No conclusion on legacy issues until Dublin engages – DUP
The DUP has accused the Irish government of reneging on pledges made in 2006 to come clean about its alleged collusion with PIRA.
“The Irish government accepted at the St Andrews talks that any questions dealing with the past would not be exclusive to Northern Ireland,” Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson told the News Letter.
“If the British government issues apologises for people killed by our own security forces and we pursue Libya for its role in arming the IRA then why should people of influence in the Republic of Ireland not be held to account for their role in the Troubles?” he asked. “The British government is expected to make restitution and be transparent regarding its role in the past. The Irish government must do the same. This cannot just be about the British government.
“We have made it clear in our talks with the Northern Ireland Office that any process to deal with the past must include the Republic of Ireland involvement. There can be no conclusion of legacy issues in Northern Ireland without the involvement of the Republic of Ireland.”
He says the Taoiseach’s office gave clear undertakings at St Andrews talks in 2006 that any dealings about the past in Northern Ireland would have to include Irish state collusion with the IRA.
Several examples of concern Mr Donaldson said were given to the Irish government at that time included:
n A re-examination of the Irish state’s gun running trial of the 1970s to take account of more recently discovered state papers.
n The loss of forensic evidence by the Irish state relating to the IRA Narrow Water bombings at Warrenpoint.
n The blocking of extraditions in relation to the Narrow Water bombings.
The Irish Foreign Office and Taoiseach’s Office declined to make any comment on Mr Donaldson’s claims.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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