Government slammed for 'reneging on amnesty deal'
FORMER Red Hand Commando prisoner William 'Plum' Smith has hit out at the Government for allegedly reneging on a deal that meant anyone involved in the conflict prior to the Good Friday Agreement would not be pursued for prosecution.
Mr Smith, who chaired the 1994 loyalist ceasefire news conference, has suggested the deal - dating back to talks in 1998 - amounted to an undeclared amnesty.
He claimed the deal with then Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, was drawn up after numerous meetings with junior civil servants, senior civil servants, “and then later with Mo Mowlam”.
He said the deal covered not just loyalists, but republicans, police officers and soldiers.
Last night he told the News Letter that he chose to speak out now, as the PSNI and Historical Enquiries Team are breaking the deal in continuing investigations into the past.
“I am talking about investigations into crimes before the deal. It is 12 years on from it.
“Unlike what has been said today, I am not talking about Operation Ballast. I am talking about the past. For example there was a loyalist up in court today for a murder that happened 31 years ago, that is what I mean. And another example is Gerry McGeough who has appeared in court charged with attempted murder, something that happened 30 years ago.”
In a detailed statement given to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Smith, who was prisoners’ spokesman at the time of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, writes: “As the pen touched the paper to sign the agreement I was under no illusion or ambiguity that:
“1) All prisoners would be released within two years and would all go through a mechanism administered by commissioners;
“2) That anyone, loyalist, republican, RUC or British Army who were involved in matters connected to the conflict before the ink dried on the agreement would not be pursued in any legal format or proceedings;
“3) Those who wished to admit to involvement may go through a due process of law and may be incarcerated for a period not exceeding two years.”
A spokesman for the NIO declined to comment on the specifics of Smith’s claim, but referred to the 1998 Sentences Act.
“There is a process in place that deals with those who are convicted of crimes pre-1998,” he said.
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Wednesday 22 February 2012
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