IRA Approach to Smithwick Exposes Double Standards
08 February 2013
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The fact that no member of the IRA is prepared to give evidence to the Smithwick Inquiry exposes the rank hypocrisy of Republican campaigns for “truth” when it comes to the Troubles.
“Imagine the outcry if soldiers had not given evidence during the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. Yet here we have a situation where the murder of two police officers is being investigated, with safeguards in place to protect the identity of individuals and Republicans simply don’t co-operate.
“Nothing could more starkly demonstrate the Republican approach to dealing with the Troubles. They want every alleged misdeed by the security forces placed under the spotlight but when it comes to their own acts of bloody terror – which, don’t forget, killed more Roman Catholics than anyone else during the Troubles – they refuse to co-operate.
“The double standards are nauseating. Republicans want to hear the “truth” about a select number of incidents during their 30 year campaign of terror bur have no interest in providing the truth about the murders of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan or the victims of Enniskillen, La Mon, Bloody Friday, Claudy or a host of other incidents for that matter”.
