PM says government will try to block payout | Global News Avenue

The Prime Minister says the Government will use “every possible means” to prevent former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams from receiving compensation.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke in the House of Commons after the Conservatives said it was “disgraceful” that scrapping the Heritage Bill could see Mr Adams get a “cheque”.

The Legacies Act currently prohibits him and many others detained without trial in the 1970s from claiming compensation for unlawful detention.

Some peers backed a report by the London think tank Policy Exchange, Criticizes move to lift ban.

Labor, which has moved to repeal the bill, said there was “almost universal opposition in Northern Ireland” to the previous government’s approach to heritage.

A provision in the bill currently prohibits payments to Mr. Adams and about 400 others who are also detained.

Mr Adams is likely to seek compensation if the Heritage Act is repealed by Parliament.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Sir Keir said the bill was “inappropriate” because it had no support from victims or political parties.

He referred to the Northern Ireland High Court ruling that part of the Act was Not consistent with human rights legislation and the Windsor Framework.

He said: “We will put in place a better framework, we are working on a draft remedial order and alternative legislation and we will look at every possible way to prevent these types of cases claiming harm and it is important I say on the record .”explain.

Mr Adams could receive a six-figure sum if his bid for compensation is successful.

This would cover his unlawful detention and prosecution for attempting to escape from prison, for which he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Following Sir Keir’s comments at PMQ, his official spokesman said he could not guarantee compensation would be paid to Mr Adams or other former Troubles detainees.

“Clearly the government’s intention is to prevent the payment of compensation,” he said.

“We will consider every option, but I can’t get through the process ahead of time.

“If the Prime Minister didn’t think we could solve this problem, he wouldn’t make a commitment in the House.

“This is a complex area and we are in real disarray when it comes to the Northern Ireland Heritage Bill which is completely unfit for purpose”.

Earlier, former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith told the House of Commons that the policy exchange report raised major concerns.

The Conservative MP urged the government to “return to its previous cross-party position” on blocking such compensation.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he had seen the report but added that the practice had been deemed unlawful under the Heritage Act.

“Certainly, as the previous administration did, we will continue to see if we can find legal ways to deal with the issues that he has identified,” Benn said.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General for England and Wales was asked about his previous role as Mr Adams’ legal representative when he appeared before the House of Commons Justice Committee.

Lord Helmer said he was “unwilling” to answer questions about how he was paid for work he performed for “any particular client”.

“I did represent Gerry Adams on a number of matters that had nothing to do with heritage… but I also represented the family of a young British soldier who was murdered by the IRA in the 1970s,” he said.

“Both clients understand the importance of being able to represent everyone, which is what the legal system is about.”

The bill is the government’s controversial attempt to “distune” itself from the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The bill was originally proposed by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021 as a solution to end what he called the “unwarranted prosecution” of former soldiers.

The bill was passed in 2023 but is opposed by victims’ groups and all major political parties in Northern Ireland.

The Bill creates a new legacy body called the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to take over all Troubled Times cases from 1 May 2024, including those handled by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

It also closes all historical surveys.

The most controversial element of the bill was to provide qualified immunity to suspects, but this was withdrawn after the family of the deceased took legal action.

The court ruled that this part of the conduct was Not consistent with human rights legislation and the Windsor Framework.

Labor pledges to repeal Heritage Act if they win July election The process officially begins in December.

Supreme Court judge In 2020, Mr Adams’ convictions for two attempted escapes were quashed, paving the way for him to receive compensation.

It ruled his detention was unlawful because the interim custody order (ICO) had not been “personally considered” by the then Northern Ireland Secretary Willie Whitelaw.

At the time, the Conservative government considered ICOs legal because of a practice known as the Carlton Doctrine, under which officials and junior ministers typically act in the name of the Secretary of State.

A clause has been inserted into the Estates Act preventing compensation from being paid to Mr Adams and around 400 other people detained for similar errors.