MOST people know the legend of the Gordian knot, tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, which it was prophesied only a future conqueror of Asia could untie.

Along came Alexander the Great, with little time or patience to unravel the intricacies of the knot, so he simply slashed through it with his blade.

The Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, must wish he too could simply cut through the issues surrounding legacy, because it’s increasingly clear that it is becoming a Gordian knot.

Finding a resolution which brings justice, truth and reconciliation whilst satisfying all sides is an almost impossible task. But Benn is trying hard.

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Many of the issues faced by the current incumbent of Hillsborough Castle are not his making.

Benn inherited an omnishambles from the previous Tory government and, in particular, the hasty and reckless attempts by vested interests in protecting errant former British security personnel and their shady bosses.

The Conservative government rushed through legacy legislation, which only succeeded in alienating all the local political parties – a feat in itself. It also went ahead and appointed commissioners and set up a framework and infrastructure around a legacy body which no-one agreed to.

The body embarked on a public relations exercise to win over hearts and minds, but the overwhelming majority of survivors and families of victims have ignored its overtures.

Some, worn down by time and battered and bruised by bureaucratic obstruction, have gone to the so-called (and impossibly named) Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) more in hope than expectation.

Others have simply given up or sadly passed away, their voices silenced by exhaustion or buried in their graves.

There is little doubt the previous UK government hoped victims’ voices would fade with the passage of time.

The revelations by this paper, which show many ex-RUC officers and security personnel were recruited amongst the staff of the ICRIR, have fuelled real and imagined fears amongst victims’ groups.

In a world where perception often matters more than reality, there should be some deep reflection amongst those leading the body.

They could fix this perception problem and prevent further negative contagion to the reforms of the current Secretary of State and the UK/Irish governments. Inaction will simply add another layer of suspicion to the conspiracy theorists’ long list.

Successive British governments (and, on occasion, Irish) have failed victims, survivors and their families every bit as much as the RUC and the justice process which oversaw the greater part of the Troubles.

The RUC’s mishandling of evidence, poor investigations, and the long history of collusion and running of agents did little to get a grip on Troubles-related murders and crimes.

To date, the current Secretary of State is amongst the most earnest members of any British Government.

His task is not made easier by gung-ho Tories and reactionary members of Reform who are making out that every veteran who served in NI will be put on trial because of Benn’s replacement and reform of the odious Legacy Act.

Chris Heaton-Harris was all hale and hearty, while Benn’s more crafted approach is much less flamboyant but requires faith. Faith which needs the goodwill of all players including the ICRIR.

The Tory/Reform catcalls are not only untrue but they’re jingoistic nonsense and self-serving.Neither the defence services (serving or retired personnel) nor the British Legion should allow themselves to be fooled, misled, or lured into a far-right narrative which is nothing more than a false flag being raised by political opportunists.

The overwhelming majority of veterans who served did so without dishonouring their uniform or themselves.

However, during the 38 years of Operation Banner, when some 300,000 army personnel served in Northern Ireland, only six ever faced charges, and only one was convicted of manslaughter, and he was given a suspended sentence. Those figures are as stark as they are startling.

It sends the completely wrong message to those unfit to serve in uniform that you can do almost anything and get away with it.

In Iraq, there were over 3,400 allegations of ill or inhumane treatment by British armed forces on Iraqi civilians, and a government-appointed inquiry team did not find in favour of any – which statistically must be impossible.

During the Iraq War, out of 140,000 UK military personnel who served between 2003-2010, only 25 were ever charged, with only four convicted.

The political hyperbole about the repeal and reform of the Legacy Act does not stand up to scrutiny. If anything, soldiers are practically given immunity for war crimes.

The current investigative and judicial system, such as it is, serves to unfairly and unjustly protect soldiers, not prosecute or persecute them.

The Irish Government and its predecessors have also been found wanting in opening up their own books on possible collusion between security personnel and paramilitaries.

Under new agreements, the Irish Government is going to set up a long-overdue specialist legacy unit within the Garda.

Victims, survivors, and their families cry out for and deserve justice. Any formula which gives this a chance deserves support.

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© The Irish News