Government urged not to abandon Troubles' victims over the Legacy Bill

The British Government's controversial 'Legacy Bill' has been branded a "deplorable piece of legislation" by Local Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith.

The Tory government has pursued the passage of the law, officially called Northern Ireland Troubles Bill despite universal criticism in Ireland, North and South.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Brendan Smith said, "This Bill, as proposed, would give murderers and the perpetrators of other heinous crimes the right to give themselves an amnesty for such misdemeanors. In any democratic society, this should not be acceptable."

Deputy Smith went on to say, "Our total opposition to this Bill must be outlined repeatedly to the British Prime Minister and his Government. Dealing properly with the legacy of the past is very important.

"Families who have campaigned with such grace and dignity over decades cannot be abandoned through the implementation of such legislation.''

In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar thanked Deputy Smith for once again raising this issue. He said the Government remains deeply concerned about the shutting down of all other avenues to truth and justice, including inquests, police investigations, ombudsman investigations, as well as civil cases, as the Deputy outlined.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar concluded by saying that the "Government's firm view is that any way forward on legacy must be based on human rights, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights with victims at its centre, and ideally should have the agreement of the five main parties in Northern Ireland."