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Boston College defends role in fighting tapes action | Boston College defends role in fighting tapes action |
(40 minutes later) | |
Boston College has defended its role in fighting legal action to obtain details of interviews carried out with former paramilitaries. | Boston College has defended its role in fighting legal action to obtain details of interviews carried out with former paramilitaries. |
The transcripts are currently in the possession of a US federal judge, as they have been kept at the college. | |
The latest hearing in the court action will take place later on Tuesday. | The latest hearing in the court action will take place later on Tuesday. |
Jack Dunn from the college says he suspects the interviews are wanted in connection with dissident republican activity rather than past events. | Jack Dunn from the college says he suspects the interviews are wanted in connection with dissident republican activity rather than past events. |
"There's been a lot of questions in Ireland as to whether this was politically motivated. It very well may be," he said. | "There's been a lot of questions in Ireland as to whether this was politically motivated. It very well may be," he said. |
Mr Dunn said the college had not had any discussions with the PSNI about the tapes - but it had done everything in its power to avoid handing them over. | Mr Dunn said the college had not had any discussions with the PSNI about the tapes - but it had done everything in its power to avoid handing them over. |
"Nobody wanted to see that happen. I don't think anybody anticipated it, in light of the Good Friday Agreement," he said. | "Nobody wanted to see that happen. I don't think anybody anticipated it, in light of the Good Friday Agreement," he said. |
"There seems to be a lack of understanding of the legal process in the United States of what it means to receive a federal subpoena from the US Attorney's office." | "There seems to be a lack of understanding of the legal process in the United States of what it means to receive a federal subpoena from the US Attorney's office." |
He said the documents had been sealed and the college did not know if it was, in fact, the PSNI that was requesting the interviews, as has been widely speculated. | He said the documents had been sealed and the college did not know if it was, in fact, the PSNI that was requesting the interviews, as has been widely speculated. |
The college has already turned over tapes of interviews given by Brendan Hughes, a former IRA member who died in 2008. | The college has already turned over tapes of interviews given by Brendan Hughes, a former IRA member who died in 2008. |
Mr Dunn said the only other material handed over to the US Department of Justice was that of former IRA member Dolours Price, following a court ruling. | Mr Dunn said the only other material handed over to the US Department of Justice was that of former IRA member Dolours Price, following a court ruling. |
It is now concentrating on appealing against handing over tapes with 24 other interviewees. | It is now concentrating on appealing against handing over tapes with 24 other interviewees. |
Last year, it was reported that the PSNI had begun a legal bid to gain access to the interviews with former republicans and loyalists held by the college. | Last year, it was reported that the PSNI had begun a legal bid to gain access to the interviews with former republicans and loyalists held by the college. |
It was believed they were being sought by detectives investigating cases of people murdered and secretly buried by the IRA. | It was believed they were being sought by detectives investigating cases of people murdered and secretly buried by the IRA. |
At the heart of the case is the 1972 IRA murder of Jean McConville. | At the heart of the case is the 1972 IRA murder of Jean McConville. |
An appeal against the interviews being handed over was made by journalist and writer Ed Maloney who was the director of the so-called Belfast Project for Boston College and republican researcher Anthony McIntyre. | An appeal against the interviews being handed over was made by journalist and writer Ed Maloney who was the director of the so-called Belfast Project for Boston College and republican researcher Anthony McIntyre. |
The Belfast Project took place for five years from 2001 and involved academics, historians and journalists conducting interviews with former republicans and loyalists about their activities during the Troubles. | The Belfast Project took place for five years from 2001 and involved academics, historians and journalists conducting interviews with former republicans and loyalists about their activities during the Troubles. |
The interviewees were promised by the researchers that their accounts would remain confidential until after their deaths. | The interviewees were promised by the researchers that their accounts would remain confidential until after their deaths. |