U.K. decision enrages Ireland

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 6

U.K. decision enrages Ireland

NZPA-Reuter Dublin Britain’s decision not to prosecute Northern Ireland police officers after a “shoot-to-kill” inquiry has enraged Ireland and could endanger the future of an Anglo-Irish accord on Northern Ireland. The ruling could also severely dent the confidence of Northern Ireland’s Catholic minority in British justice and may shake the already fragile relationship between the Irish Prime Minister, Charles Haughey, and his British counterpart, Margaret Thatcher. The Dublin Government expressed deep concern and dismay when the British Attorney-General, Sir Patrick Mayhew, decided not to prosecute after an inquiry into allegations that Northern Ireland police had a “shoot-to-kill” policy against terrorists. Mr Mayhew, whose statement on Monday

caused uproar in the British Parliament, said attempts had been made to pervert the course of justice but ruled out prosecutions in the national interest — so as not to lift the lid off security operations. The inquiry started in 1984 after six men were shot dead by Northern Ireland police in roadblocks and ambushes. A senior British policeman heading the inquiry into the killings stepped down, saying he had been the victim of a smear campaign. In November, 1985, Britain and Ireland signed an accord which gave Dublin a consultative voice in the running of Northern Ireland for the first time. Seeking to give Northern Ireland’s 500,000 Catholics confidence in the north’s legal system, Dublin urged Britain to abolish one-judge, no-

jury courts and replace them with three-judge panels. That was blocked by London and now the latest decision could pose more big problems for the moderate politicians trying to tempt Catholic voters away from Sinn Fein, the political wing of the outlawed Irish Republican Army (IRA), which is fighting British rule in Northern Ireland. The Social Democratic and Labour Party leader, John Hume, asked, “What does it do for the integrity of the police force when it is known that senior members responsible for the loss of six human lives are still in it?” Security sources in Belfast said some police officers enmeshed in the inquiry were now likely to face internal disciplinary action. IRA morale plummetted last November when the organisation was uni-

versally condemned for planting a bomb at a war memorial ceremony in the border town of Enniskillen that killed 11 people. David Andrew. a senior backbencher in Ireland’s ruling Fiar. a Fail Party, said of the Mayhew move: “This could be seen as the kiss of life for the IRA. The non-publication of the report might be a propaganda coup for their dreadful cause.” A Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, was indeed quick to condemn it, saying “The Irish people have been treated with contempt by the British Government.” The lone voice of approval came from the fiery Protestant preacherpolitician, lan Paisley, who said “Political handcuffing of the security forces must end. I welcome this.” Irish Opposition

cians called the move astounding, inexplicable and unfortunate, while the “Irish Times” commented: “It is an official acknowledgement that if murder has been at work, then the Crown does not want to know about it.” Mrs Thatcher, quick to criticise when Dublin brought in new extradition safeguards on British police arrest warrants last December, is due to have talks with Mr Haughey in Brussels next month when the two attend a European Community summit. The “Irish Independent,” newspaper reflecting the views of many political observers in Dublin, said “Any Irish political leader will find it difficult to trust the leader of a British Government for quite some time. “For the first time in 26 months, the Anglo-Irish accord is in real danger,” it said.