In order to prevent revisionism, which could lead to a change in the Northern Ireland conflict narrative, the government will be requesting an official history on the Troubles.
Brandon Lewis, Northern Ireland Secretary has made proposals to create a “balanced” team of historians that is independent of ministers and compile an official record on events, from 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement.
The complete record of this long-running conflict will be available in years. It will detail the Government’s role and Armed Forces’ involvement in it, as well as Bloody Sunday in 1972 when 13 civilians were killed by the troops.
The ministers will try to keep what they consider revisionist histories from clouding and playing down the effects of IRA terror attacks. Sources cited by The Telegraph also said that it would.
The announcement by the Government earlier in the year that it would institute a statute-of-limits to stop criminal prosecutions for Troubles crimes was followed closely.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has developed proposals that would see a ‘balanced’ team of historians, independent from ministers, draw up an official record of events from the 1960s to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998
This file photo, taken May 5, 1981, shows British troops fighting protestors in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Photograph taken December 7, 1982. It shows the destruction caused by a bomb dropped by the Irish National Liberation Army at Droppin Well in Ballykelly.
Lewis’ plans signify another effort to “draw a line beneath the Troubles” – Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made that statement in July which stated it would ban prosecutions of crimes related to conflict.
It is anticipated that the compilation of historic records, footages, images and documents will take many years. This would be comparable to the effort made by the Government to record and document the First World War during the decade following its bloodshed.
The move is likely to be received positively by Unionist parties, who believe that Republicans have tried to play down the role of the IRA in the conflict, but is equally expected to incur a considerable backlash from the nationalist party Sinn Fein.
While Unionists in Northern Ireland wanted to stay part of the United Kingdom and Republicans in Ireland demanded that Northern Ireland be separated from the UK, to create an ‘united Ireland’.
After a bomb attack on the Grand Hotel Brighton by the IRA October 12, 1984, it was rebuilt. During the Conservative Party Conference, Margaret Thatcher (British Prime Minister) and other political figures were staying in the hotel. However, most of them were not hurt.
Although Lewis and Boris Johnson argued that an amnesty for all parties would enable them to not be investigated, the intention of the Government to introduce a statute limiting liability in relation to the Troubles has been criticized by all sides.
Effective amnesty will be extended to British veterans and former Royal Ulster Constabulary and security service personnel, and the IRA, loyalist paramilitaries, and other British military personnel.
Lewis feels that moving the emphasis from litigation over past events towards information collection would help families and communities to get on with their lives.
Lewis stated in July that he knew that some people will find it difficult to accept the possibility of ending criminal prosecutions.
“But we are now convinced that this will be the best method to ensure effective retrieval of information and provide the necessary support for Northern Ireland’s reconciliation efforts.
“It is painful to accept the truth of where we are.”
The Government is planning to hire a number of historians to help with the information collection and compilation project.
Ministers may also ask the Northern Ireland Centenary Historical Advisory Panel, headed by Lord Bew, for their expertise and support.
This panel was formed to devise plans for celebrating 100 years of the establishment of Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland celebrated its 100-year anniversary on 3rd May 2021.
Johnny Mercer demands justice for the IRA killings of three British soldiers. Police claim that a prime suspect is still not being interviewed.
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer is calling for a prime suspect in the IRA murders of three British soldiers to face justice – more than 18 months after he was discovered by The Mail on Sunday.
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer (above) is calling for a prime suspect in the IRA murders of three British soldiers to face justice – more than 18 months after he was discovered by The Mail on Sunday
A new review has been completed by police into the March 1971 murders of John McCaig (17 and 18 years old) and Dougald McCaughey (23 and 23), which took place after Sunday’s Mail-on Sunday revelations.
But it is understood that suspect Anthony ‘Dutch’ Doherty, a former IRA man who was arrested over the killings in 1971 but later escaped jail and was never prosecuted, has not been interviewed by officers as part of the inquiry.
Families of three of the victims are all former Army officers and off-duty Royal Highland Fusiliers members. They now call on the authorities to take action.
Kris McGurk spoke on behalf the families of the soldiers and said that it had been 18 months since The Mail tracked down the suspect in these horrendous murders.
“We will fight for justice, and we are asking all those in the right position to assist us to achieve it.”