It is a political and judicial travesty that John Downey has been extradited by the Dublin judiciary to stand trial in the North for military actions he is alleged to have been involved in back in 1972 and from which resulted the deaths of two British state security personnel.
His extradition comes in a week when the excellent BBC Spotlight series suggested that as many as fifty million documents are still in possession of the security services, and withheld from the public, which are likely to contain information vital to a fuller understanding of the role of the British state in commissioning what it labelled terrorism. Hands on British involvement in the direction of terrorism is matched only by a cover up of immense proportions.
Why Dublin continues to afford any legitimacy to how London conducted its war in the North, rather than pursue it through the international courts, while not surprising, is something it has not yet offered an honest explanation for. It prefers, instead, to hide behind legalese, citing the letter of the law while ignoring the spirit. Rather than offering up Downey to a Diplock court, it should be seeking to place Britain in the Hague.
Downey's extradition is also a result of the party of which he is a member having bombastically undertaken to put manners on the PSNI so that it could bamboozle its capitulation over the line and secure the party's backing for British policing. It said nothing about extradition being on the new policing tin. Truth is, its careerist leaders had no intention of doing anything remotely like putting manners on anyone other than those foolish enough within the party to believe them. Now, and not for the first time, the PSNI has repaid in truly bad manners, letting Sinn Fein know who is daddy on the block. To the victor the spoils.
It is so easy to envisage the swarms of Agents of Influence drawn like flies to the odour of the leadership, urging that the party not protest too much, it might upset the peace process. Tell the grassroots it is all part of a grand design, John Downey is really going up to Maghaberry as a covert plot to put manners on the prison service.
It is so easy to envisage the swarms of Agents of Influence drawn like flies to the odour of the leadership, urging that the party not protest too much, it might upset the peace process. Tell the grassroots it is all part of a grand design, John Downey is really going up to Maghaberry as a covert plot to put manners on the prison service.
I'd say it was both. In his observation at the time Downey failed to acknowledge the vindictive role of the British state and its prosecutors in Ireland. Yes, the DUP was demanding his arrest but the Public Prosecution Service in the North, wholly sensitive to the hurt hubris of its political masters caused by Downey having earlier walked free from a London court due to an abuse of process, was determined to exact revenge.
This morning in an Omagh court Downey was refused bail. Sheer vindictiveness on the part of the PSNI. Everybody without exception has been granted bail in legacy cases. The bias of the PSNI can be gleaned from its policy of never opposing bail for former members of the security forces who have been charged with conflict related activity. Soldier F, who indisputably slaughtered people on Bloody Sunday, was not even required to appear in court. No objections by the PSNI to bail for this mass killer.
Downey handed himself over to the Gardaí, Had he have been a flight risk, he would have flown the coop rather than risk being grounded in the North. Also when on bail for the Hyde Park bombings, he honoured his bail conditions. The spineless toady hearing the case, Michael Ranaghan, deferred to the PSNI falsehoods. Whatever changes have taken place in the North, and there have been a few, one change has eluded every attempt to introduce it: the establishment will hold firm against the disestablished.
Downey handed himself over to the Gardaí, Had he have been a flight risk, he would have flown the coop rather than risk being grounded in the North. Also when on bail for the Hyde Park bombings, he honoured his bail conditions. The spineless toady hearing the case, Michael Ranaghan, deferred to the PSNI falsehoods. Whatever changes have taken place in the North, and there have been a few, one change has eluded every attempt to introduce it: the establishment will hold firm against the disestablished.
Mr Downey arrived for his hearing on Saturday morning at Omagh Magistrates’ Court, where a large crowd had gathered outside, among it Sinn Féin MPs, MLAs and councillors.
Why Sinn Fein turned up for is anybody's guess. Cheering Downey as a party member who made some invaluable, if invisible, contribution to the peace process, or applauding the PSNI for having taken Sinn Fein's recommendation that where there is evidence the British should prosecute? They even went through the charade of jostling in court with the cops and pulling faux angry faces outside it.
The dance of deceit continues.
Hit the nail right on the head a chara, brill, why Downey handed himself over at this time ,Brexit poss within a few weeks and that would have put a spanner in the EAW, I,m sure ,unless of course the deal has been done ,which l suspect it has 2 years John and we,ll make sure your Green cross is topped up,and a quiet life afterwards ,whatever the truth in this matter ,treachery is at the heart of it ,whether it comes from the brits and broken promises , from an lrish government standing idly by while it,s citizens were butchered ,or by quisling $inn £anny selling its members down the swanee,part of me feels sorry John Downey in this position, and another says slap it up him for trusting those cunts whose weasel words landed him where he finds himself today and more than likely the next two years,one thing John can be sure of his boss from the AC big Gerry will not be joining him ,,,
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a gegg to have heard what Martybroy McGuinness(remember him?)would have had to say re this as you pointed out Anthony he would have to on one hand congratulate the cops on getting Downey into court , or cried that Johns arrest damages the peace process, either way as stated those bastards in the employ of mi5 and sb which by all accounts the numbers grow by the day will never see the back of a jailhouse door unless they are the expendable ones which in the old days Scap would have taken care of ,,
ReplyDeletePlease excuse me for yet another p.s I note the reports that quisling $inn £anny,s were all over the judges car, makes a change I suppose from being under it ,
ReplyDeleteSurely Downey is as valid a prosecution as Soldier F or any others where, as SF qualifies it, there is evidence?
ReplyDeleteIt does highlight the problem Legacy has for Republicans and Loyalists as well as the State actors. Maybe that is the meaning behind the arrest. Another step toward making everyone so uncomfortable that they will agree to an amnesty or statute of limitations?
What solution do you offer on Legacy, AM?
Wolfsbane - those who argue for a prosecution strategy are hoist on their own petard. Prosecution is a subterfuge that ostensibly strives to establish fact but simultaneously ensure it will rarely come forward.
DeleteI have long thought an amnesty for all is the only way of increasing the chances for a truth recovery process.
Marty - had he not have handed himself over the Gardaí would have gone after him. By handing himself over he has made a mockery of PSNI claims that he is a flight risk.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Downey recieve an OTR letter?
ReplyDeleteSteve - he did - but the fall back position is that if supposed new evidence emerges the letter means diddly squat. I doubt anything new emerged - they are trying to rub his nose in it because he embarrassed them in London. Loyalists and republicans have spent time in jail for legacy matters but not member of the state forces.
DeleteI still don't believe they will convict Soldier F. It'll just be twaddled in legalese until he's dead. Surprised they don't do the same with Downey, even if he pissed them off, why rock the boat now of all times?
DeleteGreat all-encompassing commentary on this charade AM.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't hold my breath on it but hopefully John will make bail on appeal. Unfortunately, as you pointed out in our brief conversation the other day there's a strong likelihood his time on remand won't count as time served.
AM,
ReplyDeleteYes,I too have long held that amnesty is the only gate to a better future.
Henry Joy - thanks for that - they will be hard pressed to explain why he can't be bailed. They might just refuse him to give the Shinners a slap.
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