Truth, Justice and Dealing with the Legacy of the Past in Northern Ireland, 1998-2008

This article examines the debate on ways of dealing with the past in Northern Ireland from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 to the present. The British government's recent creation of a consultative group, due to report in June 2008, has re-focused attention on whether or not, and in what form, Northern Ireland might adopt past-focused mechanisms as part of its post-conflict transition process. Against the backdrop of wider international and theoretical perspectives, the article examines the context and character of some of the issues this process is likely to face, particularly around the issue of collusion, and explore public attitudes towards the possible creation of a Truth Commission for Northern Ireland.