H writes:
I thought you might be interested in this report into the lessens learnt from the report into Patrick Finucane‘s murder which was published today. it seems to have slipped under the radar for some reason…
Full report report here
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The British Government was up to its neck in the UDR and UDA.
Although it may have appeared as a sham difference at a number of stages, there was a fundamental difference between the UDR and the UDA. The UDR was part of the British Army, the UDA was (and is) a terrorist organisation that often killed people under the name the “Ulster Freedom Fighters”.
Makes the Arms Trial look good.
Oddly the UDA wasn’t made illegal until August 1992!
I remember P. Robinson opposing making it illegal as it would “drive it underground”. Strangely, he didn’t apply that logic and appeal for the IRA to be made legal.
Anyway, the troubles t’was all the Shinner’s fault. I read that recently in Dessie O’Malley’s book.
The Troubles may not have been SF/IRA’s fault to begin with (although their infiltration and subsequent violent hijacking of civil rights marches certainly played a part). They were, however, chiefly to blame for the perpetuation of the Troubles for a quarter of a century.
If all you ever read was independent newspaper group publications – that would seem to be true. Paisley and his genocidal cohorts did more to exacerbate the troubles than anyone, stirring up medieval nonsense
Jesus! If they are not going to do these things any more, then does it follow that they did them in the first place?
“De Silva draws attention to the deliberate and unauthorised disclosure of
classified intelligence information by members of the security forces to
loyalist terrorists. His report identifies some 270 separate instances of leaks
during the period 1987-89.”
“De Silva is critical of the fact that significant amounts of intelligence
collected by an army agent and passed to the police were not acted upon
and that this anomaly was never challenged by those in a position to do so. “
“De Silva describes obstruction of subsequent criminal justice processes
linked to Patrick Finucane‟s murder on the part of a number of Army
personnel. “
“26. The de Silva report is a document of great value, which sets out the
significant failings in the Northern Ireland security apparatus during the
Troubles. It is also important to note that de Silva says that his report
should not be taken to establish civil or criminal liability of any individual
or organisation referred to within the body of the report. The Government
deeply regrets the fact that, as de Silva concludes, “a series of positive
actions by employees of the State actively facilitated [Patrick Finucane‟s]
murder”.
Think I need a cup of tea..