Troubles bill risks helping IRA goals, says ex-minister Carns

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The government's Troubles legacy legislation risks helping the IRA achieve its political goals, former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has said.

He made the remarks as he spoke in the House of Commons on Tuesday about his reasons for quitting the Labour government last week.

The now backbench MP warned the plans create a "hierarchy of truth" and "never-ending legal wranglings" that would cost hundreds of millions of pounds.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has said its bill is a "vital step in righting the wrongs of the flawed Legacy Act" passed by the previous Conservative government, which "left veterans exposed to a legal wild west".

Carns followed Defence Secretary John Healey in quitting the government last Thursday in a dispute with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over funding for the military.

In his resignation letter, Carns also cited his opposition to the Troubles bill as one of his reasons for quitting the government.

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Speaking on Tuesday, he told MPs he "could no longer ignore the continued failure to address the treatment of our veterans in Northern Ireland".

He described it as a "difficult issue" but said that "too many veterans have carried uncertainty for too long while others have benefited from political accommodations".

"The IRA failed to achieve its political ends through the use of terrorist tactics. We must be exceptionally careful that we do not help them achieve those ends through other means," he added.

"Constant never-ending legal wranglings that undermine the contract between a nation and those that serve is neither a good use of taxpaying money nor an effective execution of strategy."

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The former minister said "inquests, inquiries and an independent commission creates a hierarchy of truth" and would cost "hundreds of millions for 15 years".

"Painting the state as an aggressor, supporting our adversaries' political objections and causing untold anguish for those that only ever deployed to protect us," he added.

"We have neither the political capital nor the resources to spare for this unjust journey."

Labour's bill was introduced at Westminster last year following agreement on a joint framework with the Irish government.

The plans seek to replace the contentious 2023 Legacy Act, which included a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.

The new plan involves a Legacy Commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, a separate information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (Irish police).

A package of protections for veterans has also been proposed by the UK government, but some MPs have said the measures do not go far enough.

Stormont's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has previously accused the government of giving military veterans "preferential treatment" when dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.

The NIO last week said it had "listened closely to the concerns of armed forces associations".

A spokesperson said the government would "shortly bring forward a substantial package of amendments to further bolster these protections".

"Suggestions that veterans will be dragged through the courts are simply wrong," they added.

"Our armed forces have always been bound by the rule of law, and those who served honourably and followed the rules have absolutely nothing to fear."