ICCPR concluding observations 2015, paragraph 8
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Urgently investigate events in Northern Ireland to prosecute perpetrators of human rights violations (in particular the right to life), and offer appropriate remedies to victims. (b) Set up an independent Historical Investigations Unit as soon as possible, and guarantee adequate funding and access to all relevant material. (c) Provide adequate resources for the Legacy Investigation Branch and the Coroner’s Court to review outstanding legacy cases. (d) Reconsider the UK Government’s broad powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to prevent the publication of inquiry reports. (e) Consider launching an official inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane.
Original UN recommendation
The State party should: (a) Ensure, as a matter of particular urgency, that independent, impartial, prompt and effective investigations, including those proposed under the Stormont House Agreement, are conducted to ensure a full, transparent and credible account of the circumstances surrounding events in Northern Ireland with a view to identifying, prosecuting and punishing perpetrators of human rights violations, in particular the right to life, and providing appropriate remedies for victims. (b) Ensure, given the passage of time, the establishment and full operation of the Historical Investigations Unit as soon as possible; guarantee its independence, by statute; secure adequate and sufficient funding to enable the effective investigation of all outstanding cases; and ensure its access to all documentation and material relevant to its investigations. (c) Ensure that the Legacy Investigation Branch and the Coroner’s Court in Northern Ireland are adequately resourced and are well positioned to review outstanding legacy cases effectively. (d) Reconsider its position on the broad mandate of the executive to suppress the publication of inquiry reports under the Inquiries Act 2005. (e) Consider launching an official inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane.
Date of UN examination
16/08/2015
UN article number
2 (implementation at the national level), 6 (right to life)
Original UN document
Download the original ICCPR concluding observations 2015 on the UN website