Republican News · Thursday 15 May 2003

British governments have sanctioned murder - McNamara

Commons debates collusion report

Speaking in a debate in the House of Commons on the implications of the Stevens' report into collusion, Labour MP Kevin McNamara said: "I believe that the findings of Sir John Stevens - even in the form of an interim overview - represent the most damning indictment of the security services and by implication government practice I can recall.

The 90-minute debate was listed for Wednesday morning at McNamara's request. In a letter to the Secretary of State, the Labour backbencher and former party spokesman on the North, urged Murphy to announce an independent inquiry without further delay.

"Stevens' stark message is that successive British governments have sanctioned murder. They have employed agents and given them a license to kill. Agents have acted above the law and acted with impunity.

"Many of Stevens' proposals on bringing accountability to the intelligence gathering process echo the thoughts of Her Majesty's Inspector," he said.

"Stevens' findings on the murder of Patrick Finucane are quite clear. I do not believe it is in the public interest for an independent inquiry to be further delayed. There is a need to restore confidence. I urge the Minister to bring forward the government's agreement in principle commitment for a full inquiry under the 1921 act to be conducted by an international jurist of repute."

"At the centre of Stevens' investigation and allegations of dirty tricks and unlawful activities carried out by the British Army are the members and officers of the Force Research Unit - FRU, previously known as the Forward Reconnaissance Unit, and before that 14th Intelligence Company. The unit is now known as the Joint Services Group and according to Brigadier Arundell David Leahy, its methods of operation have not changed to any significant extent.

"The Saville Inquiry has heard evidence of discussion papers prepared by senior personnel in the security forces arguing for the adoption of tactics based on illegal use of lethal force through arbitrary killings and extra-judicial assassination. Orchestration of a flawed Inquiry under Lord Justice Widgery and consequent failure to prosecute those responsible for the Bloody Sunday outrage sent a disturbing message to the security forces.

"Her Majesty's government permitted the impression to remain - that while illegal actions were damaging for propaganda purposes, their commission was protected by informal system of impunity.

"If it is tacitly 'understood' that intelligence agencies may operate outside the rule of law, or such behaviour given an informal 'legitimacy' through the failure to set lawful parameters, it is not structurally possible to hold the agencies, their employees and agents accountable without the intervention of an outside independent body.

"It now seems evident that the intelligence agencies have been engaged in 'running agents' inside both loyalist and republican paramilitary groups, promoting, planning and participating in terrorist activities in order to achieve internally defined goals. Agencies have protected individuals both from other paramilitaries and from investigation and prosecution by the police.

"For successive governments, the tactical assessment of the options for the military offensive against terrorism was flawed by compromised intelligence and undermined by its reliance upon unlawful activities of agencies.

I remain to be convinced that dirty tricks saved lives. Undoubtedly, undercover British agents prevented some loss of life; but too often the lack of political control meant agents averting their eyes from terrorist crime and ending up acting as judge, jury and executioner."

"I believe that intelligence agencies played a significant role in shaping the political geography of Northern Ireland and prevented the emergence of a political alternative for many years.

"While great strides have been made in addressing shortcomings of the RUC by a process of police reform and the adoption of a model of accountable policing that would have been unthinkable a decade ago; the intelligence agencies have so far been immune from change.

"I do not believe that impunity for serious offences committed by agents of the state can be in the public interest."

"Discovery of the truth behind controversial killings is part of the process of reconciliation in Northern Ireland where the grief of victims has been compounded by an appearance that unlawful acts have been condoned by those in authority.

"The interests of justice require that those who sanctioned such activities be identified and brought to justice. They must be removed from office and punished. The process of cleansing is also essential for the integrity of the intelligence agencies themselves.

"Following an indication by Sir John Stevens that he wished to interview an FRU agent known as "Stakeknife", new and even more serious allegations concerning the activities of the security services have come into the public domain.

I do not want to distract attention from the findings of Stevens that have been thoroughly investigated and are based upon verifiable evidence.

I am aware of the controversial nature of Stakeknife allegations and the extra-ordinary lengths to which the Ministry of Defence has gone in issuing gagging orders to prevent journalists from reporting them. I am aware that republicans regard the whole affair as yet another example of counter-intelligence propaganda.

'Stakeknife'

Commenting on the public naming of Freddie Scapatticci and the allegations surrounding this claim, McNamara said: "If true, these allegations go to the heart of British involvement in unlawful actions in pursuit of its objectives in Northern Ireland.

"If true, responsibility goes right to the top and the government must be held accountable.

"I believe the public has been kept in the dark for too long. I believe the government has colluded in unlawful activities of its agents. I believe those that are guilty must be called to account - however high up. Where there is sufficient evidence, they must be prosecuted and punished.

"It is clear that existing mechanisms for oversight and scrutiny of the intelligence services have failed. A committee that is appointed by the Prime Minister meets in secret and has its reports vetted in advance of publication cannot provide the accountability we are entitled to demand.

"When the government itself stands in the dock, what is the appropriate remedy? The charges made by Sir John Stevens are the most serious to be faced by any government in Britain. They go to the very heart of our democracy. Our commitment to human rights, to the rule of law and to justice in Northern Ireland will count for nothing if we cannot address these matters openly and honestly."