Do Sinn Fein Back Army on Garrison?
24 November 2009
Jim Allister has challenged Sinn Fein/IRA to spell out where they stand in relation to the use of the Army’s Special Reconnaissance Regiment after it emerged that it were involved in stopping an attack on police officers in Garrison.
The TUV leader said:
“Sinn Fein/IRA have publicly opposed the use of the Army to combat the threat posed by Republican terrorists.
“In March when it emerged that Special Forces were to be deployed Alex Maskey said:
“Sinn Fein remains opposed to any such deployment of these forces and remains committed to ensuring that the PSNI is held to account for an effective, efficient and non-political Policing service. …There can be no place for these types of groups within any civic and non-political policing service."
Gerry Adams was equally forthright:
“There can be no place for so called British Special Forces within any civic and accountable policing structures.”
“Sinn Fein/IRA have condemned the attacks but will they endorse the means successfully employed to thwart those attacks – British Army Special Forces?
“Unionists will demand a clear and unambiguous answer to this question – particularly given that should policing and justice powers be devolved to Stormont Sinn Fein/IRA will have opportunity to meddle in such matters by virtue of their veto on the Executive”.
