Diplock claim equals justice denied

Like the sinner who prayed to receive chastity, but then added not anytime soon, a British minister proclaimed that Diplock courts will be abolished, but not for eleven months and not thereafter in cases where crown prosecutors so request. In short the crown will restore jury trials to all Republican political suspects, except those currently charged who will be dealt with before the measure takes effect, and those Republicans charged thereafter upon the routine Crown prosecutor’s request. No doubt the British will herald this abolition of Diplock courts as an important advance, preparing the way for full Republican and nationalist endorsement of the constables enforcing British laws in the six counties. In actual fact, an analysis of this announcement, against the background of British courts and their dealings with Irish political suspects, shows how little changed since the Stormont Deal. Such an analysis will raise key political questions that must not be ignored.

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