I commend the authors and investigators of Kenova. The report has been a long time coming. Many families have waited on this. Much was banking on it. This report once again shows the depth of the brutality and callousness to which innocent people and communities were subjected during the Troubles. The scars, some of which are obvious and some of which are not, will be carried for generations. These acts were neither justified nor justifiable, whether committed by paramilitaries or members of the security forces, whether they wore a uniform or not. The report finds collusion involved vicious and serious criminal activity, including bombings and murder, and that paramilitary groups were regularly supplied with intelligence by members of the security forces. It also confirms, as noted in the interim report, that the Provisional IRA engaged in the wanton use of torture and murder. We are talking about murder, torture, kidnapping and extreme violence. The human cost of these crimes can never be overstated. The approach to legacy in recent years has damaged confidence in the rule of law in Northern Ireland. The rule of law was integral to the work of the Good Friday Agreement and after it to set up institutions. We always have to be on the side of the rule of law. Until truth and accountability are prioritised over protecting perpetrators, we cannot genuinely move forward as a society and build reconciliation. Kenova has been the light amidst the dark in recent years. It is designed as a full criminal standard investigation that has won the trust of victims. Kenova has emphasised that the report should be a blueprint for future legacy work and I agree. It has shown clearly that no organisation responsible for killing should be able to block a victim's pathway to truth and justice. The UK Parliament's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee said strongly this week that it recommends that the British Government formally identify Stakeknife. I wholeheartedly agree. It is appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest, and it shows that no one can expect to be protected in their actions. We are always coming back to a place of national vetoes on information and we need maximum disclosure and for all parties to be willing to stand for truth, to be brave enough to give truth to victims' families and to assist in reconciliation. We do not need a framework for paramilitaries to come forward and provide information to families; they could be doing that. I always want to finish with my connection to the McVeigh family in Donaghmore and to Columba, who has been missing for 50 years. That family is not looking for revenge. They just want to bring Columba home and bury him in my village of Donaghmore. They had another dig this summer and it was unsuccessful. I urge once again that anyone who stands up in this Chamber or anywhere else who talks about truth, accountability, the rule of law and justice for families remembers families like the McVeighs. I sincerely hope that we can build a framework and system of justice and truth for families.

Sentiment score: 0.09