UK-Ireland Troubles legacy deal draws mixed reactions

A framework to address Northern Ireland Troubles legacy issues was unveiled Friday by Irish deputy prime minister Simon Harris and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, in a bid to deliver truth, reconciliation and protections for those affected by decades of conflict. The plan reforms the controversial Legacy Act, creates a new legacy commission, establishes a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána for legacy cases, and rings-fences €25 million to support victims’ participation. It also includes a package of protections for veterans and seeks to balance accountability with the rights of those who served in security forces. While officials said the framework would deliver a path to truth and healing, victims’ groups and some politicians voiced scepticism about whether it would truly meet their needs or deliver independent accountability.

The government said the framework would move the process forward by clarifying roles, improving access to information, and providing a structured mechanism for victims to engage with the process. The move comes after years of dispute over how to address legacy cases from the Troubles, including allegations of collusion and controversial policing actions. The two governments stressed that the aim was to be victim-centred and rights-compliant, while safeguarding the interests of those who served in security and military roles.

Victims’ families and campaigners promptly voiced a mix of hope and doubt. Margaret McGuinness, who was 13 when her father Peter was killed by a plastic bullet in 1981, said she hoped for an independent investigation into her father’s death but remained doubtful about whether the new framework would deliver the truth. 'Will we get our independent investigations? Will we be told the truth? I don’t think so. I hope I’m wrong,' she told BBC reporters, adding that families simply want to be told the truth and to be left in peace.

Shane Laverty, whose brother Robert, an RUC officer, was killed by the IRA in 1972, echoed the demand for truth and honesty from the process. Emmett McConomy, whose 11-year-old brother Stephen was shot by a soldier in Derry in 1982, said the deal could be a step in the right direction but warned that without meaningful consultation the framework could fail. 'Without proper buy-in from victims, this could sadly be doomed to fail,' he told BBC Radio Foyle. Others urged patience but insisted progress must be demonstrable.

Kenny Donaldson of the South East Fermanagh Foundation welcomed what he called substantive work to address concerns about independence and oversight on the UK side, but he cautioned that real progress would depend on a full, sustained effort by both governments. David Crabbe, a former soldier with three decades of service, argued that inquiries had disproportionately scrutinised security forces and police, at times neglecting those who killed security personnel. He urged fairness and noted that anyone crossing the criminal threshold should face the law, while recognizing the need for a balanced, rights-respecting process.

Sinn Féin leaders said they would scrutinise the accompanying legislation before passing final judgement. Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill stressed that the framework must be victim-centred and human-rights compliant, and that the legislation would be the litmus test of the British government’s commitment to delivering a successful resolution. McDonald cautioned that the British state and its agencies had historically resisted full disclosure of collusion, insisting there could be no hiding places in the response to victims’ needs. "If it doesn’t meet the tests set by them then it’s going to fall flat," she said. O’Neill echoed the decision to wait for the details before judging.

DUP leaders criticized the announcements as potentially too little, too late and argued the process did not involve sufficient consultation with victims and veterans. Gavin Robinson called the plan retraumatising for many victims and criticized the Irish government for co-designing the framework. Carla Lockhart said the timing and process caused distress and suggested there was little opportunity for scrutiny while Westminster was in recess. In contrast, Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood welcomed the dual-government approach but insisted that victims must remain at the centre of the process. Jim Allister, leader of Traditional Unionist Voice, dismissed the framework as an ‘obscenity’ that could undermine unionist buy-in.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna cautioned that the legacy deal risks failing to meet victims’ needs, urging clear steps on inquests and on disclosure by paramilitary groups. 'We cannot afford another false dawn,' Hanna said, urging both governments to deliver a framework that offers comfort to victims and supports reconciliation. The coalition of international and church voices offered a more hopeful tone. US ambassadors to the United Kingdom and Ireland welcomed the framework, emphasizing that bilateral cooperation under the Good Friday Agreement remains essential to stability and healing in Northern Ireland. Church leaders in Ireland also welcomed the publication of the framework and urged careful consideration of how truth and justice can best serve those affected.

From a policing perspective, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher welcomed the progress in addressing legacy but warned that costs cannot be absorbed by the core policing budget. He noted that legacy work remains financially challenging and that the force needs funding to address the ongoing, post-conflict policing landscape. The chief constable said that while progress on the legacy framework is welcome, more resources are necessary to sustain long-term investigations and inquiries.

The framework is designed to implement commitments outlined in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and to provide a more formal structure for dealing with legacy cases. Officials stressed that the plan aims to deliver truth, reconciliation and protections, while ensuring fairness for those who served in security roles. The government has signaled that it will seek legislation to implement the framework in the coming weeks, with the accompanying text expected to be scrutinized by parties in Northern Ireland and the wider international community. Whether the framework satisfies victims’ expectations and gains robust cross-community support remains to be seen, as opponents warn that essential details—particularly on independence, disclosure, and accountability—will be decisive in determining the plan’s ultimate legitimacy.

The international and religious voices joining the debate underscore the high stakes of addressing a troubled past in a society still navigating political sensitivities. The next phase will focus on legislative language, funding allocations, and concrete mechanisms for how truth-telling, reconciliatory measures, and protections will operate in practice. For victims’ families in particular, the coming weeks will determine whether the framework offers a credible path to answers or leaves them grappling with unresolved questions about how the Troubles are remembered and acknowledged.