Closed petition Immunity for soldiers who worked in Northern Ireland.

Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

• 13 September 2019

  Petition closed

• 20 May 2019

  Parliament debated this petition

  

  • Read the transcript of the debate
  • Read the research used for the debate
• 25 April 2019

  Parliament will debate this petition on 20 May 2019

  You’ll be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.

• 1 April 2019

  Government responded to this petition

  This Government is unequivocal in our admiration for the Armed Forces whose sacrifices ensured terrorism would never succeed. However, our approach to the past must be consistent with the rule of law.

  Read the response in full

  Criminal investigations and prosecutions are a matter for the police and prosecuting authorities who act independently of government and politicians.
  This Government believes in the rule of law. Where there is evidence of wrongdoing it is right that this should be investigated and, where the evidence exists, for prosecutions to follow. We do not support amnesties or immunity from prosecution.

  This Government will always salute the heroism and bravery of the soldiers and police officers who served to protect the people of Northern Ireland, and in too many cases paid the ultimate price. It is only due to the courageous efforts of our security forces that we have the relative peace and stability that Northern Ireland enjoys today. Our security forces ensured that Northern Ireland’s future will only ever be decided by democracy and consent, and never by violence. Over 250,000 people served in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner, the longest continuous military deployment in our country’s history, the vast majority with courage, professionalism and great distinction. This Government will never forget the debt of gratitude we owe them.

  The Government has been clear that the current system for dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past is not working well and is in need of reform. The system to investigate the past needs to change to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the Troubles and to ensure that all, including members of the Armed Forces and police officers, are treated fairly.

  That is why across Government we are working on proposals on how to best move forward, to address the legacy of the past. As part of this, we recently carried out a consultation a draft Stormont House Agreement Bill which set out how improvements could be made.

  We are carefully considering the large number of responses (over 17,000) to our consultation on this issue and aim to publish our next steps shortly. No final decisions have yet been taken but we are committed to a way forward that works for everyone and is balanced, proportionate, transparent, fair and equitable.

  Northern Ireland Office.

• 20 March 2019

  This petition will be considered for debate in Parliament

  This petition got more than 100,000 signatures meaning the Petitions Committee will consider it for debate in Parliament.

• 15 March 2019

  Government will respond to this petition

  This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

• 13 March 2019

  Petition published

  This petition can now be signed.

  If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

  If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

  This petition will stay open until 13 September 2019.