British govt urged to acknowledge paramilitary collusion

The British government was today urged by a senior US politician to publicly acknowledge members of the police and British army colluded with loyalist paramilitaries during the North's Troubles.

During a visit to Belfast, Congressman Martin Meehan said recognition that collusion took place could help negotiations to persuade Sinn Féin to sign up to policing.

As he prepared to meet victims of loyalist violence, the Congressman said: “Fundamentally people should understand the perspective of Sinn Féin, even in these negotiations, is directly linked to the atrocities and the murders and the corruption that have taken place in the past.

“One needs to understand the other’s perspective in history.

“It’s important in terms of the negotiations to get Sinn Féin to sign onto policing that you recognise history.

“You also have to recognise that there are some within the nationalist and republican community who will be sceptical and will want to make sure every I is dotted and every t is crossed before they will agree to the new policing system.

“I have long believed it is in the interests of Northern Ireland and the British government to come forward and come clean.

“Sometimes acknowledging truth is the most powerful way to acknowledge change. What we need is a change in the way the police force operates – that is beginning to happen here.

“We are at a historical juncture. I think it would go a long way for the British government to recognise that acknowledging the atrocities of the past is a way to deliver change for a positive future.”

On Monday a report by an international panel of human rights experts claimed it had uncovered considerable and credible evidence of British army and police collusion in 74 sectarian murders in Northern Ireland during the 1970s.

The probe of 25 loyalist atrocities, commissioned by the Derry-based Pat Finucane Centre, found senior Royal Ulster Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment officers were aware and in some cases approved of collusion.

It also said officials in London had enough information about collusion to intervene.

On Tuesday the families of six men gunned down by loyalists in a bar in Loughinisland, Co Down in June 1994 as they watched a World Cup match went to Westminster to raise awareness among MPs about allegations of security force collusion in the atrocity.

The Loughinsiland families have announced plans to take their campaign to the European Parliament in Brussels later this month.

Congressman Meehan, a Democrat from Massachusetts, would not be drawn on suggestions that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Northern Ireland could enable the British government to admit there was collusion.

He said: “I would be satisfied just to have an acknowledgement in many instances and investigations which have integrity and are competent so that these atrocities have their proper place in history.”