Supreme Court legacy ruling: DUP leader warns of 'deeply troubling attempt to shift blame' for Troubles murders
The DUP leader has welcomed a landmark Supreme Court ruling on Troubles legacy cases – but warned of a “a growing and deeply troubling attempt to shift blame for the Troubles onto the intelligence services”.
Gavin Robinson was responding to a judgement handed down by the UK’s top court which said that decisions about releasing sensitive security files are a matter for the government – after an attempt by a local coroner to disclose summaries of sensitive intelligence files.
The government had challenged the decision by coroner Louisa Fee to disclose information during the inquest into the murder of West Belfast man Liam Paul Thompson – a decision backed by the courts in Belfast.
Mr Thompson, 25, was murdered by loyalists in April 1994. His family believe that police knew about a credible threat from loyalist terrorists before his killing.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court judges ruled that national security assessments on the disclosure of documents relating to national security are a matter for the Secretary of State, not PSNI chief Jon Boutcher.
The chief constable had backed some intelligence information being released, and has publicly opposed the government’s policy of not naming state agents – urging the government to “do the right thing” and name the agent known as Stakeknife. Mr Boutcher also criticised the approach of MI5 in relation to legacy cases said that things must change.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson has welcomed the “clarity” provided by the Supreme Court judgment relating to the Liam Paul Thompson inquest – and defended the role of intelligence services during the terrorist campaigns.
The East Belfast MP said: “The Supreme Court has delivered an important and timely judgment and one which reasserts the Government’s overriding obligation to national security.
“The DUP has fundamental and longstanding concerns over the approach taken by the coronial system to legacy cases. The failings identified in this judgement further underlines the need for structures and decisions that fairly balance the needs of victims and bereaved families with the interests of public safety.
“Those who collected and managed intelligence during the Troubles did so at enormous personal risk and their work prevented countless murders. They must never be placed in danger through disclosure that is not in the public interest.
“It is remarkable that the United Kingdom faces constant pressure from some quarters for ever greater disclosure while the Republic of Ireland still refuses to release basic material connected to the Omagh bomb. There must be consistency and honesty. Families deserve answers and it cannot be right that one government is expected to open all its files while another withholds critical information. It demonstrates the political nature of some campaigners.
“There is a growing and deeply troubling attempt to shift blame for the Troubles onto the intelligence services when the facts are clear. Terrorists were responsible for 90% of Troubles deaths. It was their guns and their bombs that brought devastation to Northern Ireland. Our intelligence services prevented further tragedy. Their contribution must be recognised and protected.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the ruling on Wednesday had “wide-ranging implications” – and the government will consider how it is relevant to calls for it to reveal the identity of the agent Stakeknife.
The Malone House group – which campaigns on legacy issues – has welcomed the judgement, saying it “has clarified the law on national security and curtailed the secessionist tendency in Northern Ireland with the High Court and the majority in the Court of Appeal being overturned”.
Veteran campaigner Jeff Dudgeon – part of the Malone group – said Mr Boutcher “was effectively slapped down by the judges for his temerity in trying to seize control of national security policy from the Secretary of State”.
The Supreme Court said it had “considerable sympathy” with the desire of PSNI chief to be transparent.
In a statement, Mr Boutcher said “we need a… process that works to the satisfaction of the courts and our partners, and has regard to the proper disclosure of information to victims and their families”.