Allister issues inventory challenge
02 July 2009
“Following the unsatisfactory precedent set with the IRA the entire process attending to “Loyalist” decommissioning has been shrouded in secrecy. Such saps confidence. Self-certification by a paramilitary organisation that what has been decommissioned in fact represents the totality of their arsenal is self-rewarding and lacking in transparency.
“The public need and demand clarity. As things stand, we cannot say what was decommissioned or where or when or how it took place. Reports of the UVF’s and UDA’s decommissioning lack credibility in the same way that those of the IRA’s in 2005 did. The inventories of what was been destroyed by the IRA and UVF should be published immediately. Then security experts will be in a position to make an informed judgment on what happened.
“I am therefore calling on all political leaders to support the immediate publication of all inventories. If the IRA, UVF and the government have got nothing to hide why are full inventories being held back? Public confidence is key and this is how it can best be secured.
“Even if one accepts that a significant quantity of “Loyalist” weaponry has been disposed of then the negative side of that needs to be kept in mind. A wealth of forensic evidence will have been lost. This will mean that the slim hopes victims had of seeing those who butchered their loved ones brought to justice have seen a significant setback. Failure to have granted these people their day in court is not something any society should celebrate.”
