Unionists fear McGuinness will get judicial job

The British government today held out the prospect of former IRA commander Martin McGuinness deciding the future appointment of top judges in Northern Ireland.

The Sinn Féin chief could become the deputy first minister at the Stormont Assembly if republicans overtake the SDLP in today’s elections.

Under proposed new legislation he would recommend, along with the first minister, all top ranking judicial appointments.

The plans depend on criminal justice powers being devolved from Westminster to Belfast and would need to be cleared by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But it sets up the possibility of Mr McGuinness, 53, having a crucial say in who would be chosen as the future Lord Chief Justice and Lord Justices of Appeal.

As she unveiled the government’s plans at the opening of Parliament today, the Queen of England confirmed a Bill will be brought in to set up a body to deal with selections.

She said: “Legislation will be brought forward to establish a Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.”

The British government pledged to introduce a second Justice Bill for Northern Ireland following talks with the political parties in the spring.

Even though the power-sharing administration at Stormont collapsed more than a year ago, the new legislation includes details of a system that could operate if devolution and a power sharing executive is restored in Belfast.

The first minister and deputy first minister acting jointly would make recommendations to the Prime Minister on all senior judicial appointments. He would then make recommendations on that basis.

Unionists are already braced for Mr McGuinness taking one of the top two seats in the Stormont cabinet if Sinn Féin eclipses the SDLP at the polls.

But they said they would be horrified if the self-confessed IRA leader at the time of Bloody Sunday in January 1972 could have a major influence on judicial appointments.

The Mid Ulster MP, who impressed many as Education Minister during the last Assembly, has been jailed in the Irish Republic for membership of the Provisionals.

Democratic Unionist policing board representative Ian Paisley Jr said: “This is yet another concession to terrorists.

“The Government is holding out the prospect that the whole justice process would be held to ransom and accountable to people who terrorised Northern Ireland for 30 years.

“Most people would find that intolerable.”

Other parts of the Bill include creating an offence to seeking to influence decisions by the Director of Public Prosecution without legitimate cause.

The DPP would also have to refer any cases to the Police Ombudsman that involve allegations of an officer committing a criminal offence.