• Case may be heard before June
The widow of a man shot dead by loyalists has accused Secretary of State Hilary Benn of rubbing “salt in the wounds” of victims after permission was granted to appeal a court ruling linked to her husband to the Supreme Court in London.
Martina Dillon’s husband Seamus was shot dead by the LVF as he worked on the door at the Glengannon Hotel, near Dungannon, in December 1997.
Collusion is strongly suspected in the murder of the former republican prisoner.
An inquest into his death was halted before the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 , which ended all inquests and civil cases, came into operation last May.
Oversight of legacy cases has since transferred to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), which is opposed by many victims and families, who believe it is part of British government attempts to protect state participants from accountability.
The Labour government has pledged to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, although the ICRIR is to be retained.
The Court of Appeal in Belfast last year found that a British government veto over sensitive material that can be disclosed by the ICRIR to relatives of people killed during the Troubles is not compatible with human rights laws.
It was also found the legacy body does not give victims and relatives adequate means to take part in its processes.
Lawyers for Ms Dillorn say the Supreme Court has now granted permission for British government to appeal the findings.
Mrs Dillon was critical of the latest British government move.
“The continuing efforts by the secretary of state to appeal against the decisions of the Belfast Court only puts salt in the wounds of all victims,” she said.
“We warmly welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to expedite this case and we look forward to defending our rights in London before the end of June.”
Solicitor Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, said it is “disappointing that the Secretary of State has continued to utilise every available mechanism to try and uphold the Tory pet project of the legacy act.
“That being said, despite the secretary of state’s best endeavours, every court to date has been clear, provisions of the legacy act are incompatible with human rights and the NI Protocol.”
Mr Mackin added that the Supreme Court has “confirmed that it will hear this case on an expedited basis” before the end of June if possible.
“Our clients relish the opportunity to again take a stand against this act on behalf of all victims affected by this egregious legislation,” he added.
by Jeffreys_therapist
8 comments
Benn’s gone full Brit.
He was quite ambiguous when he was shadow, but since the election, the establishment have brought him to heel
Perfidious Albion. Never not at it.
His da would be scundered.
prik votes for every war and military intervention going, i remember his wanky ‘bomb syria’ speech, prik
This new labour government seem to be more Tory than the actual Tory party. Cunts all.
This will be the end for the Seán Browne case too. The British gov shamed and forced into doing the right thing.
I’m guessing it was collusion/british government involvement then.
https://preview.redd.it/b6vmhgt302ue1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=c8fa7b37be744ff1c39eb46c0a9e701b1d9d6f7b
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