Human Rights – Page 6 – Slugger O'Toole

The British government are contemplating an all-round amnesty, claims Denis Bradley. If so, it’a too hot to handle for the local parties and should become a big ticket item for Westminster

Brian Walker on February 2, 2018, 11:46 am

| Readers 2137

Denis Bradley has been spelling out a basic home truth about dealing with the past in discussion on BBC NI’s The View with his partner in the still definitive Eames Bradley report. “Tough love” for victims is overdue. Writing in the Irish News, he has also made some startling assertions. That families should be given truth pertains to knowing what and why a death or injury happened during the four decades of the troubles. But there is something out and …

At the sharpest end of dealing with the past, whatever the arguments, the Haggarty case takes your breath away

Brian Walker on January 29, 2018, 7:49 pm

| Readers 2053

A Loyalist “supergrass” who admitted the murders of five people among hundreds of offences has had a 35-year jail term reduced to six-and-a-half years for helping the police. Gary Haggarty, 45, was a former leader of an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) unit in north Belfast. Haggarty was a paid police informer for 11 years The judgment from Belfast Crown Court indicated that the 35-year jail term was reduced by 75% for the assistance given to prosecutors and then a further …

Dramatic turn over bid to quash the police ombudsman’s Loughinisland report

Brian Walker on January 19, 2018, 12:23 pm

| Readers 2610

Pressure is mounting on Mr Justice McCloskey to withdraw from the hearing to quash the police ombudsman’s report on the Loughinisland murders. The bid was made by lawyers including the recently retired director of public prosecutions Barra McGrory. Last week the judge had already deferred a ruling to allow a new lawyer for the police ombudsman to read himself into the case. This has turned out to be the former DPP. Newly instructed counsel for the Ombudsman, Barra McGrory QC, …

“Any political party that vetoes the re-establishment of the Northern Assembly until further human rights are recognised (or not) is putting the cart before the horse.”

Pete Baker on December 31, 2017, 7:46 pm

| Readers 2516

As Newton Emerson pointed out in Saturday’s Irish News, Northern Ireland’s first human rights commissioner, and erstwhile “father of an all singing, all dancing Northern Ireland Human Rights Bill“, Professor Brice Dickson, has had something to say about ‘red lines’ and a ‘rights-based’ society. From the Irish News article Northern Ireland’s first human rights commissioner, Prof Brice Dickson, has penned a robust article in the Irish Times explaining that the Stormont talks issues Sinn Féin is describing as “rights” are …

“The truth remains that Adams will only reveal his past if it suits his own agenda.”

Pete Baker on December 31, 2017, 3:44 pm

| Readers 2988

We might never know the truth about the suggestion that Gerry Adams was responsible, directly or indirectly, for setting up the Provisional IRA’s East Tyrone Brigade for ambush as they tried to blow up a police station in Loughgall in May 1987. Sinn Féin have dismissed the claims as “utter nonsense”, and some of the usual suspects have busied themselves playing the man – and/or the media. Meanwhile, Ed Moloney provides some useful background, and reproduces the chapter in his book ‘A Secret …

“Perhaps we can begin with social parity.”

Pete Baker on December 19, 2017, 11:04 pm

| Readers 1804

Writing in the Guardian, Richard Angell, LGBT officer of the Labour Irish Society and director of Progress, has an interesting suggestion Owen Smith is right to say that if the parties of Northern Ireland cannot get their act together and restore power-sharing government then direct rule, however undesirable, must be used to make progress on LGBT and reproductive rights. But he is wrong to say that referendums are necessary to give a mandate for change. For one, thing they are not required. Unlike in the …

Amnesty for security forces foreshadowed in the DUP deal

Brian Walker on November 22, 2017, 11:08 pm

| Readers 1271

Just a footnote to yesterday’s post on the government’s floating of an amnesty for security forces. The Irish News follows up predictably enough with angry responses to what they rightly report as the adoption of the recommendation of the Commons Defence Committee report just before the general election. The committee, which includes DUP MP Gavin Robinson, said that the pursuit of members of the crown forces was “wholly oppressive and a denial of natural justice”. “It can be ended only …

The government need to come clean urgently on their bungled proposal for a security forces amnesty

Brian Walker on November 21, 2017, 8:22 pm

| Readers 1668

After Sinn Fein held their meeting with Theresa May this afternoon, Gerry Adams diverted from the apparent failure to make progress on restoring Stormont with a genuine issue: a potential amnesty from prosecution for security force members who served in the Troubles is to be floated by the British government. The Irish News carries the fullest version of the story by the PA. What’s being floated is a statute of limitations in a fundamental and unilateral amendment to the 2014 Stormont …

The reception for the Loughinisland documentary No Stone Unturned shows that legacy issues will stay marginalised

Brian Walker on November 16, 2017, 10:59 am

| Readers 2813

The low key reception given to the documentary No Stone Unturned, the film documentary on the UVF murders of six randomly selected Catholics in their local Loughinisland pub in 1994 which is currently being given a brief screening at the Queen’s Film Theatre, is the latest example of how presumed familiarity with the underlying problems of Northern Ireland has produced if not quite contempt, at least widespread deadening indifference. Warm congratulations nevertheless go to The Detail team especially their reporter …

Real work to restore the Executive has yet to begin. For the public to make an impact, proposals and pressure from the governments are essential

Brian Walker on November 8, 2017, 11:51 am

| Readers 1224

As a comparative outsider I’m struck by how most commentators are obsessed with speculating about political positioning and identity narratives. This has produced numbing negativism and despair rather than the energy needed to approach the daunting but practical problem of trying to restore the Executive. Being case hardened and calloused, they endlessly refine their own explanations for obvious failure. They accept the parameters set by the DUP and SF too readily. To be fair, this is often the default caused by a …

More delay over a return to the Assembly needs challenging by the two governments

Brian Walker on October 16, 2017, 12:46 pm

| Readers 1267

So the target date for either direct rule or an agreement to revive the Executive has slipped for another week at least. What a surprise! We were told by the two governments yet again that ” progress” had been made, but this has been slapped down by the DUP. Sinn Fein’s agenda as far as I know it is not inherently unfeasible. The problem is that it’s Sinn Fein who’s running with it. Crafty old Gerry for false-footing the DUP? Or …

Will someone spell it out. What role for Dublin under ” direct rule? “

Brian Walker on October 7, 2017, 2:19 pm

| Readers 2490

Patrick Murphy’s apt question in the Irish News. “ Why do we think Dublin would be any better than running the North than London?” prompts the even more basic question:. What sort of new Dublin “input” is wanted or even necessary? Later this month, “Direct Rule” in whatever guise would in key respects be inevitably different from the direct rule of 1972 when the two sovereign states had barely begun to cooperate. Today, the British- Irish relationship through governments and …

“Women in Northern Ireland continue to be discriminated against.”

Pete Baker on August 22, 2017, 5:14 pm

| Readers 638

With the Northern Ireland Department of Health refusing to update guidance to health professionals here regarding pregnancy terminations, despite the changes to UK policy announced earlier this year, in the Guardian Goretti Horgan, a lecturer in social policy at Ulster University and a founder member of Alliance for Choice in Northern Ireland, argues for change to address the equality issue that failed to make it into anyone’s ‘red lines’. [Because that would break the bastards? – Ed] Probably… From the Guardian …

Update! Shock victory for free abortions in England for NI women as the government suddenly caves in to cross party pressure

Brian Walker on June 29, 2017, 2:44 pm

| Readers 3104

The chancellor has just announced that the government intends to fund abortions in England for women from Northern Ireland. I recommend scrolling down the Guardian Live for the sequence of events ending in reverse order with the splash in George Osborne’s Evening Standard, “Abortion Vote Chaos Hits May.” The Guardian believes this was done so fast and unexpectedly to avoid a Commons defeat on the Queen’s Speech, with some Tories supporting a Labour amendment to introduce it. It carries a …

Conservative pressure is increasing to allow NI abortions in England as a result of the deal with the DUP

Brian Walker on June 29, 2017, 9:14 am

| Readers 870

The DUP deal with the Conservatives has elevated the refusal to allow Northern Ireland women free abortions in England under the NHS into a real issue in the House of Commons. And if Ian Paisley junior can be said to speak for his party (which is not always the case) the DUP may not oppose a change. This would help the party improve its image among the mass of MPs who opposed a deal with “dinosaurs.” Support for a change …

Do we want Westminster to impose uniform UK standards? On abortion and same sex marriage? How about an indemnity for soldiers?

Brian Walker on June 24, 2017, 10:55 am

| Readers 1292

Social reform – on abortion and same sex marriage – is not only a bone of contention in the Stormont talks. It’s creating a clash with MPs across party at Westminster at a precarious time for the future of both legislatures. The Supreme Court’s rejection of the appeal against the decision of the Health Secretary for England Jeremy Hunt not to allow Northern Ireland women to have free abortions on the NHS in England may now become entangled in Westminster’s …

UK Supreme Court rules narrowly against free abortions in England for Northern Ireland women. But in Scotland?

Brian Walker on June 17, 2017, 10:13 am

| Readers 976

Support for abortion reform in Northern Ireland becomes all the more relevant after the decision of the Supreme Court last Wednesday narrowly to reject the appeal against Jeremy Hunt the Health Secretary for England, refusing to exercise his discretion to allow women from Northern Ireland to have abortions free of charge on the NHS in England. A triumph of democracy, opponents would say. From the Guardian report The judges were ruling on the case of a woman identified only …

Conservative manifesto very warm on the Union, cool and correct to the Republic, no mention of special status in ” a comprehensive free trade and customs agreement”

Brian Walker on May 18, 2017, 6:27 pm

| Readers 1552

TORY LAUNCH: Here I concentrate on those matters of specific interest to Northern Ireland. Remember that while manifestos tend to be mainly broad brush, they convey a sense of direction. The rhetoric of this one is modern British Unionist, as would be expected with the Union under threat but it avoids Rule Britannia jingoism.

Barra McGrory has a better view of justice than politicians who undermine it with thoughtless talk

Brian Walker on May 18, 2017, 11:05 am

| Readers 2106

If someone with Barra McGrory’s background and CV cannot be trusted to perform the duties of DPP fairly, we may as well hand the whole justice system to a UN commission of Finns, Norwegians and a few Daleks. What his glib critics disregard first is the freemasonry ( metaphorical term) of the legal profession across the divide which survived the Troubles and helped make him the right person at the right time for this high profile job. It’s also worth …

Special status for the North is a possibility from Barnier’s speech. Would the UK agree?

Brian Walker on May 11, 2017, 1:58 pm

| Readers 3422

EU negotiator Michel Barnier and the Irish government seem to be inching their way towards special status – sorry – arrangements, for the North. The EU is there for you, Ireland and so is a close partnership with the UK based on a fair free trade agreement – but ( only!) after sufficient progress on EU citizens’ rights and the financial settlement. So declared Michel Barnier in a speech to the Oireachtas that seemed designed to calm the worst Irish …