secretary of State and Prime Minister Starmer have indicated that they will repeal the Act and there has been some commentary offered by them that they would re-introduce Coronial Inquests and civil litigation opportunities. We will be insisting that the approach taken now provides pathways for all victims and survivors including our constituency, the largest constituency of victims and survivors.”
Mr. Donaldson continued: "The Civil litigation process is all but closed off to the victims of Provisional IRA terrorism. so the key question will be; what is the new Labour Government proposing around meeting this deficit?
"There is a false unity around opposition to the Legacy and Reconciliation Bill, going forward the challenge for the Labour Government will be building unity of purpose around what replaces it.
“We implore all stakeholders involved to understand that pathways to justice, truth and accountability must be present for all victims and survivors, railroading will not be acceptable," concluded Mr Donaldson.
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