Hilary Benn to press Dublin on ‘hugely important’ Troubles information sharing

It is “hugely important” that the Irish Government shares information in relation to Troubles legacy investigations, the Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn will press on a visit to Dublin.

On Thursday, Mr Benn is set to meet with Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan in Dublin.

In Belfast in January, Ms McEntee said any significant changes to legislation linked to a joint UK/Irish framework on the Troubles must have the full agreement of both governments, after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated there may be new protections for military veterans.

The joint framework on legacy unveiled by London and Dublin last September outlined a range of measures and mechanisms for dealing with historical cases from the Northern Ireland conflict.

The framework included commitments to fundamentally reform the structures established by the last Conservative government’s contentious Legacy Act, including the removal of a controversial provision that offered a form of conditional immunity to perpetrators of Troubles crimes.

The Irish Government committed to the “fullest possible” co-operation with the new legacy commission and the creation of a dedicated legacy unit within the Irish police force, An Garda Siochana.

Sir Declan Morgan, chief commissioner of the Independent Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) – which investigates Troubles Crimes under the Labour Government’s reformed Legacy Act, has said the body does not have information sharing arrangements with the Irish authorities.

Ahead of his visit to Dublin, Mr Benn said the UK and Ireland have “a warm and strong relationship, which is underpinned by our shared interests and values, and our unwavering commitment to the Good Friday Agreement”.

“On the legacy of the Troubles, both governments are making good progress in delivering on our respective commitments,” he said.

“There is no doubt that sharing of information by the Irish authorities will be hugely important for legacy investigations and the Omagh bombing inquiry.

“I greatly look forward to discussing the Irish and UK legislation, and other issues of mutual interest, with Ministers McEntee and O’Callaghan later today.”

The ICRIR is already investigating more killings than the Metropolitan police. It has more than 100 live investigations, including into a number of unsolved IRA attacks on UK service personnel such as the Guildford pub bombings, the Warrenpoint massacre and the M62 coach bombing.

Last year, Sir Declan said “it is essential” for victims and survivors to find out “what information Ireland holds in relation to what happened to their loved ones”.