In Belfast, Northern Ireland, relatives of victims of the Northern Irish conflict, known as the Troubles, are legally objecting to immunity granted to fighters involved in decades of sectarian violence.
The new law was enacted by the British parliament in September. Strongly criticized by all political parties in Northern Ireland and by the Irish government, it envisages the establishment of an independent commission dedicated to reconciliation and the recovery of information. It offers amnesty to British soldiers and paramilitaries who cooperate with the authorities. It will also restrict criminal investigations, court proceedings, investigations and complaints by police at the time.
Martina Dillon, victim of the violence in Northern Ireland, shares her dismay by declaring: “My family is destroyed. We never recover from the loss… I will never recover from the loss of my husband, his family will never recover. will never recover from its loss. You don’t get over it, you live with it morning, noon and evening. It’s with you all the time.”
John McEvoy, also a victim of the violence in Northern Ireland, adds: “The British government has passed a law that deprives us of our rights, of the rights of all victims, of a fair deal.”
More than 3,500 people lost their lives during the conflict, which began in the 1960s, pitting Protestant loyalists against Catholic Republicans. About 1,200 deaths remain under investigation.
