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Northern Ireland attorney general says end Troubles prosecutions Northern Ireland attorney general says end Troubles prosecutions
(about 2 hours later)
Northern Ireland's attorney general has come under fire over his controversial proposal that no further prosecutions should take place for crimes committed during the Troubles.Northern Ireland's attorney general has come under fire over his controversial proposal that no further prosecutions should take place for crimes committed during the Troubles.
Under John Larkin's plans, the paratroopers who shot dead 13 unarmed civilians on Bloody Sunday and IRA commanders who organised the disappearance of victims – who were shot and then secretly buried – for decades would be among those who would escape prosecution.Under John Larkin's plans, the paratroopers who shot dead 13 unarmed civilians on Bloody Sunday and IRA commanders who organised the disappearance of victims – who were shot and then secretly buried – for decades would be among those who would escape prosecution.
The nationalist SDLP said the province's chief law officer was wrong about a blanket amnesty, which the party said would go against United Nations rulings on how to deal with post-conflict situations.The nationalist SDLP said the province's chief law officer was wrong about a blanket amnesty, which the party said would go against United Nations rulings on how to deal with post-conflict situations.
Alban Maginness, a lawyer and north Belfast assemblyman for the SDLP said: "For the attorney general to suggest that there should be an end to investigations, inquests, inquiries or prosecutions for Troubles-related killings whether caused by paramilitaries, the police or the army, is a dramatic policy change and a cause of real concern for the SDLP.Alban Maginness, a lawyer and north Belfast assemblyman for the SDLP said: "For the attorney general to suggest that there should be an end to investigations, inquests, inquiries or prosecutions for Troubles-related killings whether caused by paramilitaries, the police or the army, is a dramatic policy change and a cause of real concern for the SDLP.
"For Mr Larkin to say that his proposal does not constitute an amnesty is wrong. Mr Larkin does recognise that many will interpret it as one – that is because that is what it will effectively be. This would amount to a blanket amnesty and the SDLP do not believe that this would be acceptable."For Mr Larkin to say that his proposal does not constitute an amnesty is wrong. Mr Larkin does recognise that many will interpret it as one – that is because that is what it will effectively be. This would amount to a blanket amnesty and the SDLP do not believe that this would be acceptable.
"The international view, also held by the United Nations is that general amnesty is not the correct way of proceeding in a post-conflict situation.""The international view, also held by the United Nations is that general amnesty is not the correct way of proceeding in a post-conflict situation."
Unionists also criticised Larkin's suggestion, accusing him of acting unilaterally on a political issue and not consulting Northern Ireland's powersharing executive about the issue. Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: "I know that my party leader and first minister, as with all of our party, would strongly object to the notion of an amnesty, we're very clear about that."Unionists also criticised Larkin's suggestion, accusing him of acting unilaterally on a political issue and not consulting Northern Ireland's powersharing executive about the issue. Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: "I know that my party leader and first minister, as with all of our party, would strongly object to the notion of an amnesty, we're very clear about that."
Downing Street poured cold water on suggestions of an amnesty. Asked at a regular Westminster media briefing whether No 10 would back the proposal to end prosecution of crimes from the Troubles, David Cameron firmly rejected the idea of an amnesty at prime minister's questions, saying it would be dangerous to rule out prosecutions in future.
David Cameron's official spokesman said: "The prime minister's view is that the decisions around prosecutions are for the police and prosecuting authorities, based on the evidence that they have. "The words of the Northern Ireland attorney general are very much his own words," he told MPs "I do think it's important to allow Richard Haass to do his work about parades, about flags, and about dealing with the past," he said.
"His view is a longstanding one, that where relevant independent authorities have evidence, they should be able to take that forward in the way that they best judge. That remains his view. There is no change in that." "Clearly the dealing with the past part is the most difficult of the three and the most difficult to unlock.
"The second point I would make is that we are all democrats who believe in the rule of law, who believe in the independence of the police and prosecuting authorities, and they should if they are able to, be able to bring cases.
"I think it's rather dangerous to think that you can put some sort of block on that.
"But of course we are all interested in ways in which people can reconcile and come to terms with the bloody past, so that they can build a viable future and a shared future for Northern Ireland."
Peter Hain, a former Northern Ireland secretary, said he did not back an amnesty but questioned the wisdom of going after too many prosecutions.
"Pursuing crimes committed three or four decades ago at enormous expense, with enormous effort, where the evidence is very difficult if not impossible to achieve … it's better in my view, having dealt with these issues myself, to support the victims in their plea for justice in other ways," he said.
Amnesty International also expressed concerns about the attorney general's position on past crimes. Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's director in Northern Ireland, said his proposal would be "an utter betrayal of victims' fundamental right to access justice".Amnesty International also expressed concerns about the attorney general's position on past crimes. Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's director in Northern Ireland, said his proposal would be "an utter betrayal of victims' fundamental right to access justice".
Larkin did receive support from one former Northern Ireland Secretary, the Labour MP and anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain. On his Twitter account Hain described Larkin's idea as "common sense".
The attorney general made his controversial remarks in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph on Wednesday. Larkin said he believes government papers should be released to victims of violence and to historians, who would be protected from libel claims if reported in good faith.The attorney general made his controversial remarks in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph on Wednesday. Larkin said he believes government papers should be released to victims of violence and to historians, who would be protected from libel claims if reported in good faith.
"We need to bring to an end the prospect of inquests with respect to Troubles-related deaths," he said in a rare interview."We need to bring to an end the prospect of inquests with respect to Troubles-related deaths," he said in a rare interview.
"No more inquests and no more prosecutions with respect to Troubles-related deaths. Going hand in hand with that would be a commitment to developing ways in which access to state records can be facilitated consistently with the safety of individuals.""No more inquests and no more prosecutions with respect to Troubles-related deaths. Going hand in hand with that would be a commitment to developing ways in which access to state records can be facilitated consistently with the safety of individuals."
He claimed there should be no further police or legal investigation of any events before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.He claimed there should be no further police or legal investigation of any events before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.
He said: "What I am saying is take the lawyers out of it. I think lawyers are very good at solving practical problems in the here and now, but lawyers aren't good at historical research.He said: "What I am saying is take the lawyers out of it. I think lawyers are very good at solving practical problems in the here and now, but lawyers aren't good at historical research.
"The people who should be getting history right are historians, so in terms of recent history, the people who are making the greatest contribution are often journalists.""The people who should be getting history right are historians, so in terms of recent history, the people who are making the greatest contribution are often journalists."
He said the measures he were advocating would need legislation in London and probably Dublin, not just Stormont, because "the theatre of the Troubles extends beyond this jurisdiction".He said the measures he were advocating would need legislation in London and probably Dublin, not just Stormont, because "the theatre of the Troubles extends beyond this jurisdiction".
Larkin is not completely alone in calling for a de facto blanket amnesty into all Troubles crimes. Last year, the grandson of the Irish Republic's founding father, Eamon de Valera, told the Guardian that no one should be prosecuted for past politically related crimes between 1969 and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, including the Bloody Sunday soldiers.Larkin is not completely alone in calling for a de facto blanket amnesty into all Troubles crimes. Last year, the grandson of the Irish Republic's founding father, Eamon de Valera, told the Guardian that no one should be prosecuted for past politically related crimes between 1969 and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, including the Bloody Sunday soldiers.
Eamon O'Cuív, a former Irish government minister, even offered to meet Ulster loyalists over their concern that current historical investigations and inquiries were disproportionately biased against them.Eamon O'Cuív, a former Irish government minister, even offered to meet Ulster loyalists over their concern that current historical investigations and inquiries were disproportionately biased against them.
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