Northern Ireland - new material (36)
01 June 2000
Betrayal: how MI5 lost Thatcher's mole, Liam Clarke & Nick Fielding. Sunday Times Review 21.5.00., ppl-2. This article investigates the 1980s relationship between alleged Derry IRA informer, Willie Carlin, his handler "Ben" (MI5 agent Michael Bettaney) and Stella Rimington, head of MI5's Northern Ireland branch (and later head of MI5). It does not take into account Bettaney's claims that his drinking problems, and conversion to communism, owed much to his disgust at British undercover operations in Northern Ireland.
Sinn Fein analysis of British government Policing Bill 2000. Sinn Fein, 1.6.00, ppl O. This document records Sinn Fein's objections to the Policing Bill, the legislation introduced by the British government, but which "bears no resemblance to Patten." It presents a background argument and incorporates 35 proposed changes. Sinn Fein, 53 Falls Road, Belfast BT12 4PD.
Just News vol 15 no 4 (April) 2000, pp8. This issue contains articles on UN concerns about human rights in Northern Ireland, equality guidelines, the Criminal Justice review, cases before the European Court of Human Rights, a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and the child and the European Convention on Human Rights. Available from CAJ, 45/47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2BR; Tel (028) 9096 1122.
Statistics on the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Acts, Northern Ireland 1999, Michael Willis. Research # Statistical Bulletin 1/2000 (Northern Ireland Office) ppl2.
Annual statistics on the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996, H Kerr, G Lyness and D Wilson. Research & Statistical Bulletin 2/2000 (Northern Ireland Office) pp20.
Patrick Finucane's killing: official collusion and cover-up. Amnesty International, February 2000, ppl2 (EUR 45/26/00). Since lawyer Patrick Finucane was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989 compelling evidence has emerged of collusion between loyalists, the police and military agents. This report considers the events surrounding the murder, weighs the evidence for official collusion and considers the "investigations" under current Met Commissioner, John Stevens. Amnesty concludes: "that evidence of collusion can only be fully and impartially investigated by a judicial inquiry which has full powers of subpoena of witnesses and disclosure of documents." Amnesty International, International Secretariat, I Easton Street, London WCIX ODW.
Policing in Northern Ireland: a new beginning? Amnesty International, June 2000, pp3 (EUR 45/48/00). This paper is Amnesty's initial response to the government's draft legislation, the Police (NI) Bill 2000, which came out of the policing review by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland under former Conservative minister Chris Patten. Amnesty, which had already noted "shortcomings" in the Patten report, is "greatly disappointed that human rights protection is not at the heart of the draft legislation." They argue that legislation should "provide a policing service in Northern Ireland which will fulfil the law enforcement responsibilities fairly, which will be fully accountable for its actions, and which will have the confidence of all sides of the community." In conclusion they observe that: "The Bill, as it currently stands, does not meet this challenge."
A policing "Patten" for the millennium, Colin Crampton. Criminal Justice Matters no 38 (Winter) 1999/2000, ppl2-13. Brief article by the RUC deputy chief constable on the proposals by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. He concludes that: "The identification of clear philosophical and cultural anchors for policing could not...be more timely or important when thinking about "Millennium justice"."
A briefing paper on the office of the director of public prosecutions for Northern Ireland. Pat Finucane Centre, February 2000, pp65 + appendices. This document examines the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions over the last 30 years