Judicial findings should make SF position in government untenable
01 July 2008
Statement by Traditional Unionist Leader, Jim Allister QC MEP:
“Given the continuing inextricable link between Sinn Fein and the IRA, in an other country the remarks of Mr Justice Gillen, in his Judgement in the McCartney murder trial, would be having devastating political consequences – and so they ought to have!
The Judge’s findings explode the myth that the republican movement has genuinely signed up to support the police and the rule of law.
Judge Gillen’s finding that the evidence of one of the key witnesses, Ed Gowdy, “may have been influenced or even directed by the IRA.,” is a cause for great alarm. The Judge went on to find, “At the very least there must be a real possibility that his evidence has been through a sieve orchestrated by this unlawful organisation.” He also found that Gowdy had been visited between 4 and 6 times by the IRA. The Judge also found that the IRA may have influenced the evidence of Brendan Devine, McCartney’s friend, who was badly beaten and had his throat cut by the republican gang. Afterwards the IRA met Devine several times to discuss the events of January 30.
What emerges here is a disturbing picture of IRA manipulation of evidence, which has all the hallmarks of perverting the course of justice. But, the IRA is not just any organisation, it is the parent organisation of those that sit in our government. Sinn Fein, as its inextricable partner, is equally tainted by these judicial findings.
The consequence of this judgement should not only be to strengthen Unionist resolve that IRA/Sinn Fein must never get anywhere near policing and justice, but it should cause those Unionists who ushered Sinn Fein into government to seriously reflect on what they have done, and continue to do by sustaining such people at the heart of government.”
