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Campaigners demand IRA 'amnesty letter' inquiry | Campaigners demand IRA 'amnesty letter' inquiry |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Families of IRA victims are demanding an inquiry over secret letters guaranteeing prosecution immunity to paramilitary suspects. | |
Dozens protested in Westminster after the government said it would not appeal against the dropped prosecution of an alleged bomber John Downey. | |
Last month, a judge ruled he could not be tried because of the guarantee. | |
A campaign group for victims of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings called on ministers to challenge the judgement. | A campaign group for victims of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings called on ministers to challenge the judgement. |
'Physically sick' | 'Physically sick' |
Last month, a judge ruled the trial of Mr Downey, who denied killing four soldiers in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, could not proceed because of a letter sent in error to Irish republican paramilitary suspects. | Last month, a judge ruled the trial of Mr Downey, who denied killing four soldiers in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, could not proceed because of a letter sent in error to Irish republican paramilitary suspects. |
Peter Hain, then-secretary of state for Northern Ireland, has said the letters were "necessary" for the success of the peace process. | |
Members of the Justice4the21 campaign group travelled from Birmingham to Westminster and said they wanted the government to "make the situation right". | Members of the Justice4the21 campaign group travelled from Birmingham to Westminster and said they wanted the government to "make the situation right". |
One member, Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 bombings, was at the protest. | One member, Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 bombings, was at the protest. |
"We want there to be a full, public, judicial inquiry where witnesses are compelled to give evidence," she said. | "We want there to be a full, public, judicial inquiry where witnesses are compelled to give evidence," she said. |
"The whole country should be in uproar about this and they should be demanding the government appeal this judgement. | "The whole country should be in uproar about this and they should be demanding the government appeal this judgement. |
"When we found out about these letters we all felt like we had been stabbed in the back by our own side; we felt physically sick." | "When we found out about these letters we all felt like we had been stabbed in the back by our own side; we felt physically sick." |
Attorney General Dominic Grieve confirmed the government did not plan to challenge the court's decision. | Attorney General Dominic Grieve confirmed the government did not plan to challenge the court's decision. |
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson had threatened to quit unless a judicial inquiry into the matter took place. | Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson had threatened to quit unless a judicial inquiry into the matter took place. |
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