Allister challenges Martin McGuinness
16 April 2007
MEP, Jim Allister, has challenged Martin McGuinness to clarify how the "republican code of honour", which he clung to in refusing to answer key questions at the Saville Inquiry, can be reconciled with his pledge of office as DFM to uphold the rule of law. In a statement Mr Allister said:-
"Much has been made in some quarters of the fact that at the same time as Executive Members will pledge "to observe the joint nature of the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister" and "to participate fully in the ...North-South Ministerial Council", Sinn Fein and all other ministers will pledge to uphold the rule of law.
Such a pledge by Martin McGuinness raises an interesting conundrum, which McGuinness needs to urgently and publicly resolve - if any credibility is to attach to his pledge. In giving selective evidence to the Saville Inquiry, McGuinness persistently refused to answer pertinent questions, including the location of an IRA arms dump. His "justification" was that he was bound by "the republican code of honour". On that spurious and offensive basis he refused to answer several questions and thereby declined to tell the whole truth.
Now that he is to be deputy first minister in Northern Ireland, citizens are entitled to know if he still holds himself bound by this "republican code of honour" and how it fits in with his new pledge of office.
"Which, Mr McGuinness, takes precedence - your pledge of office as Deputy First Minister or your pledge of office when you joined the IRA?"
We know his republican code of honour took precedence over giving full evidence to a public sworn judicial inquiry, will it continue to rule his actions as DFM? The people of Northern Ireland, over whom he will preside as Deputy First Minister, are surely entitled to know.
It's time for McGuinness to come clean. Of course, he will not! Nor will his Junior Minister, Kelly, for he too, as an IRA bomber, is bound by the same doctrinal "code of honour" and secrecy."
