Concerns Raised Over Troubles Investigation Body
A former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland has expressed serious concerns about the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), stating there is "something fundamentally very wrong" with the organisation tasked with investigating deaths related to the Troubles.
Nuala O'Loan made these remarks following the release of a critical review into the ICRIR's operations. The review identified significant challenges within the body, including problems with financial management, leadership disputes, and low staff morale.
"What was going on when you've had three finance directors in 12 months?"
"It looked like the organisation did not know what it was doing,"O'Loan added.
Review Findings and Official Response
The ICRIR, which commenced operations in May 2024, was established by law to investigate deaths and serious injuries that occurred during Northern Ireland's prolonged conflict known as the Troubles.
Following the publication of the review, chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan acknowledged the shortcomings highlighted and affirmed the body's commitment to resolving these issues.
Questions About Progress and Staffing
O'Loan questioned the apparent lack of progress made by the ICRIR's staff since its inception.
"Investigation has to lead to reports and two years on, 30m spent, not one report,"she told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme.
"The ICRIR, as I understand it, has about 270 staff, but fewer than 50% of them are investigators and they haven't got the powers they need."
"This was always the problem,"she said, noting that all political parties in Northern Ireland had warned the government that the ICRIR plan "wouldn't work."
