Overview
- David Johnstone, the Labour‑appointed Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner, says the plan treats former soldiers worse than terrorists and is eroding trust in government.
- The legislation would scrap the 2023 conditional immunity scheme, restore some inquests into Troubles-era deaths, and set up a strengthened Legacy Commission and information body.
- The SAS Regimental Association has warned in a legal-threat letter that the proposals could lead to prosecutions of former soldiers and may infringe Article 6 and Article 8 rights.
- A government spokesperson says the new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill delivers six lawful protections developed with veteran input and reaffirms an unshakeable commitment to veterans.
- On December 4, a draft remedial order moved to remove immunity-for-information measures and lift the bar on Troubles-related civil cases, following last year’s Belfast High Court ruling.