Northern Ireland Troubles Bill - a note

10 April will be the 28th anniversary of the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. There has been substantial peace in Northern Ireland since then but various "legacy issues" continue to cause problems. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 was an attempt to deal with those problems.

The Labour government (in power since July 2024) has brought forward the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill which, if enacted, will repeal Part 2 of the 2023 Act.  

Clause 1 of the Bill states -

 

Further amendments will be made to the 2023 legislation in addition to repealing Part 2 and the associated Schedules. 

The Troubles Bill passed Second Reading in the House of Commons on 18 November 2025. See the Hansard record of the debate.

The 2023 Act ended criminal investigations, inquests and civil claims related to the Troubles
that had not reached an advanced stage by a certain date.  This was opposed by all the parties
in Northern Ireland, and caused immense hurt and anger amongst victims and survivors.

The 2023 Act was found, in parts, to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). 

While a growing number of families are taking cases to the ICRIR, it has struggled to win the
confidence of many victims and survivors, their representatives and other stakeholders. 

As a result, there is no current mechanism to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland in a
way that commands greater support from all communities. The Troubles Bill aims to address that gap. 

The Labour Government reached agreement with the Irish Government on a joint framework for addressing the Legacy of Troubles, announced on 19 September 2025. 

This is said to be 'a comprehensive agreement resulting from the UK and Irish governments working in partnership to agree on effective legacy mechanisms that comply with legal obligations, can
command public confidence, and return to the principles of the Stormont House Agreement.'

It remains to be seen whether, in practice, the Bill will eventually lead to further prosecutions of now elderly British Army veterans. That door was closed by the 2023 Act but will be opened to allow for that possibility.  

In October 2025, Soldier F was acquitted (at a judge-only trial) of two murders - previous post October 2025.  The judge noted - 'The evidence presented by the Crown ..... signally fails to reach the high standard of proof required in a criminal case; that of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.’

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