Debate contribution: The Troubles: Irish State Role

Debate contribution by Mr Stewart Dickson on 11 March 2025.

MLA

Mr Stewart Dickson

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

11 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

The Troubles: Irish State Role

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4855854

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I begin, as others have done, by recognising the courage and resilience of those involved in the Omagh Bombing inquiry. The bravery and testimonies shared by victims and those affected have been deeply moving and serve as a powerful reminder of the human costs of the Troubles. It is essential that, as we reflect on that period of our history, the priority is the voices of the victims and their families and ensuring that the pursuit of truth and justice remains at the forefront of our discussions. One week before the bomb, at the same time and in the same street, my wife and I shopped in Omagh. One week apart. As we all know, the Troubles and the violence of the past was an incredibly dark chapter for everyone on these islands. Significant progress has, as Members have said, been made since the Good Friday Agreement. The subsequent efforts and the work on reconciliation and truth recovery must continue. It is in that context that I share the concerns raised by my colleague and the Chair of the Executive Office Committee, Paula Bradshaw, when she talked about the need for the Irish Government to fully acknowledge the complexities of their role during that period. While the UK Government's decision to establish an inquiry into the Omagh bombing is an important and real step, the cross-border nature of that atrocity means that a comprehensive approach involving the Irish and British Governments is important. That is why we had tabled an amendment that would have recognised the role of the Irish Government in addressing the legacy of the Troubles, not in isolation but as part of a collaborative and comprehensive effort involving the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and, crucially, the victims and survivors. We are calling on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to engage with both Governments to support legislation for a Historical Investigations Unit. That unit would be tasked with examining Troubles-related deaths, including those with a cross-border element, as part of a broader package of measures designed to meet the needs of victims, survivors and their families. Testimonies to the Executive Office Committee, on which I sit as Deputy Chair, from people like Kenny Donaldson from the South East Fermanagh Foundation, suggest that many incidents during the Troubles had a cross-border dimension — to the tune of nearly 15%. In some of those cases, families have raised concerns about the level of information sharing and cooperation between the authorities. Given the intense sensitivities surrounding these matters, it is crucial that any discussion remains firmly rooted in evidence and respects due process. The British and Irish Governments have a responsibility to work together in addressing the legacy of the Troubles, so I ultimately welcome the UK Government's renewed commitment to dealing with the past, including their decision to repeal the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which, as we all know, was opposed across our island, North and South. It is important and necessary that the UK and Irish Governments take further steps to engage with these issues in the spirit of cooperation and reconciliation. Truth and justice should not be bound by jurisdiction. The establishment of an appropriate investigation unit, with full cross-border cooperation, would represent an important and significant step forward. It is only through openness, partnership and a shared commitment to genuinely addressing the past that we can move forward together.

570 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:15 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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