BLAIR TO MATCH DUBLIN'S DRIVE AGAINST TERROR
Blair to match Dublin's drive against terror
By Brendan Anderson and Press Association
Cooperation at all-time high
TONY Blair yesterday promised to do "whatever is necessary" to ensure the perpetrators of the Omagh bombing were taken off the streets.
As the last of the 28 victims were being buried, officials were working to tighten up anti-terrorism laws to make it easier to convict for membership of a proscribed organisation such as the Real IRA.
Downing Street said ministers hoped to act at the same time as the government in Dublin where the Dail is being recalled in two weeks to push through the "draconian" security package announced on Wednesday by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Ministers are hoping it will not be necessary to recall parliament at Westminster, but some legal experts have warned they may have no choice given the scope of the changes being considered.
Under the Emergency Provisions Act 1996, membership of a proscribed organisation is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. It covers the IRA and republican splinter groups.
It is understood ministers want to go further and copy Irish legislation, which enables a conviction to be secured simply upon the evidence of a senior police officer.
Mr Blair, holidaying in France, said he and Mr Ahern were united in their determination to ensure the Omagh bombers were "dealt with and taken off the streets".
He added: "The measures unveiled by the Irish government indicated they are being true to their word. There is unprecedented cooperation between our two governments as we take our plans forward.
"Mo Mowlam said yesterday we would further strengthen British law. The complex legal and technical issues are being urgently addressed. I'm determined to do whatever is necessary. "We will bring in similar measures to those proposed by the Irish government so that then we will have the toughest anti-terrorist measures in the whole of the island of Ireland that we have ever seen."
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Andrew Mackay said his party would back any new measures introduced by the government.
"I believe our security forces must be able to tackle terrorism with every tool available," he said.
However left-wing Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn said the measures under consideration were unnecessary and could prove counter-productive.
"It could create further miscarriages of justice and it could create further martyrs. We need to continue with the peace process and defeat these people politically," he said.
And Paul Mageean of Belfast-based civil rights group the Committee for the Administration of Justice warned: "I don't think you could change the law in the way they seem to be proposing without a recall of parliament."
Cavan Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O Caolaln said the desire for a tough security response to the Omagh bomb was understandable but he believed the priority must be to strengthen the peace process and ensure that the Good Friday Agreement was delivered in full.
"It is this which will best ensure that tragedies such as that which occurred in Omagh never happen again. The introduction of such draconian measures in the heat of the anger and outrage following Omagh would be a major mistake," he said.
However, the proposed new laws were welcomed by Fine Gael leader John Bruton, who said the "formulation of the offences and the evidential
requirements" would be crucially important "if convictions were to be achieved".
"Terrorism is always directed by, and based on, information collected by other people and these should be brought to justice," Mr Bruton said.
Dail Labour party justice spokesman Pat Upton also welcomed "the thrust of the measures" and said they were reasonable in the context of the threat posed to life and limb and to the future of the Good Friday agreement.
By Brendan Anderson and Press Association
Cooperation at all-time high
TONY Blair yesterday promised to do "whatever is necessary" to ensure the perpetrators of the Omagh bombing were taken off the streets.
As the last of the 28 victims were being buried, officials were working to tighten up anti-terrorism laws to make it easier to convict for membership of a proscribed organisation such as the Real IRA.
Downing Street said ministers hoped to act at the same time as the government in Dublin where the Dail is being recalled in two weeks to push through the "draconian" security package announced on Wednesday by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Ministers are hoping it will not be necessary to recall parliament at Westminster, but some legal experts have warned they may have no choice given the scope of the changes being considered.
Under the Emergency Provisions Act 1996, membership of a proscribed organisation is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. It covers the IRA and republican splinter groups.
It is understood ministers want to go further and copy Irish legislation, which enables a conviction to be secured simply upon the evidence of a senior police officer.
Mr Blair, holidaying in France, said he and Mr Ahern were united in their determination to ensure the Omagh bombers were "dealt with and taken off the streets".
He added: "The measures unveiled by the Irish government indicated they are being true to their word. There is unprecedented cooperation between our two governments as we take our plans forward.
"Mo Mowlam said yesterday we would further strengthen British law. The complex legal and technical issues are being urgently addressed. I'm determined to do whatever is necessary. "We will bring in similar measures to those proposed by the Irish government so that then we will have the toughest anti-terrorist measures in the whole of the island of Ireland that we have ever seen."
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Andrew Mackay said his party would back any new measures introduced by the government.
"I believe our security forces must be able to tackle terrorism with every tool available," he said.
However left-wing Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn said the measures under consideration were unnecessary and could prove counter-productive.
"It could create further miscarriages of justice and it could create further martyrs. We need to continue with the peace process and defeat these people politically," he said.
And Paul Mageean of Belfast-based civil rights group the Committee for the Administration of Justice warned: "I don't think you could change the law in the way they seem to be proposing without a recall of parliament."
Cavan Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O Caolaln said the desire for a tough security response to the Omagh bomb was understandable but he believed the priority must be to strengthen the peace process and ensure that the Good Friday Agreement was delivered in full.
"It is this which will best ensure that tragedies such as that which occurred in Omagh never happen again. The introduction of such draconian measures in the heat of the anger and outrage following Omagh would be a major mistake," he said.
However, the proposed new laws were welcomed by Fine Gael leader John Bruton, who said the "formulation of the offences and the evidential
requirements" would be crucially important "if convictions were to be achieved".
"Terrorism is always directed by, and based on, information collected by other people and these should be brought to justice," Mr Bruton said.
Dail Labour party justice spokesman Pat Upton also welcomed "the thrust of the measures" and said they were reasonable in the context of the threat posed to life and limb and to the future of the Good Friday agreement.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0127
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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