A controversial legacy body has been forced to remove a “myth busting” document from its website after concerns were raised that it contained “inaccurate” information.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), which published the disputed document last year, has now removed it from it from its website.
Responsibility for investigating all legacy cases was transferred to the commission after the British government’s contentious Legacy Act was introduced last May.
Many people impacted by the Troubles are strongly opposed to the ICRIR and believe it is part of British government attempts to protect state actors from accountability.
Secretary of State Hilary Benn plans to repeal the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which ended all inquests and civil cases and contained a proposal to introduce conditional immunity.
Significantly, the British government intends to retain the contentious commission.
The Committee on the Administration of Justice and RFJ had previously dismissed the document as “propaganda”.
In a recent letter to Mr Benn, Paul O’Connor of the Pat Finucane Centre (PFC) and Relatives for Justice (RFJ) chief executive Mark Thompson raised concerns about the leaflet, which was headed ‘myth-busting, commonly held misconceptions about the ICRIR’.
The campaign groups challenged claims made by the commission in the leaflet about its powers, and claimed the body has failed to reflect on recent court rulings in relation to legacy.
Last year the Court of Appeal found that a British government veto over sensitive material that can be disclosed by the commission to relatives of the dead is not compatible with human rights laws.
The campaign groups said the leaflet causes further harm to victims.
“For families who have faced years of delay, who have seen existing legacy mechanisms being abolished, to then be referred to a body that is providing misleading information is re-traumatising,” they wrote.
The groups urged the Secretary of State to ensure the leaflet is withdrawn.
“We trust that you are as surprised and annoyed at this as we are and hope that you will ensure that this inaccurate information is withdrawn as soon as possible,” they wrote.
In a statement the ICRIR said: “The Commission is committed to providing accurate information to everyone seeking to understand the work we do.
“The document referred to was published in June 2024 and accurately reflected the position at that time.
“This document is no longer up-to-date and has been taken down from the website pending review.
“The Commission welcomes the ongoing engagement of victims, survivors and families in helping us progress our work.”