{"id":4223,"date":"2018-10-03T09:07:25","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T08:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=4223"},"modified":"2018-10-03T12:52:27","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T11:52:27","slug":"bradleys-attempt-to-choke-off-debate-on-a-statute-of-limitations-will-fail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=4223","title":{"rendered":"Bradley\u2019s attempt to choke off debate on a statute of limitations will fail"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In anticipation of the end of the consultation period on Friday for the proposals\u00a0 on dealing with the Troubles\u2019 legacy, \u00a0the secretary of state Karen Bradley writes in Eamonn Mallie\u2019s website..<\/a><\/p>\n

As the consultation is still live, I will not, at this stage, comment on specific suggestions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She then goes on to do precisely that, on the issue overhanging\u00a0 the whole exercise\u00a0 that has significant support at Westminster and in sections of NI opinion.\u00a0 The military lobby is campaigning strongly for an amnesty for the security forces, recognising that this may entail an amnesty across the board. Many in the justice system believe that\u00a0 a continuing long drawn out legal process will fail to turn up sufficient evidence for prosecutions and will hamper chances of reconciliation. Others, that a continuing examination of the records by an Independent Historical Investigations Unit has a built- in bias against the security forces,<\/a> extensively covered in the Newsletter\u2019s Stop the Legacy Scandal campaign. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u00a0am aware that some people wanted to see the option of a statute of limitations included in the consultation, while others were strongly opposed to the idea.<\/p>\n

We owe a debt of gratitude to the bravery of the soldiers and police officers who upheld the rule of law and were themselves accountable to it. I fully understand the concerns that have been raised, but a statute of limitations would not be possible under international law without extending it to terrorists. That is something I could not support.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the Lords debate early\u00a0 last month<\/a>, discussion on an amnesty did receive encouragement from the junior NIO\u00a0 minister Lord Duncan of Springbank. Typically, Bradley has chosen the default position with no explanation so far.\u00a0 Her attempt to forestall critical reaction will surely fail.\u00a0 Drawing a line in some form is now supported by every surviving secretary of state of both parties prior to the coalition government, the generals (predictably enough), a former head of MI5 and assorted establishment figures on both sides of the Irish Sea.\u00a0 Apart from the amnesty issue, the government\u2019s attempt in effect to give a veto to the chronically divided local parties all but guarantees continuing deadlock, making the consultation \u00a0a wholly predictable exercise in futility.<\/p>\n

This article by Brian Walker appeared in Slugger O’Toole<\/p>\n

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