Thomas Pringle TD

Pringle urges Government to take case to ECHR over Legacy Bill

Pringle urges Government to take case to ECHR over Legacy Bill

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, is urging the Government to take a case to the European Court on Human Rights over the Legacy Bill.

Deputy Pringle said: “We have to stand with victims of the Troubles who have been seeking the truth and oppose this wrong move by Westminster. The Irish Government’s taking action would also head off the need for individuals to take the British government to court.”

The deputy, who is a member of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, was speaking in response to reports that the Government is seriously considering taking a case to the ECHR over the Legacy Bill. The European Court of Human Rights is an international court of the Council of Europe.

Calling the Government response “very watery”, Deputy Pringle said: “We cannot stand by while the British government unilaterally decides to deny justice to people who were left devastated by legacy offences during the Troubles.

“This bill has been opposed not only by victims groups but by all of Northern Ireland’s political parties, which shows the widespread and cross-party outrage,” he said.