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The Irish government is to bring a legal case against the UK under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The inter-state case is over the UK‘s decision to bring in the Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Act, deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has confirmed.

The act became UK law in September 2023. It looks to end legal proceedings relating to the Troubles by granting immunity to people who cooperate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

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On the UK side, the move was welcomed by soldiers and their families, following various historical prosecutions.

But there were warnings it would breach human rights law, as granting amnesties has previously been found by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to be incompatible with a country’s obligation to have a way for unnatural deaths and allegations of torture to be investigated.

Complying with the ECHR is part of the Good Friday Agreement.

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Victims refuse to choose between truth and justice in Northern Ireland


David Blevins - Senior Ireland correspondent

David Blevins

Senior Ireland correspondent

@skydavidblevins

The Northern Ireland Legacy Bill was opposed by every victim’s group and political party.

It was 1971 when the Irish government last took a case against the UK government to the European Court of Human Rights.

The highly controversial legislation was opposed by every victim’s group and political party in Northern Ireland.

By granting a conditional amnesty to those accused of historical offences, it contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights.

The convention, which obligates countries to pursue justice for unnatural deaths, is an element of the Good Friday Agreement.

To put it simply, the act is not deemed compatible with either the convention or the Good Friday Agreement.

The UK government was under pressure to end any prosecution of military veterans who had served in Northern Ireland.

But the act also grants immunity from prosecution to the very terrorists who once murdered soldiers in Northern Ireland.

The amnesty is subject to participation with a truth recovery body, but victims refuse to choose between truth and justice.

‘People in Northern Ireland oppose UK law’

Mr Martin said the Irish government’s decision was made “after much thought and careful consideration”.

He added: “I have consistently adopted a victims-centred approach to this issue. We are not alone in our concerns.

“Serious reservations about this legislation have also been raised by a number of international observers, including the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Most importantly, this legislation is opposed by people in Northern Ireland, especially the victims and families who will be most directly impacted by this act.

“In particular, we have concerns around provisions which allow for the granting of immunity, and which shut down existing avenues to truth and justice for historic cases, including inquests, police investigations, Police Ombudsman investigations, and civil actions.

“Even in cases in which immunity is not granted, ‘reviews’ by the proposed body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, are not an adequate substitute for police investigations, carried out independently, adequately, and with sufficient participation of next of kin.”

Read more:
The Good Friday Agreement 25 years on
Bloody Sunday: A ‘watershed’ in the history of The Troubles

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the attorney general’s advice on the matter is “very strong” – and that the UK is “in breach of the UN Convention on Human Rights”.

When the act was passing through parliament, the UK’s Northern Ireland Office said it believed the law was in compliance with the ECHR.

This was due to the immunity being matched with the investigatory power of the ICRIR.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks to the media
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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

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From September:
Bill approved by MPs – but legal fight could be coming

UK defends law to ‘further reconciliation’

The UK government stated at the time that “there is some support for the concept of amnesties in ECtHR jurisprudence, which recognises that the use of an amnesty can further the objective of reconciliation”.

According to the House of Commons Library, the act “would create a conditional immunity scheme, providing immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences for individuals that cooperate by providing information to the ICRIR”.

“Future prosecutions would only be possible where immunity was not granted, following a referral from the ICRIR.

“However, it will not be possible to grant immunity to an individual who has already been convicted, or if a prosecution has already begun against them.”

It would also:

• Prevent non-ICRIR investigations into events from the Troubles;

• Prevent Troubles-era prosecutions not involving death or serious injury;

• Stop civil claims related to Troubles-era conduct;

• Stop non-advanced inquests continuing and any new inquests starting;

• Start a programme of memorialisation of the Troubles.

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Colum Eastwood, the leader of the nationalist SDLP, welcomed the move from the Irish government, saying: “No political party or institution on this island supports the British government’s approach to addressing the legacy of the past.”

More than 3,500 people were killed during the Troubles, including over 1,000 members of the security forces.

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UK

What is the car finance scandal – and what could today’s ruling mean for motorists?

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What is the car finance scandal - and what could today's ruling mean for motorists?

The UK’s Supreme Court is set to deliver a landmark ruling today that could have billion-pound consequences for banks and impact millions of motorists.

The essential question that the country’s top court has been asked to answer is this: should customers be fully informed about the commission dealers earn on their purchase?

However, the Supreme Court is only considering one of two cases running in parallel regarding the mis-selling of car finance.

Here is everything you need to know about both cases, and how the ruling this afternoon may (or may not) affect any future compensation scheme.

File photo dated 26/3/2021 of the UK Supreme Court in Parliament Square, central London. A legal challenge over whether trans women can be regarded as female for the purposes of the 2010 Equality Act begins at the UK Supreme Court on Tuesday. The action is the latest in a series of challenges brought by the campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) over the definition of "woman" in Scottish legislation mandating 50% female representation on public boards. Issue date: Monday November 25, 2024.
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What is the Supreme Court considering?

The Supreme Court case concerns complaints related to the non-disclosure of commission. This applies to 99% of car finance cases.

When you buy a car on finance, you are effectively loaned the money, which you pay off in monthly instalments. These loans carry interest, organised by the brokers (the people who sell you the finance plan).

These brokers earn money in the form of a commission (which is a percentage of the interest payments).

Last year, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of three motorists who were not informed that the car dealerships they agreed finance deals with were also being paid 25% commission, which was then added to their bills.

The ruling said it was unlawful for the car dealers to receive a commission from lenders without obtaining the customer’s informed consent to the payment.

However, British lender Close Brothers and South Africa’s FirstRand appealed the decision, landing it in the Supreme Court.

Toy Car In Front Of Businessman Calculating Loan. Saving money for car concept, trade car for cash concept, finance concept.
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Pic: iStock

What does the second case involve?

The second case is being driven by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and involves discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs).

Under these arrangements, brokers and dealers increased the amount of interest they earned without telling buyers and received more commission for it. This is said to have incentivised sellers to maximise interest rates.

The FCA banned this practice in 2021. However, a high number of consumers have complained they were overcharged before the ban came into force. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said in May that they were dealing with 20,000 complaints.

In January 2024, the FCA announced a review into whether motor finance customers had been overcharged because of past use of DCAs. It is using its powers to review historical motor finance commission arrangements across multiple firms – all of whom deny acting inappropriately.

The FCA also said it is looking into a “consumer redress scheme” that means firms would need to offer appropriate compensation to customers affected by the issue.

An estimated 40% of car finance deals are likely to be eligible for compensation over motor finance deals taken out between 2007 and 2021, when the DCAs were banned.

To find out how you can tell if you’ve been mis-sold car finance, read the following explainer from our reporter Megan Harwood-Baynes.

Read more from the Sky News Money blog

Pic: iStock
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Pic: iStock

How does the ruling affect potential compensation?

In short, the Supreme Court ruling could impact the scale and reach that a compensation scheme is likely to have.

The FCA said in March that it will consider the court’s decision and if it concludes motor finance customers have lost out from widespread failings by firms, it is “likely [to] consult on an industry-wide redress scheme”.

This would mean affected individuals wouldn’t need to complain, but they would be paid out an amount dictated by the FCA.

However, no matter what the court decides, the FCA could go ahead with a redress scheme.

The regulator said it will confirm if it is proposing a scheme within six weeks of the Supreme Court’s decision.

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What impact could this have on lenders?

Analysts at HSBC said last year the controversy could be estimated to cost up to £44bn.

Alongside Close Brothers, firms that could be affected include Barclays, Santander and the UK’s largest motor finance provider Lloyds Banking Group – which organises loans through its Black Horse finance arm.

Lloyds has already set aside £1.2bn to be used for potential compensation.

London, United Kingdom - January 1, 2017: Bank branch and ATM of Lloyds Bank with people around in London, England, United Kingdom

The potential impact on the lending market and the wider economy could be so great that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering intervening to overrule the Supreme Court, according to The Guardian.

Treasury officials have been looking at the potential of passing new legislation alongside the Department for Business and Trade that could slash the potential compensation bill.

The Treasury said in response to the claim that it does not “comment on speculation” but hopes to see a “balanced judgment”.

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Full details of Heathrow’s plans for a third runway revealed

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Full details of Heathrow's plans for a third runway revealed

Heathrow Airport has said it can build a third runway for £21bn within the next decade.

Europe’s busiest travel hub has submitted its plans to the government – with opponents raising concerns about carbon emissions, noise pollution and environmental impacts.

The west London airport wants permission to create a 3,500m (11,400ft) runway, but insists it is open to considering a shorter one instead.

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January: Third runway ‘badly needed’

In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the government supports a “badly needed” expansion to connect the UK to the world and open up new growth opportunities.

But London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is still against a new runway because of “the severe impact” it will have on the capital’s residents.

Under Heathrow’s proposal, the runway would be constructed to the northwest of its existing location – allowing for an additional 276,000 flights per year.

The airport also wants to create new terminal capacity for 150 million annual passengers – up from 84 million – with plans involving a new terminal complex named T5XW and T5XN.

More on Heathrow Airport

Terminal 2 would be extended, while Terminal 3 and the old Terminal 1 would be demolished.

The runway would be privately funded, with the total plan costing about £49bn, but some airlines have expressed concern that the airport will hike its passenger charges to pay for the project.

EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said an expansion would “represent a unique opportunity for easyJet to operate from the airport at scale for the first time and bring with it lower fares for consumers”.

Read more:
Who’s behind these Heathrow leaflets?
A long history of Heathrow’s third runway plans

File photo dated 29/10/12 of a plane taking off from Heathrow Airport. Heathrow has increased the number of passengers it expects to travel through the airport this year to 82.8 million, which is 1.4 million more than it predicted in December 2023. Issue date: Tuesday April 23, 2024.

Thomas Woldbye, the airport’s chief executive, said in a statement that “it has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow”.

“We are effectively operating at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity,” he added.

“With a green light from government and the correct policy support underpinned by a fit-for-purpose, regulatory model, we are ready to mobilise and start investing this year in our supply chain across the country.

“We are uniquely placed to do this for the country. It is time to clear the way for take-off.”

The M25 motorway would need to be moved into a tunnel under the new runway under the airport’s proposal.

Airplanes remain parked on the tarmac at Heathrow International Airport.
Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

London mayor still opposed

Sir Sadiq says City Hall will “carefully scrutinise” the proposals, adding: “I’ll be keeping all options on the table in how we respond.”

Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, also said that if Sir Keir Starmer wants to be “seen as a climate leader”, then backing Heathrow expansion is “the wrong move”.

Earlier this year, Longford resident Christian Hughes told Sky News that his village and others nearby would be “decimated” if an expansion were to go ahead.

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January: Village to be levelled for new runway

It comes after hotel tycoon Surinder Arora published a rival Heathrow expansion plan, which involves a shorter runway to avoid the need to divert the M25 motorway.

The billionaire’s Arora Group said a 2,800m (9,200ft) runway would result in “reduced risk” and avoid “spiralling cost”.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will consider all plans over the summer so that a review of the Airports National Policy Statement can begin later this year.

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It also comes after Sky News reported on a Heathrow Airport-funded group sending leaflets supporting a third runway to thousands of homes across west London.

The group, called Back Heathrow, sent leaflets to people living near the airport, claiming expansion could be the route to a “greener” airport and suggesting it would mean only the “cleanest and quietest aircraft” fly there.

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Who’s behind these Heathrow leaflets?

Opponents of the airport’s expansion said the information provided by the group is “incredibly misleading”.

Back Heathrow told Sky News it had “always been open” about the support it receives from the airport. The funding is not disclosed on Back Heathrow’s newsletter or website.

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UK

Man, 76, arrested on suspicion of administering poison at summer camp after eight children taken to hospital

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Man, 76, arrested on suspicion of administering poison at summer camp after eight children taken to hospital

A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison at a summer camp which led to eight children being taken to hospital, police said.

Police received reports of children feeling unwell at a summer camp in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire, on Monday.

Paramedics assessed eight children, who were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all now been discharged.

The suspect was arrested at the camp and remains in custody on suspicion of administering poison with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy.

Detective Inspector Neil Holden said: “We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community.

“We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.

“Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children’s services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.

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“We also remain at the scene to carry out enquiries into the circumstances of what has happened and to continue to provide advice and support in the area.

“This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can.”

The force said it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over what it said was the “circumstances of the initial police response”.

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