Congressman vows to hold Britain’s "feet to the fire" on Northern Ireland Legacy Act
by https://www.irishcentral.com/author/kerry-o-shea · IrishCentralUS Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said that he and other Congressmen are ready to "hold Britain’s feet to the fire” to make the new Labour government in the UK keep its promise to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.
Fitzpatrick made the comments during a live webinar hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and moderated by Martin Galvin last Saturday, October 12.
The Congressman spoke after hearing from Troubles victims’ sister Pola Cairns, civil rights lawyer Padraig O’Murigh, Relatives for Justice CEO Mark Thompson, and TD Peadar Tóibín.
In its party manifesto, the British Labour Party vowed to "repeal and replace" the Legacy Act, which the party says "denies justice to the families and victims of the troubles."
However, plans are now underway to repeal only portions of the Act and, controversially, keep the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish!
When asked about his thoughts regarding the British Labour Government continuing the ICRIR, Congressman Fitzpatrick said: "We're going to hold their feet to the fire.
"The British - the United Kingdom - needs the United States on a whole host of fronts and we're going to call them out for this, that's the bottom line.
"The quote-unquote Legacy Bill became law despite unanimous opposition from the political parties in Northern Ireland.
"It denies justice to victims and families impacted by the Troubles. It also provides amnesty for crimes committed by armed forces members that served in Northern Ireland."
Fitzpatrick highlighted how the Irish government has issued legal proceedings against the UK, arguing that the Legacy Act is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
He went on to note how the British Labour Party, in its party manifesto, pledged to repeal and replace the Legacy Act if elected. Labour ultimately won in a landslide.
"Keir Starmer is now the Prime Minister today [and] the Labour government has not fulfilled its promise to dismantle the ICRIR which was established by the Act," Fitzpatrick said.
"Interested stakeholders, including my brothers and sisters in the AOH and the LAOH, obviously we're very concerned that Labour now intends to retain and rebrand, to use their words, this Commission rather than uphold its promise to repeal and replace.
"We signed a bipartisan letter in July of 2024 reiterating our opposition to the Troubles Act, calling on Prime Minister Starmer to fulfill the promise to repeal and replace with the new Labour government. We have to prioritize reconciliation as it was established by the Good Friday Agreement.
"The entire island of Ireland, they have to be able to choose their own destiny, particularly on the issue of legacy."
Read more
Fitzpatrick continued: "What is the strategy going forward? The British government needs the United States and depends on the United States for a whole host of areas, and we will be bringing them into our office, once again, telling them that as Irish American legislators from both sides of the aisle - myself, Brendan Boyle, Bill Keating, Dave Joyce, Mike Kelly - we're going to sit down with them and say, 'Listen, this is going to be very damaging to our relations should you choose to go down this path. You made a commitment, many would argue that you won, in part, because of that commitment you made, so now you have to keep your promise.'
"We are, of course, open to suggestions, but you know that we stand ready to do whatever is necessary.
"And the beauty of this is that they are going to be hearing from both Democrats and Republicans in the House and in the Senate on this and that will clearly deliver a message to them."
Fitzpatrick added: "I do believe that if we really amp the pressure that we can have a positive result here.
"The UK, they only have so much capital they can spend on issues. The question for them is, are they willing to jeopardize our relationship with them over this?
"I would hope the answer is no to that."