John Deasy and The Ancient Order of Hibernians say that the fate of British legislation which hopes to end criminal prosecutions from the Troubles period in Northern Ireland are “hanging in the balance”.
Former Waterford TD, Deasy - who works with the AOH on government affairs, spoke with the Irish Times, following talks with the UK government in London.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians have outlined that they were told the legislation would be delayed for several weeks.
The legislation would stop all future criminal trials, inquests or civil actions involving killings during the Troubles. If approved, it would instead introduce a new body led by a judicial figure appointed by the UK government, which would review deaths and have the power to grant immunity from prosecution to those who co-operate with the new process.
Deasy told the Irish Times that “a sizeable group in the House of Lords view the legislation as extremely unwise and legally unsound”.
“I didn’t detect any great conviction for finishing this legislation which frankly nobody really wants. We went to London to make that case directly to the British government and to relay our concern about the damage this Bill would inflict on US-UK relations.”
Deasy met with Northern Ireland minister Lord Caine in Westminster on Tuesday.
“We initiated a resolution in March that passed the US House of Representatives unanimously and was co-sponsored by 50 members of Congress. The Bill has been altered slightly since then, but it is still unacceptable to the congressional offices we’re in contact with."
The AOH has outlined that it will now use the next four weeks to step up efforts in the US Congress to organise opposition to the proposed legislative measure.
Deasy served as a TD for Waterford from 2002 to 2020, when he did not seek re-election. The Dungarvan native took up a role as a government envoy to the United States Congress advocating for Irish undocumented immigrants back in 2017.
