Adams ups collusion claims
Mr Adams, addressing a republican rally at Belfast City Hall, said the findings of the Stevens Report into the murder of Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane was the first official recognition of a strategy of state-sponsored killings.
“What happened? Was there an immediate inquiry? Did governments fall? Were politicians, former prime ministers called to boot? Were those running these services called to account? No.”
He said republicans would continue to pressure Tony Blair to face down dissidents within the British system who had colluded with loyalists and were now trying to wreck the peace process.
“For a long time this was presented as being spontaneous, a few bad apples, something that was just a wee bit out of control.
“It didn’t just happen under Thatcher, it happened under old Labour governments as well. But we had an actual strategy of state-sponsored murder. It was cleared at the very highest level.
“The Stevens Report to my knowledge is the first official acknowledgement that this happened, that there was a direct, authorised state involvement in the killing of citizens.”
Thousands of republicans marched into the city centre yesterday to hear Mr Adams call for the truth about collusion.
Relatives of people killed by loyalists and members of the security forces held up photos of their loved ones, while others held banners stating “Collusion is State Murder.”
Mr Adams got a rapturous reception when he declared: “This issue is not going to go away. We by our presence, by our continued commitment to the peace process are going to ensure that.”
He added: “The first person who has to face down the dissidents within his own system is Mr Blair. Mr Ahern has to make it clear to him and we have to make it clear to him that the truth has to come out about collusion in this state.
“If we pursue this issue then the truth will come out and the families will have the healing process they desire.”
Martin Mallon, whose 76-year-old aunt Roseanne Mallon was shot dead by loyalists in Co Tyrone in May 1994, claimed members of the security forces had been in the area at the time to ensure the murder took place.
He said it had been confirmed that undercover soldiers had witnessed the killing from a dug-out but had been told not to intervene or arrest those responsible. He told the crowd: “We want full accountability about this killing.”
