Louth's Senator McGreehan hopeful for meeting with Benn

Local Senator, Erin McGreehan, has said she is hopeful of having a meeting with new Northern Ireland secretary of state, Hilary Benn, to emphasise the need to repeal the contentious legacy act.

The act, which has been opposed by both sides of the political divide in the North, gives immunity for crimes committed in the past. One of Labour’s manifesto policies was to repeal and replace the act.

Mr Benn and Sen McGreehan met earlier this year when the veteran politician visited Dublin. He was shadow spokesman on Northern Ireland at the time, while Sen McGreehan was part of a Fianna Fáil deputation.

An MP for South Leeds since 1999, the son of former prominent left wing Labour politician, Tony Benn, has been vocal in his opposition to the legacy act, and has also come out in favour of the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast.

“We had a very positive meeting,” said Sen McGreehan. “I genuinely felt he took on board all that we had to say. We highlighted in particular the need to repeal the legacy act, and unlike meetings we’ve had with previous Northern Ireland secretaries, he seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say.”

Since his appointment last weekend, Mr Benn said his number one objective has always been to help the people of Northern Ireland’s government,