David Norris (Independent)

I am grateful to Senator Terry for allowing me take part in this debate. I had not anticipated having the opportunity to speak this evening because I was attending the launch of the Bloomsday programme in the James Joyce Centre.

This is a serious matter. I commend the Minister for his clear and forthright statement on the matter. There was much fudging on the issue and this Minister has been clear and unambiguous. The situation is difficult. We are in the endgame of a horrible situation of conflict. Many people would think, perhaps correctly, that the release of the McCabe killers is a price worth paying for final peace. In my opinion it is only worthwhile if we really see the end of the IRA, the destruction of the arms and explosives and get a statement saying the war is over and the IRA is disbanded.

Many people from both sides in the North have suffered terribly. Outrages were committed by beasts from both sides. The families have been asked to accept that the book must be closed while they still experience traumatic loss. Most of them have accepted this with dignity. It is important that Mrs. McCabe is consulted and kept informed on these matters. That may not always have been done.

Some terrible killings have taken place in the North. One I had forgotten about was in the news again recently. It was the killing of two decent young men, friends from childhood, one a Roman Catholic and the other a member of the Church of Ireland. The Church of Ireland man was to be married and his Roman Catholic friend, in a lovely ecumenical gesture, was to be his best man. They were both slaughtered by Protestant thugs, yet those people are to be released.

Another case involved an IRA man called McGinn who openly rejoiced in the killing of British army personnel. An unfortunate off-duty RUC man entering a sweet shop to buy a packet of sweets for his girlfriend was blasted off the face of the earth by McGinn who later laughed in the court about it.

The other evening I switched on my television to watch Senator Ross, who unfortunately did not materialise, on "Questions and Answers". However, Mary Lou McDonald was there, as bold as brass and twice as unnatural. She had unspeakable gall. She was hoity-toity about torture in Iraq. What about the people who are belting hell out of people with——