COPY SOUTH ON SECURITY: TRIMBLE
Copy south on security:Trimble
By Valerie Robinson
FIRST Minister David Trimble last night urged the British government to reintroduce the reserve power to intern terrorist suspects without trial.
Mr Trimble was speaking after he met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to discuss new security measures, announced In Dublin yesterday, to crack down on dissident groups.
Mr Trimble said he hoped the British government would follow suit introducing similarly tough measures in the wake of the Omagh bomb attack.
"I think there is a strong case for parallel action In the United Kingdom and I know the Prime Minister is thinking about this - I do not wish to suggest there is a reluctance on his part."
He criticised the present government for being "far too optimistic" in removing from the statute book the reserve power to intern.
"The government is now somewhat embarrassed at the prospect of having to re-enact what they repealed a few months ago", he said.
He said the Good Friday peace agreement and the recent referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic had helped forge a climate of co-operation In the fight against future violence by dissident groups.
This actually gives us a stronger base to cope with this kind of situation than we have ever had before."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mo Mowlam welcomed the Irish Government's tough new security measures to tackle dissident groups.
Dr Mowlam said the new legislative measures announced yesterday by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern meant "we now have the strongest ever anti-terrorist measures across the whole of Ireland".
And she added that she was "actively" looking at ways of further strengthening British legislation, including "changes similar to those which the Irish Government have announced to make it easier to prove membership".
"At present it is difficult to secure convictions for the ofence of membership of a proscribed organisation, such as the Real IRA which has admitted to Saturday's bombing," she said.
Dr Mowlam said the details of possible legislative and security changes were "still being worked out, as they are with the Irish, but I hope we can move quickly."
Fine Gael leader John Bruton also welcomed the taoiseach's announcement that Gardai would be able to act against people who directed unlawful organisations and unlawfully collected information.
"Terrorism is always directed by, and based on, information collected by other people and these should be brought to justice," he said.
But he said the Irish government should have introduced the sweeping new measures before the Omagh bomb attack could take place.
According to a spokesman, Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon was last night "studying the measures" and "may respond in due course".
By Valerie Robinson
FIRST Minister David Trimble last night urged the British government to reintroduce the reserve power to intern terrorist suspects without trial.
Mr Trimble was speaking after he met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to discuss new security measures, announced In Dublin yesterday, to crack down on dissident groups.
Mr Trimble said he hoped the British government would follow suit introducing similarly tough measures in the wake of the Omagh bomb attack.
"I think there is a strong case for parallel action In the United Kingdom and I know the Prime Minister is thinking about this - I do not wish to suggest there is a reluctance on his part."
He criticised the present government for being "far too optimistic" in removing from the statute book the reserve power to intern.
"The government is now somewhat embarrassed at the prospect of having to re-enact what they repealed a few months ago", he said.
He said the Good Friday peace agreement and the recent referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic had helped forge a climate of co-operation In the fight against future violence by dissident groups.
This actually gives us a stronger base to cope with this kind of situation than we have ever had before."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mo Mowlam welcomed the Irish Government's tough new security measures to tackle dissident groups.
Dr Mowlam said the new legislative measures announced yesterday by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern meant "we now have the strongest ever anti-terrorist measures across the whole of Ireland".
And she added that she was "actively" looking at ways of further strengthening British legislation, including "changes similar to those which the Irish Government have announced to make it easier to prove membership".
"At present it is difficult to secure convictions for the ofence of membership of a proscribed organisation, such as the Real IRA which has admitted to Saturday's bombing," she said.
Dr Mowlam said the details of possible legislative and security changes were "still being worked out, as they are with the Irish, but I hope we can move quickly."
Fine Gael leader John Bruton also welcomed the taoiseach's announcement that Gardai would be able to act against people who directed unlawful organisations and unlawfully collected information.
"Terrorism is always directed by, and based on, information collected by other people and these should be brought to justice," he said.
But he said the Irish government should have introduced the sweeping new measures before the Omagh bomb attack could take place.
According to a spokesman, Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon was last night "studying the measures" and "may respond in due course".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0102
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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