Can I say first of all, I’m not an academic, not up in the world in NI politics and until now, knew very little about the background to the proposed Amnesty on legacy issues. What I am though, is someone who knows, and has come into contact with hundreds of victims of the conflict here. Victims on all sides and of all perpetrators.
I sat at the breakfast bar, wondering how everyone else viewed the proposed Amnesty: was it just myself and the victims who were astonished by this latest development? So, I contacted other ‘players’ in the conflict to see what they thought, have to say, I was genuinely pleased that it would seem the British Government has managed to unite the majority of the population of Northern Ireland for the first time ever!! Here are my participants answers:
1) When you first heard of the Amnesty – what were your initial feelings on the whole thing?
Police Officer: When I heard the first mutterings of this "amnesty" it shocked me to my core. Initially, I couldn't take in that the Government could be so callous and thoughtless, but then very quickly realised that Johnson doesn't give a fig for victims’ families, he just wants all the dirty secrets kept from us all, as we would be shocked if we knew what really went on. There is no witch hunt of security forces, only those suspected of crime were being investigated.
The fact Sinn Fein came out with their bile suggesting they want this shows two things. That Sinn Fein, if genuinely not wanting this either, do not care about the men and women who did the dirty deeds and are prepared to sacrifice them - Or they've another dirty deal already in place with the government to protect themselves.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: When I first heard about an Amnesty, my initial feelings were, I’m not surprised, as it’s been a long running rumour that it was going to happen. It sort of way started with the early release of prisoners.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: This issue has been around since 2017 when the DUP helped sponsor a bill in Westminster promoting a Statute Of Limitations (SOL). Legal advice made it clear that if we gave a SOL to veterans, it would apply to all as a general amnesty. So, in many ways I and my party have been fighting a SOL since then, all of which is well recorded in the media. We heard about the UKG proposal about 6 weeks ago and we were aghast that it would be an amnesty in the widest sense. We knew the real losers would be the victims and survivors and those set to gain most from it were the perpetrators. This was simply immoral and repugnant to us, as is the Stormont House Agreement. We tied into a victims’ group to ensure what we felt was in tune with victims and were reassured it was. Our overriding sense is a sense of betrayal.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: I have always thought an amnesty, or something along those lines, was inevitable and, with the passing of time, that view became more entrenched. Consequently, when it came, I was hardly surprised. That's not to say I did not feel genuine sorrow for the families of the bereaved, I certainly did. I had a first-cousin ... who was executed by the British Army in 1973. My initial feeling was one of pathos, a feeling of an overwhelming sorrow for those poor people. They have the idea of justice just snuffed out -- even if they knew in their heart of hearts that justice would be unobtainable -- must have been like a hammer blow. I also felt that Boris Johnston and his government don't really give a damn about victims, or anyone in Ireland for that matter, and here was the proof made flesh.
2) And now, that it would seem the ‘deal’ has been done?
Police Officer: Having reflected on it I am still as shocked and gutted. Gutted for my mates who died protecting this country and its people, police and military; gutted for friends whose loved ones were murdered by Provos and loyalist terrorists and gutted for every person who lost a loved one, who will not see justice if this is foisted upon us. Be that La Mon victims, McGurks victims or victims where the state was involved - Any Victim's Families. We, They, Us, we All deserve justice. If this is pushed through, that won't happen and this will boil and boil and eventually erupt again, and the cycle begins for another generation. Surely, we cannot allow that to happen.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: Now that it seems that a deal has been done, my feelings are of how the victims and their families must feel.
So, it would seem that everyone from every quarter is disgusted at this proposed Amnesty. What I found more surprising, (although it was always a view I took), was that both the police officer and the former soldier were in favour of prosecuting anyone who had stepped over the line in their professions. I think this in itself, is in contradiction to certain republican accusations that the proposals are wanted by the individuals engaged in security roles here. It certainly doesn’t fit with their narratives. I know from experience that in the world of informants and ‘sources’, the police were willing to sacrifice Anyone, yes even myself when I had a threat against me from SF and in turn the IRA, in order to protect their ‘sources’. I do however, agree, that the British Government and British Security services have much more to gain from this than any individual or organisation here.
What I found interesting, was that the amnesty came as no surprise to the former paramilitaries. It made me wonder what deals or musings had been made even as far back as 1995, when it was obvious that the Government were in negotiations with paramilitaries, which then I guess led to the GFA in 1998. Did they receive assurances that the rest of us knew nothing about?
I have seen the proposal document that the British Government has drafted. Let’s take the first section, The Information Recovery Body.
This is certainly nothing new in terms of its vision. It was written into the SHA in 2014 and yet, nothing has moved. We don’t have an independent body, and worse still, we have perpetrators still stating that they cannot/will not give any further information about victims' loved ones. In these proposals, the Government would have to be subject to full disclosure, however, there is a clause whereby anything deemed to be in the Interests of National Security can legally be held back! So, again, in effect, that stands as absolutely Zero for those families of victims who were murdered by the State. And what of the Irish Government? Will they also be expected to give ‘full disclosure’? In this section there is No mention as to whether the Irish Government will also have to disclose whether they had a hand in either collusion with the IRA. or indeed the rationale at the time of not extraditing suspected murderers. And even If we get this ‘information recovery body’, I know I for one, will not believe that the information in relation to my friends murdered will ever be told!
More analysis next time on The Pensive Quill.
I sat at the breakfast bar, wondering how everyone else viewed the proposed Amnesty: was it just myself and the victims who were astonished by this latest development? So, I contacted other ‘players’ in the conflict to see what they thought, have to say, I was genuinely pleased that it would seem the British Government has managed to unite the majority of the population of Northern Ireland for the first time ever!! Here are my participants answers:
Amnesty Questions & Answers
1) When you first heard of the Amnesty – what were your initial feelings on the whole thing?
Police Officer: When I heard the first mutterings of this "amnesty" it shocked me to my core. Initially, I couldn't take in that the Government could be so callous and thoughtless, but then very quickly realised that Johnson doesn't give a fig for victims’ families, he just wants all the dirty secrets kept from us all, as we would be shocked if we knew what really went on. There is no witch hunt of security forces, only those suspected of crime were being investigated.
The fact Sinn Fein came out with their bile suggesting they want this shows two things. That Sinn Fein, if genuinely not wanting this either, do not care about the men and women who did the dirty deeds and are prepared to sacrifice them - Or they've another dirty deal already in place with the government to protect themselves.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: When I first heard about an Amnesty, my initial feelings were, I’m not surprised, as it’s been a long running rumour that it was going to happen. It sort of way started with the early release of prisoners.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: This issue has been around since 2017 when the DUP helped sponsor a bill in Westminster promoting a Statute Of Limitations (SOL). Legal advice made it clear that if we gave a SOL to veterans, it would apply to all as a general amnesty. So, in many ways I and my party have been fighting a SOL since then, all of which is well recorded in the media. We heard about the UKG proposal about 6 weeks ago and we were aghast that it would be an amnesty in the widest sense. We knew the real losers would be the victims and survivors and those set to gain most from it were the perpetrators. This was simply immoral and repugnant to us, as is the Stormont House Agreement. We tied into a victims’ group to ensure what we felt was in tune with victims and were reassured it was. Our overriding sense is a sense of betrayal.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: I have always thought an amnesty, or something along those lines, was inevitable and, with the passing of time, that view became more entrenched. Consequently, when it came, I was hardly surprised. That's not to say I did not feel genuine sorrow for the families of the bereaved, I certainly did. I had a first-cousin ... who was executed by the British Army in 1973. My initial feeling was one of pathos, a feeling of an overwhelming sorrow for those poor people. They have the idea of justice just snuffed out -- even if they knew in their heart of hearts that justice would be unobtainable -- must have been like a hammer blow. I also felt that Boris Johnston and his government don't really give a damn about victims, or anyone in Ireland for that matter, and here was the proof made flesh.
2) And now, that it would seem the ‘deal’ has been done?
Police Officer: Having reflected on it I am still as shocked and gutted. Gutted for my mates who died protecting this country and its people, police and military; gutted for friends whose loved ones were murdered by Provos and loyalist terrorists and gutted for every person who lost a loved one, who will not see justice if this is foisted upon us. Be that La Mon victims, McGurks victims or victims where the state was involved - Any Victim's Families. We, They, Us, we All deserve justice. If this is pushed through, that won't happen and this will boil and boil and eventually erupt again, and the cycle begins for another generation. Surely, we cannot allow that to happen.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: Now that it seems that a deal has been done, my feelings are of how the victims and their families must feel.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: We do not feel the deal is done. We believe we have an alternative that will keep hope alive for victims and survivors. We will keep fighting this proposal until we either change it or it becomes law.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: See question1.
3) What, if any advantages do you see of the British Government bringing in the Amnesty for State and terrorists who haven’t been tried or convicted for their crimes?
Police Officer: - The advantage open to them may be the weight off their shoulders that they'll not get that dreaded knock at the door tomorrow, the next day or ever. But their consciences will be still there, slowly eating at them and no matter how cold hearted they are, when they are alone, in the dark, we can only hope they see the carnage they caused and hope it haunts them until their dying day.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: The only advantages I see coming out of this are to the terrorists who will see this as a victory. The military will feel betrayed, so I don’t think it will be viewed as an advantage to them.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: - The only advantages I can see is that the endless cycle of court appearances, adjournments, investigations, appeals, Judicial Reviews will end. I do not think the Government gains from an amnesty.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: My view is that the British Security Services are very uncomfortable with the Kenova Inquiry and the potential consequences thereof. Kenova has the power and the wit to look at the role, not just of the IRA, and that of the informers and agents, but also of the state agencies, such as the three Tasking and Coordination Groups, who made the day-to-day decisions in regards to how state forces should act in difficult situations i.e. how they should act in cases when someone like Freddie Scappaticci makes them aware that an informer, or group of informers, are going to executed by the IRA Internal Security Department. I know of only one case where the Security Forces intervened to stop someone being executed, but in all other cases, they allowed the executions to take place. Thus, while the IRA Army Council may have thought that they controlled the circumstances surrounding an informer being shot dead. There was, effectively, another Army Council which superseded them, vis-a-vis the Tasking and Coordination Groups. So, the Brits were complicit in the murder of their own agents, British citizens. This is just one example of why the British state wishes to close down all future prosecutions and inquiries.
4) It seems to be centred on the criminals and accused; how do you think this will affect victims from every quarter?
Police Officer: It also seems that paramilitaries were sounded out by the Government, on both sides, before this was "leaked". If that is true, and no victim groups were consulted, that shows you the mark of the SOS and Government. Yet again, the victims are the last to be thought about. I can see a groundswell of folk gathering together to fight this head on, and hopefully defeat it. Some day the victims can then hope to get justice.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: I think this will leave the victims from every quarter, absolutely devastated, hurt and a feeling of betrayal.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: - We will find ourselves in a place where those who committed heinous crimes will be able to promote their deeds in books, articles or media performances. Much like Gerry Kelly does over the Maze escape. Victims will lose out again and slowly drift into the shadows as the perpetrators take the limelight.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: All that most victims have ever had was a slither of hope that they might receive justice, the possibility that, as in the Tom Oliver case just days ago (where DNA evidence was recently recovered), there might be a forensic breakthrough or a belated confession from a penitent perpetrator. That slither of hope has been extinguished by the British government to protect their own self-interests. Shameful.
3) What, if any advantages do you see of the British Government bringing in the Amnesty for State and terrorists who haven’t been tried or convicted for their crimes?
Police Officer: - The advantage open to them may be the weight off their shoulders that they'll not get that dreaded knock at the door tomorrow, the next day or ever. But their consciences will be still there, slowly eating at them and no matter how cold hearted they are, when they are alone, in the dark, we can only hope they see the carnage they caused and hope it haunts them until their dying day.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: The only advantages I see coming out of this are to the terrorists who will see this as a victory. The military will feel betrayed, so I don’t think it will be viewed as an advantage to them.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: - The only advantages I can see is that the endless cycle of court appearances, adjournments, investigations, appeals, Judicial Reviews will end. I do not think the Government gains from an amnesty.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: My view is that the British Security Services are very uncomfortable with the Kenova Inquiry and the potential consequences thereof. Kenova has the power and the wit to look at the role, not just of the IRA, and that of the informers and agents, but also of the state agencies, such as the three Tasking and Coordination Groups, who made the day-to-day decisions in regards to how state forces should act in difficult situations i.e. how they should act in cases when someone like Freddie Scappaticci makes them aware that an informer, or group of informers, are going to executed by the IRA Internal Security Department. I know of only one case where the Security Forces intervened to stop someone being executed, but in all other cases, they allowed the executions to take place. Thus, while the IRA Army Council may have thought that they controlled the circumstances surrounding an informer being shot dead. There was, effectively, another Army Council which superseded them, vis-a-vis the Tasking and Coordination Groups. So, the Brits were complicit in the murder of their own agents, British citizens. This is just one example of why the British state wishes to close down all future prosecutions and inquiries.
4) It seems to be centred on the criminals and accused; how do you think this will affect victims from every quarter?
Police Officer: It also seems that paramilitaries were sounded out by the Government, on both sides, before this was "leaked". If that is true, and no victim groups were consulted, that shows you the mark of the SOS and Government. Yet again, the victims are the last to be thought about. I can see a groundswell of folk gathering together to fight this head on, and hopefully defeat it. Some day the victims can then hope to get justice.
Loyalist Ex-Prisoner: I think this will leave the victims from every quarter, absolutely devastated, hurt and a feeling of betrayal.
Former Soldier and member of Ulster Unionist Party: - We will find ourselves in a place where those who committed heinous crimes will be able to promote their deeds in books, articles or media performances. Much like Gerry Kelly does over the Maze escape. Victims will lose out again and slowly drift into the shadows as the perpetrators take the limelight.
Republican Ex-Prisoner: All that most victims have ever had was a slither of hope that they might receive justice, the possibility that, as in the Tom Oliver case just days ago (where DNA evidence was recently recovered), there might be a forensic breakthrough or a belated confession from a penitent perpetrator. That slither of hope has been extinguished by the British government to protect their own self-interests. Shameful.
♜ ♞ ♟
So, it would seem that everyone from every quarter is disgusted at this proposed Amnesty. What I found more surprising, (although it was always a view I took), was that both the police officer and the former soldier were in favour of prosecuting anyone who had stepped over the line in their professions. I think this in itself, is in contradiction to certain republican accusations that the proposals are wanted by the individuals engaged in security roles here. It certainly doesn’t fit with their narratives. I know from experience that in the world of informants and ‘sources’, the police were willing to sacrifice Anyone, yes even myself when I had a threat against me from SF and in turn the IRA, in order to protect their ‘sources’. I do however, agree, that the British Government and British Security services have much more to gain from this than any individual or organisation here.
What I found interesting, was that the amnesty came as no surprise to the former paramilitaries. It made me wonder what deals or musings had been made even as far back as 1995, when it was obvious that the Government were in negotiations with paramilitaries, which then I guess led to the GFA in 1998. Did they receive assurances that the rest of us knew nothing about?
I have seen the proposal document that the British Government has drafted. Let’s take the first section, The Information Recovery Body.
This is certainly nothing new in terms of its vision. It was written into the SHA in 2014 and yet, nothing has moved. We don’t have an independent body, and worse still, we have perpetrators still stating that they cannot/will not give any further information about victims' loved ones. In these proposals, the Government would have to be subject to full disclosure, however, there is a clause whereby anything deemed to be in the Interests of National Security can legally be held back! So, again, in effect, that stands as absolutely Zero for those families of victims who were murdered by the State. And what of the Irish Government? Will they also be expected to give ‘full disclosure’? In this section there is No mention as to whether the Irish Government will also have to disclose whether they had a hand in either collusion with the IRA. or indeed the rationale at the time of not extraditing suspected murderers. And even If we get this ‘information recovery body’, I know I for one, will not believe that the information in relation to my friends murdered will ever be told!
I know from other families I’ve spoken to that they will not believe the British Government either. So – What’s the point? In my opinion, it’s a bit like John de Chastelain and the infamous ‘decommissioning’. I don’t think I was the only one at the time sceptical that All weapons would be decommissioned., And it’s been proven right - we still have guns, explosives and weapons which were in circulation then.
Even the Case study used by the British Government contradicts their proposals. South Africa did indeed have a truth recovery system. However, based on the South Africa model and its ethics of restorative justice - from punishment towards accountability, reparation or compensation - the model which the British Government are proposing does not include Any of those solutions for victims. One thing is for certain, four men from different backgrounds, and from at times poles apart politically, in effect are agreed!
One must wonder what planet the British Government think the people of Northern Ireland are on ...
Even the Case study used by the British Government contradicts their proposals. South Africa did indeed have a truth recovery system. However, based on the South Africa model and its ethics of restorative justice - from punishment towards accountability, reparation or compensation - the model which the British Government are proposing does not include Any of those solutions for victims. One thing is for certain, four men from different backgrounds, and from at times poles apart politically, in effect are agreed!
One must wonder what planet the British Government think the people of Northern Ireland are on ...
More analysis next time on The Pensive Quill.
⏩ Lesley Stock is a former PSNI and RUC Officer currently involved in community work.
Lesley
ReplyDeleteDublin are also opposed to it, so its the Brit Gov going it alone. The question is how does it affect the GFA/SHA? Ultimately, the Brit Gov know what they have to hide and that is what will prevail. The victims have never been beneficiaries of the peace process at any time and make no mistake SF probably want to see things buried just as the Brits do. As for the former terrorists who served the crown - they seem to have woke up too late to the idea that they fought for Queen and country and she set them, and colleagues, up to be ambushed in order to protect the identity of informants and other dirty deeds.
Lesley might do well to read David Reiff's 'In Praise of Forgetting: Historical Memory and It's Ironies'.
ReplyDeleteAnd I make that recommendation after having attended an avantgarde theatrical production last night of 'Cogadh na Saoirse', an experimental and novel bi-lingual production addressing the Irish War of Independence; all presented in an open air 4-acre theatre in Connemara.
Though it was a stupendously entertaining and visceral experience it was at the same time, to my mind anyway, a somewhat fraudulent, self-serving and deceitful attempt at collective self-remembering too.
Except in idealised, fabricated and moralistic worlds are there ‘rights’ to truth or to justice. These collectivist constructs only function effectively in the service of society dependent upon the integrity of the structures of the system they exist within, along with the system’s underlying ideology.
Living in this world is sometimes unfair; unfair and proportionately painful, subject to one’s ability to accept such harsh realities.
If those who aspire for success in this project are to make any headway they’d be better advised first addressing the structures these ideals are nested within and the ideology upon which they stand.
I'm in favour of an amnesty, but it'll never happen.
ReplyDeleteNo actor in the conflict believes they lost nor won so why would they voluntarily put their head in the noose, not in a legal sense but in the judgement of society?
Those involved or in knowledge are advancing in years soon to be dropping off the perch. The powers that be will use Time as the means to answer any questions by simply waiting until all relative parties are dead. There's no justice for anyone in conflict. Sometimes it's best to just let it go. If you pick a scab it'll never heal.