Matter of conscience

Press, 15 October 1976, Page 5

Matter of conscience

NZPA-Reuter Belfast The Women’s Peace Movement in Ulster believes that informing the police about urban guerrillas is less shameful than the crimes committed by the terrorists. Up to now the peace women have skirted around the delicate issue of informing — normally regarded as a serious neighbourhood offence inside the Roman Catholic and Protestant stronghold areas. A long statement issued by the movement, apparently aimed at clarifying its leaders’ attitudes, says that it is all a matter of individual conscience, but adds: “The traditional shame attached to the word ‘informer” is as nothing to the shame attached to the atrocities committed in the name of either community by people who still claim to be patriots. The statement also says: “We do not equate the vicious and determined terrorism of the Republican and Loyalist (Protestant) para-military organisations with those occasional instances where members of the security forces may have stepped beyond the rule of law.”