Naomi Long: I’m willing to press Dublin over Irish state collusion

The justice minister Naomi Long says she is prepared to press the Dublin government over the issue of alleged Irish state collusion.
By Adam Kula
Published 7th Dec 2020, 15:51 BST
Updated 7th Dec 2020, 15:59 BST
An IRA mural of the 1980s; it has long been alleged that the Irish government covertly provided support for the PIRA in its very early daysAn IRA mural of the 1980s; it has long been alleged that the Irish government covertly provided support for the PIRA in its very early days
An IRA mural of the 1980s; it has long been alleged that the Irish government covertly provided support for the PIRA in its very early days

Mrs Long made the comments on the floor of the Assembly this afternoon, in the wake of a week-long slew of reports about the alleged UK state collusion in the case of Pat Finucane.

She was responding to a question on the matter from Jim Allister, TUV MLA for North Antrim.

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He had asked whether the NI government is interested in “seeking truth for IRA victims, who died because the Dublin government assisted in the spawning of the Provisional IRA?”

He went on to criticise the Irish government’s historic blocking of extradition requests for people suspected of major paramilitary crimes, as well as “collusion between the Garda and PIRA”.

Mr Allister concluded: “Does any of that interest the minister enough to have pressed her Dublin counterpart for truth and justice for such victims she should represent?”

She replied: “He asked if it interests me sufficiently that I’d be willing to press my Irish counterparts on that.

“The answer to that of course is: Yes

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“Because I believe that truth and justice for all victims actually matters.

“I believe legacy issues need to be comprehensively dealt with.

“I’ve stood in this place many times and can assure the member that, wherever collusion may come from, whoever may be behind that collusion, wherever the information may come from, whether it requires a public inquiry or whether it requires another form of legacy investigation, I’m in favour of that happening.”

It has long been alleged that elements of the Irish state – such as Charles Haughey, who later went on to become Fianna Fail toaiseach – supplied arms and / or money to the nascent PIRA in the late 60s or early 70s.

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In addition, the killing of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan – the highest ranking RUC officers to be murdered in the Troubles – is believed to have been the result of IRA/Garda collusion (as documented in hte Smithwick report of 2013).

Click here for more from this reporter on paramilitarism: Newly released confidential file: Catholic Bishop thought Martin McGuinness was chilling, humourless, and violent – but regularly attended mass

Click here: Confidential document reveals top Troubles solicitor said Gerry Adams had ‘firm grip’ on the IRA Click here: Loyalists Against Democracy (LAD) founder: It was my stupidest idea ever but I have nothing to do with it anymore

Click here: John Hume: Loyalist terror boss ‘consulted with Hume twice while drafting UDA political strategy’

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Click here: Dying loyalist admits: Yes, I joined the UVF. No, I do not regret it – but I am sorry people died

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