Adams accused of double standards

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was accused of hypocrisy today after demanding no amnesty for police officers and soldiers involved in terrorist killings.

As the UK's House of Commons prepared to debate plans to allow paramilitary fugitives back to Northern Ireland without facing jail sentences, the West Belfast MP insisted any scheme should not include British state forces suspected of collusion.

But his assessment outraged Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson.

He said: “It’s absolutely incredible how Sinn Féin can apply double standards to the issue of justice.

“On the one hand they are demanding British soldiers and former RUC officers have to be put in the dock and charged with all kinds of spurious allegations, whereas some of the most notorious terrorist killers responsible for multiple murders are to walk free without serving a day in prison.”

Even though Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has denied claims that so-called “on the runs” (OTRs) were escaping justice, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are expected to join unionists and the SDLP in opposing the proposed legislation.

Around 150 people wanted for crimes committed before the April 1998 Good Friday Agreement are covered by the plan, which British Prime Minister Tony Blair believes is needed to develop the peace process.

But Mr Adams, who has campaigned for IRA fugitives to be allowed home without fear of prosecution, claimed any extension to the security forces would halt the quest for truth over controversial killings.

He said: “All of those we are aware of are Irish republicans and number less than two dozen and are firm supporters of the peace process.

“Sinn Féin did not support, propose, discuss or accept that members of the British state forces should be part of the process. For this reason we did not argue for an amnesty.

“On the contrary, we opposed this approach and we sought to ensure the scheme would not hinder the search for the truth or provide immunity for members of British state forces who carried out or were responsible for State killings and collusion.

“The scheme that we negotiated was published by the two governments at Weston Park (peace talks) in 2003 and related only to OTRs. It did not include members of British state forces.

“Sinn Féin’s position is absolutely clear: we are opposed to the inclusion of British state forces in the current legislation.

“In our view, it represents the latest attempt by the British state to conceal the truth about its involvement in the killing of citizens.”

But Mr Donaldson accused republicans of naïve thinking.

The Lagan Valley MP said: “It shows how insensitive Sinn Féin are to victims of IRA violence and how out of touch they are with the reality of this particular issue.”