Ahern accused over Ulster fugitives

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was accused today of undermining decency and democracy in his defence of legislation which will keep people suspected of offences in the North out of jail.

Mr Ahern and other party leaders in Dublin have received a letter from the SDLP urging them to take a stand in the Dáil against the British government legislation.

He was also criticised by cross community Alliance Party leader David Ford.

During angry exchanges in the Dáil yesterday, Mr Ahern told Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny: “The OTRs (on-the-runs) issue, as difficult as it is, is one that has to be dealt with.

“Everything we have been trying to achieve – to end violence in the North, to end the killing, to end the maiming, end the bombing, bring an end to IRA military activity and criminality – if we were not to deal with some of these issues, there wasn’t a hope in hell or a chance in a billion of ever getting these achieved.

“I don’t like saying this so bluntly, but you decide which way you want it. You either deal with these hard issues or you would have had to pass. I opted for this one and I will never apologise for it.”

Mr Ford said it defied logic for the Taoiseach to link terrorist amnesties to peace in the North.

The South Antrim Assembly member said: “We have at best an imperfect peace, and there is not a shred of evidence to show that amnesties for murderers will improve this situation further.

“What we do have are victims’ and human rights groups from right across the political spectrum illustrating clearly how offensive this legislation is to people in the North.

“If people are suggesting we should simply ignore victims in the name of peace, they will never attain real peace.”

Under the British government’s Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill, paramilitaries who went on the run during the Troubles to avoid arrest, or members of the security forces or individuals suspected of unsolved crimes during the Troubles, can avoid going to jail by applying to a certification commissioner.

If the police suspect them, the commissioner will issue them with a certificate outlining the crimes they are suspected of and guaranteeing them they will not be arrested.

The certificate will set in train a legal process which will see their offences examined by a specially set-up tribunal with its own prosecutors and judges.

On-the-run paramilitaries, rogue members of the police and army and other people suspected of crimes before 1998 would not have to attend the hearings.

If they are found guilty, they will be issued with a licence similar to the one given to the republican and loyalist prisoners who were freed early from jail under the Good Friday Agreement.

If they offend again, their licences will be revoked and they will be sent to prison.

Critics of the Bill have hit out at the British government’s failure to insist that terror suspects must attend the special tribunal hearings and face victims.

The legislation has been condemned by victims of IRA violence and also those who lost relatives to collusion between members of the security forces and loyalists.

It has been opposed by the SDLP, Alliance, unionist parties, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and human rights groups such as British Irish Rights Watch.

While Sinn Féin has welcomed moves to allow republicans who have been on-the-run to return to the North, they have denied the inclusion of members of the security forces in the scheme was discussed in negotiations with the British Government.

But SDLP leader Mark Durkan has accused Sinn Féin of selling out victims of collusion and entering into a grubby deal with Tony Blair.

The Irish Government is also proposing a similar scheme to set up an eligibility board which will pass applications for pardons to the Irish Justice Department before being referred to the president.

In a letter to party leaders, including Mr Ahern and Mr Kenny, Mr Durkan urged them today to back a motion in the Dáil which says the British Bill does not flow from the Good Friday Agreement and is not mandated by the Irish people.

The Foyle MP wrote: “During the second reading of the Bill, the Secretary of State (Peter Hain) made out that it was a necessary outworking of the Good Friday Agreement and was supported by the Irish Government.

“The SDLP does not believe that this is correct and believes that it would be useful to have this publicly clarified.

“It would be helpful, therefore, if the Dáil could make clear its disagreement with the legislation.”

Mr Ford said today that both the British and Irish governments needed serious self-examination over their handling of the issue.

The Alliance leader said: “When a pro-Agreement, cross-community party is angry about so many things, they are clearly doing something very wrong.

“It is time both governments listened to sensible people, not non sensical platitudes.”