Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Representatives of the Ballymurphy Families

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with all colleagues in warmly welcoming Mr. Teggart, Ms Quinn and Mr. Ó Muirigh to our committee meeting. I welcome their comments very much.

The contents of Mr. Teggart's initial statement are very striking and clearly show the huge injustice inflicted on so many innocent people. The taking away of the lives of those innocent people, and also the untold grief inflicted on the families of the victims by being denied the truth for 50 years, must be heartbreaking. I know the Ballymurphy families have welcomed the inquest findings as a vindication of the innocence of their loved ones, and quite rightly. They have outlined very clearly the absolute frustration that it took half a century to reach these findings.

In her report, Mrs. Justice Keegan also referenced the isolation to which some victims' families were subjected in their communities during that period. We all know that losing a loved one - an innocent person - is just horrific. Not having the truth told for 50 years must indeed be an unbearable burden.

I want to refer in particular to two comments made by Mr. Teggart in his opening statement, which I believe are as powerful as any I have ever heard at this committee. He said:

We corrected the lies that our loved ones were gunmen and a gunwoman. We always knew our loved ones were innocent, now the world knows it.

Nothing more can be said. He encapsulated so well everything about the murder of innocent people and the families of victims being denied the truth for half a century.

Of course, the way the British Prime Minister and Government dealt with their so-called apology was totally undignified. Other speakers quite rightly referred to the very dignified campaign in which the families engaged over the years. I was privileged to meet the families in 2014 here in Leinster House. It was clear at the time that they were going to search for and get the truth through a dignified campaign. It is heartening to see the quality of the campaign led by the families.

I also hear, very loud and clear, the comments of Ms Quinn, Mr. Ó Muirigh and Mr. Teggart regarding no amnesties for people who have committed heinous crimes. I absolutely agree. I believe we must never deviate from that position. The witnesses outlining that point at committee sends a very clear message. Amnesties are not acceptable. I will quote Mr. Teggart again, when he said, "We will not accept an amnesty for these murderers and will challenge any attempts to do so." I wholeheartedly agree.

Ms Quinn, and in particular, Mr. Ó Muirigh and Mr. Teggart, also referred to the Stormont House Agreement. That political architecture is in place and it must be implemented. Again, the witnesses have shown the great quality of their campaign, and the dignity of the families and campaigners, when they talked about other families and victims who also need to get the truth. People who, unfortunately, have suffered in other atrocities have also been denied the truth for decades.

The witnesses' message about the Stormont House Agreement is a very strong argument from families of victims, alongside ourselves as public representatives in political life, in calling for its implementation. I compliment the witnesses on the quality of their campaign over the years and the excellence of the contributions they made this morning.

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