Northern Ireland legacy act will harm Britain’s reputation, rights panel warns

Report concludes state sheltered soldiers from prosecution for Troubles-era crimes, as amnesty legislation comes into force

Britain’s reputation will be severely damaged by the Northern Ireland “legacy” act, an international panel of human rights experts has warned while calling for the government to scrap moves to grant conditional amnesties for Troubles-era crimes.

The warning is being made as the legislation comes into force on Wednesday, offering soldiers and paramilitaries a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences for those who cooperate with a new body aimed at truth recovery.