IRA terrorists will have to confess secrets and help victims’ families find bodies to get amnesty

IRA terrorists will have to confess their secrets and help victims’ families find bodies to qualify for an amnesty.

Long-promised plans to spare British troops from vexatious historical prosecutions were finally published in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech.

There was widespread uproar last year when it was suggested a blanket time limit on prosecutions must include killings by the IRA — putting the Armed Forces on the same standing as terrorists.

But the updated law will rule that amnesty can only be granted to anyone who works with a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

To qualify, ex-IRA killers must “provide the best route to give victims and their families the answers they have sought for years”.

Those that do not co-operate and share the dark secrets will still be open to criminal investigation.

Asked if that included revealing the location of bodies, No 10 said the IRA “need to reveal what they know or remain indefinitely liable to the threat of prosecution”. 

Ministers say the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will end a “cycle of investigations that has failed victims and veterans”. 

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson refused to back it, warning some victims have waited decades for the opportunity to have justice.

But the plan was welcomed by ex-Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer — who had quit in a row over its direction.

He told The Sun: “Finally, the Government has announced a named bill to bring certainty and finality to victims, families and veterans of the conflict in Northern Ireland, and end the limitless money-making practice of score-settling lawyers who have made millions of pounds from the public purse in prolonging people’s pain.”