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Stormont Snippets Stormont Snippets Delivering Accountability Robinson Got None of his Demands on OTR Review March 2014 Issue 26 just about whether the “The letters make it clear police at that moment in that Lady Hallett will “not time have sufficient need to re-investigate every evidence to make a case or make a fresh prosecution stick because decision about whether a as time goes on forensics recipient of a letter should may change, new evidence or should not have been may come in where a pursued for arrest and prosecution could take prosecution.” Commenting on the ‘on the place so it is absolutely vital run’ whitewash, Jim Allister that nobody is allowed to “Furthermore, it is evident MLA stated: think they can get away that there is a strong desire with it. That’s why I want to protect the “peace “On 26th February Peter all the letters rescinded.” process” and keep its Robinson told us: machinations as hidden as “Letters exchanged between possible because “while the “I want a full judicial a senior NIO official and the reviewer is free to consider inquiry into all of these Lord Chief Justice reveal the circumstances that led matters so we can see who that the review announced to the establishment of the knew, when they knew and by the Prime Minister and scheme, a full examination what they knew. Those are trumpeted by the DUP will of the political decisions and Inside this issue: vital questions to be asked do none of what Mr agreements making up the and answered. I want to Robinson demanded. Northern Ireland peace know who the 187 people process is not required!” TUV Meets 2 are that received these “Not only will the 187 Secretary of State letters – if indeed it is only names not be released but “The letters confirm what on OTR Issue 187 people because I Lady Justice Hallett won’t TUV have argued all along – PSNI in ‘Brits Out’ 2 wouldn’t believe anything I even consider every that the review will deliver Parade—Questions hear any longer. I want to Individual case. She will, nothing of what Mr Unanswered know who they are, what rather, “look at a sample of Robinson demanded. The crimes they were believed cases from across the DUP have meekly rolled Reform Public 3 to have committed because scheme”. over and accepted a Accounts don’t forget justice isn’t whitewash.” Committee Arrest Downey Now! PUP not fit to take 3 On the back of the BBC perversion of justice by the Warrant to secure the on Sinn Fein Spotlight programme on the dirty politics of the process. It arrest and extradition of Downey case, Jim Allister is no coincidence that Downey Downey. If these OTR Pro-Tricolour Anna 3 commented: was gifted his letter just two letters are really not worth Lo days after the DUP and Sinn the paper they are written “The BBC Spotlight Fein joined in government: on, as Mr Robinson has programme underscores the such payoff to the IRA was part foolishly claimed, then, let’s Allister takes a 4 extent to which the criminal of the consummation of the see Downey pursued on the stand for the Union justice system has been deal. The Johnston and Eames basis of the forensic Flag corrupted by the immoral families and their quest for evidence which exists. This demands of “the peace justice, like other innocent is a litmus test of whether Shocking Fall in 4 process”. victims, were callously cast to the perversion of justice, Hospital Beds the side. Establishing Sinn which underpins the Under DUP Watch “The failure to pursue Fein/DUP rule was the establishment of Sinn Fein/ Downey, despite his overriding priority. DUP rule, has been in any fingerprint link to the way tempered by the Johnston & Eames murders, “The fingerprint evidence still exposure of the is not just a failure of exists. So, I am now calling for machinations of the policing, but a blatant an immediate European Arrest Downey case.” TUV Meets Secretary of State on OTR Issue A delegation from Traditional resignation. 802 pages identified at page Unionist Voice (party leader 3 of the Downey judgement Jim Allister, party vice-chair “The Secretary of State was as ‘two files of disclosed Richard Cairns and press unable to say that the names of materials in relation to the officer Samuel Morrison) met those who received the letters relevant negotiations in the the Secretary of State on the and the crimes which they were NI peace process’, which as material disclosed by the "Could you imagine the OTR scandal. suspected of being involved in muscles Jim Allister would will be published. Indeed, she Crown in a criminal trial can flex had he the backup of Commenting after the flagged up human rights now be published by HMG. either the DUP or Sinn meeting TUV Leader Jim Allis- considerations which could – Fein? Punching well above ter said: and as time will prove will – “When pressed about his weight? " prevent the names being pub- suggestions that HM Eamonn Mallie “We came to the meeting lished. Government had provided Political Commentator with a series of questions compensation to OTRs the 4th February 2014 about the On the Runs issue “She also made it clear that she Secretary of State denied and left with precious few of had no intention of contacting that this had taken place. them answered. It is evident those who have received letters that the Northern Ireland in order to rescind them – “TUV also used the meeting Office, like the DUP, intends another matter over which the to press the Secretary of to hide behind the judge led First Minister said he would State on the future of Praxis review in order to avoid resign. at Hillsborough Castle. We giving answers before the made it very clear to her election. “The Secretary of State also hid that we believed the charity behind the judge led review should be allowed to stay “"The DUP can spin all it “It was clear, however, that when I challenged her to and that the NIO’s handling wants but anybody with an Peter Robinson did not get publish the Government papers of the issue to date has iota of intelligence knows what he demanded as disclosed to court in the been disastrous.” the OTR scheme hasn't prerequisites to prevent his Downey case, in particular the been binned.” PSNI Explanation of Participation in Brits Out Parade leaves Unanswered Questions Suzanne Breen Political Journalist Following the PSNI’s given that those displaying fully investigate, before 2nd March 2014 participation in the New the banners live in a country accepting the invitation. So, York St. Patrick’s day parade, where the native American did the PSNI know of these where they walked behind a population was driven from guidelines before partici- banner saying ‘England get their land by, among others, pating?” out of Ireland’, Jim Allister Irish American immigrants. said: Concluding, Jim Allister said: “I have today received a “I know from contacts to my reply from Temporary “Temporary Deputy Chief “Thinking journalists and office that many people Deputy Chief Constable Constable Finley informs me Jim Allister QC who had found the PSNI participation Alistair Finley which does that the decision to take clearly read the Downey in an event which peddled nothing to allay my part in the parade was taken judgment unlike many of this racist and xenophobic concerns. following consultation with his colleagues” message deeply offensive. the NIO, the Department of This is hardly surprising “I have again written to the Justice, the Policing Board Eamonn Mallie given that the “Brits Out” police asking if the PSNI was and the Department of Political Commentator mantra was championed by aware, and, if not, why 2nd March 2014 Foreign Affairs. the IRA which murdered so not, of the official guidelines many gallant officers in governing participation in “Why was the PSNI Northern Ireland. this parade, before consulting a department of accepting the invitation. If a foreign government on “Indeed many Unionists will they did not have whether it should accept an see the banners as an attack knowledge, they certainly invitation. on their right to live in had the means of Northern Ireland as they knowledge, and as much “Is the PSNI now open to more than suggest that the opportunity as I had to be participate in an Orange island of Ireland is only for acquainted with the said parade?” those who see themselves guidelines. The PSNI had a as Irish – an ironic sentiment due diligence obligation to Call to reform Public Accounts Committee Commenting on his attempt outside the Executive par- to bring accountability to ties. “The immediate response of Stormont, Jim Allister said: Sinn Fein was outright “Across the world it is rejection – old habits of “At this week’s meeting of established practice that non-toleration of opposition the Procedures Committee PACs, because of their key die hard! Some other parties in Stormont I proposed that scrutiny role in regard to suggested they would wish Standing Orders be government action, are to take the proposal back to amended to provide that chaired by someone from their own groups and thus the Chair of the Public the Opposition. Of course, the matter stands adjourned Accounts Committee must the perverse system in to a future meeting. be held by an MLA from Stormont does not even Robinson’s demands not outside any of the parties allow an Opposition and the “It will be interesting to see met: NO rescinding of included in the executive.
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