Culture of ‘fear’ at speaking out found within legacy bodyAn interim report fund some feared what they said to a reviewer ‘will become known and result in negative consequences for them’.Mark Thompson, chief executive of Relatives for Justice (PA)PA ArchiveRebecca Black4 minutes ago
An apparent culture of fear within a body set up to deal with Northern Ireland’s past was found by reviewers – and concerns were mainly raised by women, it can be revealed.
A review of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) earlier this year found a “toxic” and “divided” working culture inside the organisation.
The work carried out by former Northern Ireland Civil Service permanent secretary Peter May also identified that the organisation has been “facing significant problems” linked to internal governance and culture at senior levels.
Then-Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn said some of the findings were “unacceptable”, and were for the ICRIR to “take whatever steps are necessary and appropriate to address this”.
Sir Declan Morgan, chief commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (PA)PA Archive
Meanwhile, ICRIR chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan said he was “deeply sorry that this has happened on my watch”, adding they are “committed to addressing this as we move forward”.
The body was set up under the former government’s controversial Legacy Act to deal with cases from the Troubles after legacy inquests and court processes were axed.
It is currently looking into more than 100 cases, including some of the most infamous bombings in the history of Northern Ireland.
However it has not yet produced any reports.
It has now emerged that an interim report in February found that some working for the organisation were afraid to speak out.
The document, signed by Mr May and obtained using the Freedom of Information Act by victims group Relatives for Justice (RFJ), expressed concern at the situation.
It reads: “Concerningly, some people at pretty much all levels of seniority have expressed fears that what they say to me will become known and result in negative consequences for them.
“This is in itself a concern about the culture of the organisation.”
The interim report also found “clashes” and “turf wars” between staff.
It observed: “Descriptions of the culture regularly included words like ‘toxic’, ‘disrespectful’ and ‘defensive’. A good number among those I have met have suggested they are leaving/planning to leave/considering looking to move.
Former senior civil servant Peter May led the review of the ICRIR earlier this year (PA)PA Archive
“There are clear risks that the organisation will lose good people unless action is taken at scale and pace. The current infighting also runs a significant risk of external reputational damage including among those the Commission serves.”
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It went on: “There are poor behaviours which need to be checked now. These include calling out problems in large groups that could be addressed better bilaterally in the first instance, senior leaders talking openly to staff about their concerns and being negative about other leaders and a sense of them and us between senior and more junior staff.
“There are risks here and a concern that behaviours tolerated become accepted or even desired. The concern about behaviours has come almost entirely from women.
“A number have suggested there is a gendered element whilst often also recognising part of the reason for the behaviours is frustration.”
RFJ said it is concerned this indicates that the culture at the ICRIR is “more damning than that exposed in the broader final review” in May.
Chief executive Mark Thompson said it has hardened their opposition to the ICRIR.
“To date, the ICRIR has yet to produce a single report,” he said.
“To date, the ICRIR would appear to remain in some form of ‘Special Measures’ and subject a statutory review of its performance under the Legacy Act 2023.
“To date, the British government claims it’s committed to its troubled Troubles Bill and the introduction of a reformed ICRIR as a Legacy Commission. For many there is a genuine and justified concern that this is merely a name change.
“To date, families supported by RFJ stand fast against engaging with the ICRIR and these further disclosures only serve to harden that position.”
Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), added: “This succinct interim report from Peter May into the ICRIR is extremely damming of its leadership and culture.
“It calls for a ‘fundamental reset’ for the ICRIR’s ‘deep-rooted problems’, but it also records that even the ICRIR’s own staff, and possibly the NIO itself, were sceptical this would be enough without significant personnel changes.
“The ICRIR was set up as the key mechanism in Boris Johnson’s Legacy Act, as part of blatant agenda of seeking to shut down viable investigations to secure state impunity.
“Labour have now promised to replace the ICRIR with a reformed Legacy Commission, and the Troubles Bill accordingly would end the roles of all the current ICRIR Commissioners.
“However, the longer the Westminster process drags on the longer the present ICRIR leadership and dysfunctional institution remains in place, without at present any known leadership transition plan.”
In a response the ICRIR said: “The Commission is a young and developing organisation, and the independent review conducted by Peter May was jointly commissioned by the ICRIR and the NIO to provide a clear, objective assessment of the ICRIR’s corporate effectiveness and cultural health.
“The review identified actions and recommendations, and the Commission recognised these as opportunities for growth. Of the 19 recommendations made in the review, nine are complete, seven are complete with on-going monitoring and three are on track.
“The Commission has been approached by more than 280 requesting individuals and is conducting over 140 investigations. Our investigations teams are working tirelessly for families that have come to us for help.
“We will soon reach the milestone of producing our first report and once we have reached that milestone, the Commission expects a steady flow of reports over the months and years to come.”
The Northern Ireland Office has been contacted for a response.
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