McGuinness’ mendacity a challenge to both the police and the DUP
09 September 2010
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC:-
“McGuinness’ mendacity is plain for all to see. No one believes his latest cover story about a memory lapse. Now in hiding from the media, McGuinness knows his stance is laughable. Why would a priest he’d never heard of ask to see him, a person known then only for his IRA leadership, to discuss the generic goals of nationalism on his deathbed, but never mention the IRA? Just who does McGuinness think he’s kidding? Sounds much more like McGuinness paying his respects to a valued compatriot in arms!
“The police had the intelligence which exposed Chesney as an IRA Claudy bomber. Equally, I believe, they have intelligence on his associates and movements. They have the same on McGuinness. So, with the Government denying, and I suspect fearing, a proper inquiry, I now call on the police and other security services to release any intelligence which links Chesney to McGuinness and which deals with McGuinness’ movements and actions over the period and subject of Claudy. Perhaps it is because McGuinness knows or fears there is such which caused him to briefly break cover yesterday. Certainly by 1980 intelligence gathering on McGuinness must have been intensive so his excursions into Donegal are likely to be documented by the intelligence services.
“But there are deeper political issues here which in an accountable democracy would not be able to be dodged. One such issue is what does his partner and sustainer in government, the DUP, now intend to do about it? Pontius Pilate-like they cannot wash their hands of McGuinness’ lying. He is their key partner in office and Joint First Minister with the DUP Leader, supposedly committed to the Nolan principles of ‘honesty’ and ‘integrity’ in public life. His exposed and untenable position focuses attention on why they are sustaining someone so ready to lie, and who they also know hides the darkest of secrets over some of the worst atrocities committed by his IRA. Will the DUP through its own inaction now aid the McGuinness strategy of riding out this storm by both keeping their heads down? I suspect so, but this is an opportunity for Peter Robinson to demonstrate if there is any free-standing power or strength in the office which he holds.”
