Allister rejects any Devolution of Policing and Justice
05 January 2008
Responding to the anticipation by Ian Paisley Junior of the devolving of policing and justice powers to Stormont Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister said:-
“For decades the IRA butchered policemen and assassinated judges. Thus, most people rightly recoil in horror at the thought of Sinn Fein getting anywhere near policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland. Just a year ago DUP MPs pledged it was out of the question for a political lifetime. Now, they anticipate the conditions in which it could happen.
A real problem with devolving policing and justice is the powers it gives Martin McGuinness. OFMDFM would make the recommendations on appointments of all senior judges (ie. LCJ and the Lord Justices of Appeal), appoint the Attorney General and exercise powers to remove judges. None of this could be done without McGuinness’ approval, so this self-confessed IRA commander would have critical control over the judiciary.
It is nauseating to think that someone who was a principal in the terrorist IRA, which murdered a Lord Justice of Appeal and his wife (Lord & Lady Gibson), and several other judicial figures, should ever get anywhere near having an input into judicial appointments in Northern Ireland. Such should be repulsive to all law abiding citizens and of itself enough to cause Unionists to determine that the devolution of policing and justice is a non-starter.
It saddens me that in negotiations, despite my urgings, the DUP did nothing to try and remove these powers from OFMDFM. Likewise, I cannot comprehend why Ian Paisley Junior should think that in any circumstances McGuinness should get anywhere near exercising such powers.”
