ABSTRACT
This chapter argues O'Leary's view equally applies for the peace process after 1998. The British government's legacy approach has frequently fallen short of rigorous impartiality. It proposes a new independent investigation unit called the Historical Investigations Unit for victims and survivors who seek criminal investigations, alongside an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval to enable victims and survivors to seek and privately receive information about deaths. The chapter shows the problem with having sovereign powers and guarantors to a peace settlement who are partial when addressing conflict legacy. Brandon Lewis argued in July 2021 an amnesty would deliver on our commitment to veterans who served in Northern Ireland many of whom remained fearful of being the subject of ongoing investigations even though the vast majority acted in accordance with the law. For nationalists it showed state forces were immune from prosecution.
