Victims' families take Britain to court over Northern Ireland amnesty bill

FILE PHOTO: A person holds a poster as campaigners and families of those affected during the period of conflict centred in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles, hand a letter of protest against the British government's proposals for possible legal proceedings into various killings, at Downing Street in London, Britain, September 6, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

BELFAST (Reuters) - The British government faces 16 legal challenges, mostly from victims' families, against a contentious new law that would give amnesties to former soldiers and militants involved in decades of violence in Northern Ireland, a court heard on Wednesday.

Victims' families, human rights organisations and all major political parties on the island of Ireland - both British unionist and Irish nationalist - have condemned the law which offers immunity from prosecution for those who cooperate fully with a new investigative body.