Mr. Raymond McCord:

I will respond briefly and then let the legal people present contribute. The legacy cases are going to be dealt with by Sir Declan Morgan's team. I met Sir Morgan a couple of months ago in his office in Belfast. I understand why many will not speak to him. I totally oppose the ICRIR under him. I wanted to ask the man questions. In one of the questions I asked, I made it quite clear that I opposed what he had set up and become involved in. When he sat on the bench, I believed he gave us a fair shout each time. When I asked him what he would do if the courts ruled that the Bill was incompatible with human rights obligations, he said, "I get up and walk away, Raymond; I am unemployed." He made it quite clear. Now that Mr. Justice Colton says the immunity is illegal, Sir Morgan wants to continue with the inquest. I do not have confidence in it because I do not believe it will work. Sir Morgan did not state that if part of the measure were not ruled illegal, he would continue. It was quite clear from what he said to me at my meeting that if the court ruled against the measure, he would walk. That has not happened. I spoke to Mr. O'Hare and Mr. O'Farrell before I came in. We do not want a part of this new commission that is set up. I believe it is illegal. Every victim we have spoken to has the same opinion and we want to see it all gone. Speaking to barristers, I believe that in the case of young Raymond alone, there are at least 100,000 documents. That is just one case. How can it work? There are so many legacy cases. It is not practical in any way whatsoever. If people think that by giving us a couple of tidbits, we will accept it, they are badly wrong, because we are not accepting any part of the legacy Bill.

In the document I referred to that was signed by all the political parties, including Deputy Smith's, the parties totally reject the legacy Bill. When there was an amendment on the inquest in the House of Lords, those Members from the DUP went along with the British Government and supported it, contrary to what was in the signed document. Some present and their parties supported this. I saw them in Westminster. We got people to sign a document stating they rejected the legislation, yet in the House of Lords they were prepared to accept the British Government's proposal. We will not accept that. Mr. O'Hare and Mr. O'Farrell will explain the legal side better.