Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity of speaking on this very important debate on violent incidents arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland. I wish to use this opportunity to express my deepest sympathy to the victims and their families. As part of the healing process they deserve truth, openness and, above all, justice.

I was a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights sub-committee on the Barron report. The oral and written submissions had a tremendous impact on all the sub-committee members. I took a minority view and supported the calls of the family members for a full public inquiry. I thank and commend all those who spoke at our hearings. Today I will focus my views on that report and, in particular, on the issue of collusion.

There are some in this State and in other jurisdictions who wish to walk away from this issue, but I have no intention of turning my back or staying silent in the face of strong evidence that the British security forces were involved in collusion. We owe it to the victims, their families, our citizens and future generations. The reality is that the conflict in the North, which continued for more than 30 years, was a dirty war. The only way to ensure that these or similar actions do not happen on this island ever again is to send out a strong, clear message that such actions will not go unchecked.

I wish to highlight the strong findings of the sub-committee on the fourth Barron report, which explicitly acknowledged the reality of British security force collusion in criminal activities in this jurisdiction. Collusion is a separate, discrete facet of the Northern conflict that needs to be specifically addressed by this House, and I share the concerns expressed yesterday about the absence of the word "collusion" in the original statement. I also support the idea of putting a motion to the House for debate on which we can all agree. We owe it to the families and to those who genuinely want truth and justice. I emphasise that these are governmental findings and that the committee requested the guidance of the House on the actions to be taken with regard to these findings. The Taoiseach, in his speech at the unveiling of the memorial to the Miami Showband last month, acknowledged the clear evidence of collusion by the security forces in many of these murders, as has been made clear in several reports over the years, and reiterated the Government's support for the families in their quest for answers. We will take another step when there is a full debate in the Dáil.

These issues demand and deserve the attention of our national Parliament. We must ask ourselves what steps must be taken. Today I propose a step. I call on the British Government, as a sign of its good faith in dealing with the legacy of the Northern conflict, to provide access to all documents relating to atrocities in this jurisdiction which are currently being withheld.

On a more general level, I note that the issue of collusion is more significant now than at any time for many years, with the British Government appointing the independent Eames-Bradley Consultative Group on the Past to make recommendations on the legacy of the past. Members of the group have stated that they saw the Stevens archive on collusion and were deeply shocked by it. I say again that they were deeply shocked by it. What will come out is worse than many people think. The group will make its report to the British Government in June 2008 and has made clear that recommendations regarding British responsibility for collusion and criminal activities will be included.

The report of the Barron sub-committee contained the following important conclusions:

The sub-committee was left in no doubt that collusion between the British security forces and terrorists was behind many if not all of the atrocities that were considered in this report. It was horrified that persons who were employed by the British administration to preserve peace and to protect people were engaged in the creation of violence and the butchering of innocent victims.

The sub-committee believes that unless the full truth about collusion is established and those involved either admit or are fixed with responsibility then there cannot be closure for the families.

The sub-committee further believes that unless the full truth about collusion is established and those involved either admit or are fixed with responsibility then there is always the risk of what occurred in the 1970s occurring again some day. We are of the view that these matters cannot be swept under the carpet.

The sub-committee is of the view that given that we are dealing with acts of international terrorism that were colluded in by the British security forces, the British Government cannot legitimately refuse to co-operate with investigations and attempts to get to the truth.

The sub-committee notes that the British Cabinet was aware of the level to which the security forces had been infiltrated by terrorists and we believe that its inadequate response to this knowledge permitted the problem to continue and to grow.

The sub-committee has the support of all Members of this House. The sub-committee has no doubt that there was collusion between members of the British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries and that this was known at Cabinet level. The British Government has frustrated attempts to get to the truth about these and other incidences where there was credible evidence of collusion. This debate is an opportunity for the Irish Government to put pressure on the British Government to help those bereaved as a result of collusion.

Our Government should at least call on the British Government as an act of good faith to make all original files which may relate to the issues inquired into by Mr. Justice Barron accessible to the appropriate bodies in our jurisdiction. This would show the British Government is genuine in its support of the peace process and, more importantly, of the families of those murdered as a result of collusion. I want to send a strong message to the British Government that these acts should not have been allowed to happen in the past and will not be allowed to happen again. In the words of our sub-committee: "What occurred in respect of these atrocities must, quite simply, never ever be allowed to happen again". The only way to ensure that these or similar actions do not happen in this island again is to send a clear message that these actions will not go unchecked.

I commend Justice for the Forgotten, the Pat Finucane Centre and the Fay, Finucane, O'Neill and other families for their work, courage and dignity in their search for truth. I will always support them to the bitter end.

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