14. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she has further plans to engage with the British Government over the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 and the request for a fresh inquest into the 1973 killing of a person (details supplied), given that a fresh inquest was approved, only for the Act becoming law a few hours later; the support being provided to their family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66282/25]

Sentiment score: 0.16

The family of Michael Leonard have now waited more than 50 years for the truth about how Michael was killed by the RUC on the Donegal-Fermanagh border in 1973. New evidence contradicts the original account and raises serious questions. We now have a change of landscape in Britain. The old legacy Act is being dismantled and new legacy structures are being put in place. In light of these developments, has the Minister raised Michael Leonard's case with the British Government or does she intend to raise it in a timely fashion?

Sentiment score: -0.12

I thank the Minister. She may be aware that I have raised this issue countless times with the Government and her predecessor. I am sure she is aware of the circumstances of the case. She says she has raised this with Mr. Hilary Benn MP. I think she will agree that it is worth raising again. Michael was a 24-year-old Donegal man. He was shot in the back and killed by the RUC on the Border at Brookhill in Fermanagh near Pettigo. For decades, the official narrative was that he was shot by a single shot that was fired accidentally by the RUC. New evidence uncovered in 2023 in British army logs by researchers has since exposed that at least three shots were discharged by a member of the RUC, contradicting the original account and raising profound questions about the circumstances of his death. At that time in 2023, the Leonard family came here to Leinster House to ask for help from the Government. They deserve to finally have answers to their questions. I welcome that the Minister says she has raised the case with Hilary Benn. What are the next steps she will take on behalf of the Government in respect of the case of Michael Leonard?

Sentiment score: 0.04

As the Minister is aware, the legacy Act that came into existence in Britain on 1 May 2023 shut down an inquest into Michael's killing, incredibly, just hours after it was granted by the Attorney General. The case was an example of the cruelty of Britain's legacy Act writ large. As well the new evidence, the Attorney General granted the inquiry on the basis that the original inquest did not receive oral evidence from any of the RUC officers involved in the killing. Given the circumstances that this new evidence came too late before the cruel legacy Act was enacted, it is vital that the inquest into Michael's death be reopened. It is important that whatever happens in relation to the negotiations and phases of the framework for dealing with these matters, the inquiry into the killing of Michael Leonard be reopened. As the Minister knows, the family is not looking for special treatment but what they do deserve are answers and justice for Michael. I welcome the fact that the Minister has raised this and I am asking her to continue to raise it. There are far too many cases where families have campaigned for decades, in this case for half a century, for the truth and justice. I am asking the Government to support them in their quest.

Sentiment score: -0.03