21/09/2024
Statement on the Legacy Act Court of Appeal Judgement
The Equality Commission welcomes those parts of the judgement by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal that align with the Commission’s views in relation to the Article 2 (1) of the Windsor Framework. The Court of Appeal has delivered this judgement in respect of the High Court’s decision concerning the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (“Legacy Act”).
The Equality Commission, together with the NI Human Rights Commission, had intervened in these proceedings as part of our statutory role under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework to ensure that the UK Government’s commitment to uphold certain equality and human rights in Northern Ireland after Brexit is met.
The Equality Commission’s intervention related to a central aspect of the appeal and cross-appeal in this case, which was to consider whether and to what extent the provisions of the Legacy Act are contrary to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework.
Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said: “This is a significant ruling for victims of the troubles and their rights and protections post-Brexit. We will now take time to consider this important judgement fully and what it means in terms of clarifying the scope, and application, of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework going forward.”