Foreign minister silent over Conway case

In questions to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the paper contrasted Charlie Flanagan’s recent firm rejection of an amnesty for any Troubles perpetrators with the fact that Dublin-based Conway openly boasts about his violent criminal exploits, seemingly with no reaction from the authorities.

It asked minister Flanagan to comment on the Conway case in the context of his amnesty comments (see above), and it also asked if any action has been taken against him.

It did not respond, but instead a response was issued from the Republic of Ireland’s Department for Justice and Equality.

It read: “The Irish government has made clear that there is no question of any amnesty for Troubles-related offences. The Garda authorities will fully investigate any offence where credible evidence is available.”

It indicated that the issuing of a European Arrest Warrant would be a matter for the judiciary in the UK.

“The Department of Justice does not make any comment on whether a warrant in respect of a particular individual has been received,” it added.

“An Garda Síochana is responsible for the investigation of criminal offences in this jurisdiction and will pursue any offence where credible evidence is presented.“

The Northern Ireland Office was asked if it had sought Conway’s extradition to the UK, or planned to do so.

It said this was a matter for the Home Office.

In turn, the Home Office said that European Arrest Warrants are a matter for law enforcement agencies.

The PSNI, meanwhile, issued a statement from Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy, of the Legacy Investigation Branch.

It said: “We are currently examining everything that has been said by Mr Conway during his interviews along with other available information in order to ascertain what investigative opportunities could be progressed.”

Conway wrote a book detailing his IRA exploits in 2014.

He has since gone on to give media interviews, including one with the BBC in late 2016, in which he talked about having been involved in six-or-so unspecified bombings against civilian targets.

He added: “British soldiers did die when I was present and firing at them but I can’t be sure it was my bullet which caught them.”

An interview with him in a 2015 edition of the Dublin Solicitors’ Bar Association magazine stated he had been jailed after being caught with explosives and firearms in the ‘70s, and served time in the Crumlin and Maze jails.

Conway now practises law, and recently represented republican Patrick Brennan from west Dublin, who was caught trying to transport TNT on a bus from Dublin to Londonderry.