Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns: Troubles Bill Risks Empowering IRA Political Aims
Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has stated that the government's proposed Troubles legacy legislation risks aiding the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in achieving its political objectives. Carns, now a backbench MP, articulated his concerns in the House of Commons, detailing his reasons for recently resigning from the Labour government.
He cautioned that the bill would establish a 'hierarchy of truth' and lead to 'never-ending legal wranglings' that could incur costs totalling hundreds of millions of pounds over 15 years. Carns argued that such a framework would 'paint the state as an aggressor' and 'support our adversaries' political objections'.
Carns's departure followed Defence Secretary John Healey's resignation last Thursday, both citing a dispute with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding military funding. Carns's resignation letter also highlighted his opposition to the Troubles bill as a significant factor.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) maintains that its bill is a 'vital step' to rectify the 'flawed Legacy Act' enacted by the previous Conservative government. That act, the NIO contends, 'left veterans exposed to a legal wild west'. The new proposals aim to replace the contentious 2023 Legacy Act, which had imposed a ban on inquests and civil actions relating to Troubles-era incidents.
The current plan outlines a Legacy Commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, a separate information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána. The UK government has also proposed protections for veterans, though some MPs argue these measures are insufficient. Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, previously accused the government of affording military veterans 'preferential treatment' in legacy matters.
The NIO has affirmed it has 'listened closely to the concerns of armed forces associations' and will 'shortly bring forward a substantial package of amendments' to strengthen protections for veterans, asserting that 'suggestions that veterans will be dragged through the courts are simply wrong'.
