News

The Commission is investigating the deaths of Eric Guiney and his son Desmond who were attacked on the Antrim Road in Belfast on Tuesday 5 May 1981. Following a request from their family, the Commission is appealing for witnesses to come forward to find the truth of what happened to Eric and Desmond.

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25 have been presented to Parliament and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to Part 1 (6)(4) of Schedule 1 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery has published this report in accordance with Section 2 (9)(10) of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (the Act).

The ICRIR is led by the law and ready for reform. The governments’ joint framework provides clarity. It promises new powers, enhanced independence, and improved capabilities. This is important, timely and welcome.

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (the Commission) has launched appeals for witnesses to come forward in relation to two investigations following requests from the victims’ families.

The ICRIR External Advisory Group (EAG) met last week in Belfast as part of its ongoing advisory function to the Commission.

ICRIR Chief Commissioner, Sir Declan Morgan, has written in The Irish News about the Commission’s mission to promote rights-based reconciliation and its work to reveal the unvarnished truth.

Following the ICRIR's reporting of this incident to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), a decision was issued by the ICO on 28 March 2025 as follows: "We have considered the information you have provided and we have decided that no further action by the ICO is necessary on this occasion. This information is based on the information we have recorded about the breach."

The ICRIR’s Chief Executive says the new year marks the next important chapter of the Commission’s work with the first of its reports likely to be published in the autumn. The Commission has published its second annual workplan, setting out areas of focus and ambitions for 2025-26.

A reaffirmed commitment to deliver human rights compliant investigations was the key message from the Independent Commission at a meeting with officials from the Council of Europe today.