Marian Price suspended sentence

Marian McGlinchey: Old Bailey bomber gets suspended sentence

7 January 2014 Last updated at 11:00

Old Bailey bomber Marian McGlinchey has been given a suspended sentence for aiding dissident republican terrorists.In November, McGlinchey, also known as Marian Price, admitted providing a mobile phone used to claim responsibility for the Real IRA murders of two soldiers.The charge was connected to the attack on Massereene Army barracks in 2009.McGlinchey was sentenced to a year, suspended for three years. A judge said the risk of reoffending was low.He also said that although she had a significant conviction for terrorism - the Old Bailey bombings in 1973 - McGlinchey's health was now "poor and deteriorating" and if she returned to prison she faced a significant risk of severe depression.Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar were shot dead as they collected a pizza delivery at the front of Massereene barracks in County Antrim.Marian McGlinchey was pictured holding a speech for a masked man at a dissident republican rally in LondonderryMcGlinchey, 59, of Stockman's Avenue in west Belfast, pleaded guilty to buying a mobile phone that was used in several calls claiming responsibility for the Real IRA attack.She also admitted aiding and abetting the addressing of a meeting to encourage support for terrorism.The second charge related to a separate incident at a dissident republican rally in Londonderry in April 2011.At the Easter commemoration rally in the City Cemetery, she was filmed holding a piece of paper for a masked man as he made a speech, during which he issued threats against Catholic police officers.She was sentenced to a nine-month term for that offence, to run concurrently with the one-year term and suspended for three years.In a statement, the police said: "Despite today's sentencing, and previous acquittals (over the Massereene attack), the investigation remains open."Police would appeal to anyone with any information about those involved in these murders to contact them."The tragic outcome of those events in March 2009 is that the Azimkar and Quinsey families are facing another year without their brothers and son. Anyone who knows anything about the murders or can assist in any way with the investigation should do the right thing and talk to police on 0845 600 8000."Old Bailey attackForty years ago, McGlinchey was convicted along with her sister, Dolours Price, for their part in an IRA car bomb attack on London's Old Bailey courts.One man died of heart attack and more than 200 people were injured in the 1973 bombing.McGlinchey was released early from prison on licence, but her licence was revoked in May 2011.She was returned to jail on the direction of the then Northern Ireland Secretary of State Owen Paterson, weeks after the dissident republican rally in Derry.

Dup backs immunity

DUP would back limited immunity if sought by victims

12 December 2013 Last updated at 11:26Mr Wilson said the point of the talks was to try to give closure to "those who are hurting"The Democratic Unionist Party would support limited immunity for people involved in Troubles-related crimes if requested by victims, an MP has said.Sammy Wilson said he would seek to ensure people were aware of the implications of such a decision.It comes amid reports that various incentives for uncovering the truth are up for discussion at talks hosted by US diplomat Dr Richard Haass.Mr Wilson said the talks' aim was "to try and give closure" to those in pain.He told the BBC's Nolan Show: "Now, some of those who are hurting say: 'This is the only way that we believe we can get the information which will deal with the hurt which we have experienced.'"Then I think it will be very difficult for anyone to say: 'We are going to deny you that.'"Earlier this week, DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister, Peter Robinson, said he was "not averse" to considering proposals offering immunity in return for information on historic murders.But Mr Robinson said his party would oppose any amnesty.Dr Haass is hosting talks in Northern Ireland aimed at resolving disputes over flags, parades and the past.IncentivesHe said there was a "sense of urgency" about the discussion he is holding with each of the five biggest political parties.On Monday, Dr Haass told a news conference that "dealing with the past presents a very detailed and intricate set of issues".He added: "Balancing it and trying to get as full a picture of what really happened is obviously in everyone's interest."What sort of incentives of mechanisms we might use, again will be on the table this week."The US diplomat is determined to bring the talks to a head by the end of the year, and ideally before Christmas.

British Army MRF Impunity

Immunity for British killers while
IRA veteran is jailed
Days after self-confessed British Crown
force killers were broadcast justifying the
murder of innocent civilians, the jailing
of a former IRA Volunteer for an armed
action in 1981 has been described as
“vindictive”.
At Belfast Crown Court on Thursday,
Armagh man Seamus Kearney was
convicted for an IRA attack in which a
member of the RUC police died. The
judge, sitting without a jury under
special anti-republican Diplock
legislation, sentenced Mr Kearney to life
imprisonment.
Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday
Agreement, Mr Kearney will serve two years
before being released on licence.
Following the sentencing, Sinn Féin
representative for mid-Ulster Ian Milne said: “I
know Seamus Kearney well. He previously
served a long period of imprisonment for IRA
activities.
“The decision to pursue Seamus on these
historic charges was wrong, vindictive,
unnecessary and counterproductive.”
He added: “It is ironic at a time when the Haass
process is coming to a conclusion in dealing with
legacy issues that a republican is being
imprisoned on historic changes.
“It seems that the British government on one
hand wants to talk the language of building a
new future here but at the same time is sending
a message that it is continuing to fight old
battles.
“Like the previous case of Gerry McGeough, it is
our position that Seamus should be released and
allowed to return home to his family.”
The DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson hit out at Sinn
Féin’s reaction, which he claimed showed “a
callous disregard for the suffering and pain
inflicted by the IRA” on the family of the RUC
Reservist, John Proctor.
The continuing prosecution of former members of
the Provisonal IRA, nineteen years after that
organisation declared a ceasefire, stands in
contrast to the continuing failure of the Stormont
system to prosecute members of the British
Crown forces or its murder gangs.
‘SHAM’
The family of an 18-year-old Catholic youth shot
dead in 1972 by a secret British Army unit have
said this week they have been forced to take
legal action against the British Ministry of
Defence (MoD).
Daniel Rooney was gunned down by undercover
soldiers from the British Army’s ‘Military
Reaction Force’ at St James’s Crescent in west
Belfast. A BBC Panorama documentary, shown
last week, carried interviews with members of
the unit, who admitted that they killed members
of the nationalist community even though there
was no evidence they were involved with the
IRA.
The Rooney family are to issue civil proceedings
against the MoD in relation to the conduct of their
soldiers. Noel Rooney, Daniel’s brother,
described the 1973 inquest into his death as a
“sham”, saying none of the soldiers involved
gave evidence at it. As well as a fresh inquest he
said the family wanted the soldiers responsible
to be brought to court, although he does not
think this would happen.
“We would not have any confidence that any of
these people would be prosecuted. We would
certainly like to see it happen,” he said. “The
family are supportive of anything that will get to
the truth and the [Panorama] programme helped
with that.
“It exposed something that we knew all along.
My mother wanted Daniel’s complete innocence
to be known and wanted a British government
apology.” He said his mother, who died several
years ago, “never got over” her son’s death.
Mr Rooney said he was shocked that the Military
Reaction Force was “organised at such a senior
level”. And he said he was appalled by the
“arrogance and ruthlessness” of the soldiers who
appeared on the programme.
“They said they would do it again,” he said.
“They were quite open and brazen about it.”

The 14 hooded men

A group known as the Hooded Men have claimed that new evidence has emerged that proves the UK government subjected them to torture in Northern Ireland.Fourteen men, arrested under the policy of internment in 1971, were taken to a secret location and subjected to what was called "deep interrogation".It has since been confirmed the secret location was Ballykelly Army base.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has consistently rejected allegations that it used torture.It has also pointed out that it has "always fully co-operated" with statutory inquiries.'Beaten'In 1978, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the men had been subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment, but not torture.However, the 14 men and their lawyers have now said that documents, recently discovered in the public records office in London, could lead to that decision being reversed.On their way to the interrogation centre in 1971, the interned men were hooded and thrown to the ground from helicopters.PlayLiam Shannon spoke to the BBC's Vincent Kearney about the techniques usedThey had been told they were hundreds of feet in the air, but were actually just a few feet from the ground.They were then subjected to what the Army referred to as "the five techniques".They were beaten, deprived of sleep, food and water, and forced to stand in a stress position against a wall for long periods."The noise was indescribable, like steam coming from a boiler at a high rate," said former internee Gerry McKerr.He went on to become the first commanding officer of IRA prisoners in what was then known as the Long Kesh prison camp near Lisburn, County Antrim."We were put against the wall and told to hold the position for as long as we could. On falling, we were beaten and placed back against the wall again."I collapsed innumerable times and was beaten each time," Mr McKerr said."I still have dreams of being attacked and saying to myself 'not again I can't do this again'. It's a recurring thing, it's always in my mind."In 1976, the European Commission upheld a complaint by the Irish government that the way the men had been interrogated constituted torture.'Inhumane'Embarrassed by the ruling and the international criticism that followed, the British government appealed.Two years later the finding was overturned, as the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the treatment of the men was inhumane and degrading, but did not constitute torture."The argument put forward by the British government was that it was inhumane and degrading treatment and not torture because, as a point of law, for it to be torture the person administering the treatment had to enjoy it," said Mr McKerr."They said that because those administering the beatings were not enjoying it, it was inhumane and degrading but not torture. It felt like torture to us."The documents found in the public records office in London were uncovered by the Pat Finucane Centre.ClassifiedThe 14 men and their lawyers claim the material proves the UK government deliberately withheld information from those investigating the complaint by the Irish government.One document, classified as secret, said it is "very important to keep secure the existence and location of the centre in Ballykelly where the 12 detainees in question had been interrogated".The 14 men say this, and the other documents, prove that the British government covered up what happened to them, and that they were subjected to pre-meditated torture."What we went through was indescribable," says another of the 14 men, Liam Shannon."There was a book written at one stage called The Guinea Pigs and that's what we think we were, guinea pigs for these techniques. It was obvious it was all about seeing how far they could push each of us before we would break."It's something that never leaves you," Mr Shannon said."At any time of night or day something will come up, particularly when you see situations like Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo Bay, where you see prisoners walking about hooded in orange jump suits, because that's what happened to us and that's what's happening today."'Horrific treatment'While all of the men were interned, none was ever convicted of an offence.They say it is now time for the British government to be put back in the dock."What happened to us was torture, without doubt," said Mr Shannon."The British government and their agents never admitted torture, they got off the hook. They lied their way out, they lied to the Irish government, they lied to us, they lied to the European Court and we want to now get them to stop lying and admit that they tortured us and that torture was a policy that they adopted in 1971 in the north of Ireland," he added.Lawyers for the men sent the documents uncovered in the public records office to the Irish Attorney General earlier this month.Solicitor Peter Corrigan said: "What has to be done is that the case against the British government has to be made in public, evidence that was previously presented in court, and evidence that continues to be hidden from the court must be exhibited and displayed for all to see the horrific treatment these men were subjected to."

Attorney General 'amnesty'

John Larkin Troubles proposal an amnesty: Peter Robinson

21 November 2013 
Peter Robinson said Troubles victims had a right to expect prosecutionsFirst Minister Peter Robinson has said the attorney general's proposal for an end to Troubles era prosecutions was "effectively an amnesty".John Larkin has previously said he was not advocating an amnesty for people who killed during the Troubles.However, on Thursday Mr Robinson said the proposal would allow people "to get away with murder".He said those people who were victims of the Troubles had a right to expect prosecutions."Equally, I don't want to see those who have been the perpetrators feel that they can live the rest of their lives without the fear that they might one day be made accountable and amenable for the crimes they have committed," Mr Robinson said."In other societies they don't say 'we're not going to go after murderers anymore because the years have past by'.""I oppose what the attorney general is saying."He added that it was not Mr Larkin's job to be a political adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive."There are certain positions in our society where it is more appropriate for people to be apolitical," Mr Robinson said.Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Mr Larkin's proposal would be a breach of international human rights.Mr Kenny said: "I think this would be in contravention of human rights. People have internationally a right to know. They have a right to find out and where (members of) the state were involved, there must be an investigation.'Completely independent'"From my perspective down here as Taoiseach, clearly this is a matter of international human rights... and if the hand of justice points incontrovertibly following court cases to individuals then justice has to take its course."Earlier, Mr Larkin confirmed he consulted no ministers before proposing an end to Troubles-related prosecutions.He said his suggestion was completely independent.Mr Larkin said there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into any relevant killings that took place before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.His proposal was criticised by victims and politicians.He was at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Thursday for the verdict on his successful challenge to a coroner refusing to hold an inquest into a stillbirth.Asked if he had briefed or consulted the executive before making his views on Troubles-era cases known in a media interview, he said: "No minister, no MLA is engaged in what I said."It's entirely my contribution, independent, to the public debate."The attorney general added: "I have put it out there and it's being discussed."

British soldiers vs prosecution

Seamus Mallon: Soldiers who shot unarmed civilians must be prosecuted

21 November 2013 Last updated at 18:05Anyone actively involved in shooting unarmed civilians during the Troubles must be prosecuted, Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister has said.Seamus Mallon's comments came after ex-soldiers told BBC One's Panorama that a secret unit used by the British Army in the early 1970s shot unarmed civilians.Northern Ireland Attorney General John Larkin has suggested prosecutions for Troubles-related killings should end.More than 3,500 people were killed during three decades of conflict.Ex-members of the Military Reaction Force (MRF), which was disbanded in 1973, told Panorama they had been tasked with "hunting down" IRA members in Belfast, saying their unit had helped save many lives.Handpicked unitMr Mallon, who became deputy leader of the nationalist SDLP party and was one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One that those involved must be held accountable, even 40 years later."Prosecutions are very difficult after a period of time," he said."That's no reason for not bringing them."If you don't bring these prosecutions and if you don't try to ensure that the law is there for everyone to answer, then you're actually negating the whole thesis of law within society and that is, I'm afraid, what has been happening in instances such as this."The details of the killings emerged a day after Mr Larkin made his suggestion that any prosecutions over Troubles-related killings that took place before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 should be ended.That proposal has been criticised by groups representing relatives of victims and by Northern Ireland's First Minister, Peter Robinson, who said it would allow people "to get away with murder".Killings 'defied logic'Panorama has been told the MRF consisted of about 40 men handpicked from across the British army.Before it was disbanded 40 years ago, after 18 months, plain-clothes soldiers carried out round-the-clock patrols of west Belfast - the heartland of the IRA - in unmarked cars.Three former members of the unit, who agreed to be interviewed on condition their identities were disguised, said they had posed as Belfast City Council road sweepers, dustmen and even "meths drinkers", carrying out surveillance from street gutters.One of the soldiers said they had also fired on suspected IRA members.He described their mission as "to draw out the IRA and to minimise their activities... if they needed shooting, they'd be shot".The soldiers interviewed by Panorama defended their actions, saying they had ultimately helped bring about the IRA's decision to lay down arms.But The Ministry of Defence said it had referred the disclosures to police.Panorama has identified 10 unarmed civilians shot by the MRF, according to witnesses.Mr Mallon said: "You had killings for which there was no logic. This type of incident where people were shot from a passing car, almost as if for fun."But was very clear that there was a strategy behind it and I think the huge question to be asked here is who ultimately authorised it, because it had to be authorised both in operational terms by a senior army figure and in political terms by a senior politician."Former detectives are reviewing all of the deaths in Northern Ireland during the conflict as part of the Historical Enquiries Team set up following the peace process.Around 11% of the 3,260 deaths being reviewed were the responsibility of the state.

Dealing with the past in £££!!!

Policing the past will cost criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland almost £190m during the next five years, a report has said.The Criminal Justice Inspection said dealing with legacy issues was having a negative impact on how police and other agencies dealt with current challenges.It warned this could reduce confidence in the criminal justice system.The report also called for the creation of a special legacy group to deal with the past.The inspection report comes a day afterAttorney General John Larkin said there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into Troubles' killings before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.The report estimated that the cost to the police and other agencies would be £187m over the next five years.The Police Service of Northern Ireland accounts for more than £132m of that total, with the Police Ombudsman's office accounting for almost £11m and prisons just over £6m.Chief Criminal Justice Inspector Brendan McGuigan said the police and other agencies, like prisons and the Public Prosecution Service, were struggling to cope."Those are the upfront costs, however, there are unseen costs and clearly the criminal justice agencies are under significant pressure in terms of reducing budgets," he said.Chief Criminal Justice Inspector Brendan McGuigan said the police and other agencies were struggling to cope"They are struggling to find the money to deliver on the legacy issues and, of course, that is not meeting the needs and expectations of victims."The reality is that detectives involved in legacy issues are the same detectives who will be conducting serious crime investigation, child exploitation and the activities of dissident republicans."It all comes out of the same pool and the reality is that it's causing significant delays in dealing with legacy issues - that's causing enormous frustration for victims and their legal representatives."Brendan McGuigan said he hoped talks, being chaired by former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass, may provide a better way forward."The current model isn't meeting the needs and expectations of victims in the way that it should, so there is an opportunity, I think, in the Haass talks to consider how best this should be done," he said.