Provisions for conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles offences in the British Government’s legacy act are illegal, a court has found.
The High Court in Belfast ruled they are not compatible with human rights legislation.
Delivering a judgment, Mr Justice Adrian Colton said there was no evidence the immunity provision would in any way contribute to reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received royal assent in September despite widespread opposition from political parties, victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government.
Aspects of the laws include a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences for those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
The act will also halt future civil cases and legacy inquests.
A number of relatives of those bereaved by the violence are seeking to have the controversial legislation overturned.
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