FORMER IRA MAN CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN
Former IRA man calls for crackdown
By James Stinson
FORMER IRA man Eamon Collins is amongst those calling for the reintroduction of internment to deal with militant republicans suspected of carrying out the Omagh bombing.
The call came on the same day that RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne held a top level meeting in Belfast to draw up a "wish list" of measures needed to combat the threat from the "Real IRA".
The results of that meeting won't be known until later in the week when proposals are put to a cabinet meeting in Dublin but there appears to be widespread public and political support for the use of selective internment for the first time in 25 years.
The last time internment was used it was largely ineffectual and counter productive.
However, this time proponents believe that with better intelligence, selective internment on both sides of the border could be effective and in the wake of the Good Friday agreement would enjoy widespread public support.
Mr Collins, who has renounced terrorism said selective internment had "emotional and political connotations dating back to 1972" in Northern Ireland, which made it difficult for ministers to bring it back.
But in the south it could be very effective against a breakaway faction like the "Real IRA".
"They are known. If you remove the people who have the technology and the ability to make the bombs, the veterans and experienced people, you don't have to worry about the inexperienced people they just will not be able to get back together."
Anti-terrorist legislation in the Republic and the UK is among the most wide ranging in the democratic world.
In Northern Ireland anti-terror laws are governed by two pieces of legislation: the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Provisions Act.
The power to intern without trial was removed from the statute books last October. It could be reinstated but would require the consent of the British Parliament.
Traditionally, the Labour party has been opposed to the legislation but last year voted to keep it while promising to replace it with "permanent UK-wide counter terrorism legislation," in the future.
In recent years there has been a softening in the breadth of power available to both governments under anti-terror laws.
After the first IRA ceasefire in 1995 the Irish government voted overwhelmingly to rescind the "state of emergency" laws which gave Garda "exceptional" powers which had been in existence since 1935.
The Irish government also vowed to review the main anti-terror measures contained in the controversial Offences Against the State Acts (OASA).
Under the acts the government has powers to introduce internment without trial, ban organisations, publications and meetings and confiscate property.
In the north the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Provisions Act give similar broad ranging powers of detention and arrest, trial without jury, and exclusion.
Taioseach Bertie Ahern has already hinted that the Omagh atrocity is likely to prompt a review of legislation in the south and a general overhaul of existing security and surveillance mechanisms.
Yesterday Irish government minister Mary O'Rourke, said that Dublin would work with London and the security forces to bring the bombers to justice.
She said the Irish premier had not ruled out the use of internment.
"For our Wednesday cabinet meeting we will have a full list of possible measures," she said.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said any decision on reintroducing internment would be made on the recommendations of the two police chiefs.
"There are varied opinions on the merits and demerits of internment, and the police will have their views," he said.
He added that police chiefs were in the best position to "come up with proposals that they think will best address the situation we have got".
First Minister David Trimble visiting Omagh yesterday also said it would be up to the police chiefs to decide what is necessary.
"Whatever measures the RUC chief constable and Garda commissioner recommend to both governments people on both sides of the border
had a duty to support them." Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon has said he will also back their judgment on the matter.
When asked whether he would support any new security initiatives recommended by the police chiefs from both sides of the border, even if that included the use of internment he replied:
"Yes, without any doubt. Whatever is decided in the interests of the entire community on this island, our party will support, we will rule nothing out, we will look at every option ... Ultimately we will give the full support for whatever it takes to end this type of murderous violence."
However the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has urged both governments to avoid "panicky, ill-thought out measures" which it said "would
only make things worse."
The council's co-chairperson Michael Farrell said: "The way forward, in our view, is by ending emergency measures, not by introducing new ones."
Alliance justice spokesman Stephen McBride said the means already existed to combat the threat from militant republicans it was the "will" that was needed.
"I don't know that there has ever been any quick legislative fixes to these sort of things. At the end of the day it is good police work and it's the co-operation of the public which is fundamental to making sure that works," he said.
By James Stinson
FORMER IRA man Eamon Collins is amongst those calling for the reintroduction of internment to deal with militant republicans suspected of carrying out the Omagh bombing.
The call came on the same day that RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne held a top level meeting in Belfast to draw up a "wish list" of measures needed to combat the threat from the "Real IRA".
The results of that meeting won't be known until later in the week when proposals are put to a cabinet meeting in Dublin but there appears to be widespread public and political support for the use of selective internment for the first time in 25 years.
The last time internment was used it was largely ineffectual and counter productive.
However, this time proponents believe that with better intelligence, selective internment on both sides of the border could be effective and in the wake of the Good Friday agreement would enjoy widespread public support.
Mr Collins, who has renounced terrorism said selective internment had "emotional and political connotations dating back to 1972" in Northern Ireland, which made it difficult for ministers to bring it back.
But in the south it could be very effective against a breakaway faction like the "Real IRA".
"They are known. If you remove the people who have the technology and the ability to make the bombs, the veterans and experienced people, you don't have to worry about the inexperienced people they just will not be able to get back together."
Anti-terrorist legislation in the Republic and the UK is among the most wide ranging in the democratic world.
In Northern Ireland anti-terror laws are governed by two pieces of legislation: the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Provisions Act.
The power to intern without trial was removed from the statute books last October. It could be reinstated but would require the consent of the British Parliament.
Traditionally, the Labour party has been opposed to the legislation but last year voted to keep it while promising to replace it with "permanent UK-wide counter terrorism legislation," in the future.
In recent years there has been a softening in the breadth of power available to both governments under anti-terror laws.
After the first IRA ceasefire in 1995 the Irish government voted overwhelmingly to rescind the "state of emergency" laws which gave Garda "exceptional" powers which had been in existence since 1935.
The Irish government also vowed to review the main anti-terror measures contained in the controversial Offences Against the State Acts (OASA).
Under the acts the government has powers to introduce internment without trial, ban organisations, publications and meetings and confiscate property.
In the north the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Provisions Act give similar broad ranging powers of detention and arrest, trial without jury, and exclusion.
Taioseach Bertie Ahern has already hinted that the Omagh atrocity is likely to prompt a review of legislation in the south and a general overhaul of existing security and surveillance mechanisms.
Yesterday Irish government minister Mary O'Rourke, said that Dublin would work with London and the security forces to bring the bombers to justice.
She said the Irish premier had not ruled out the use of internment.
"For our Wednesday cabinet meeting we will have a full list of possible measures," she said.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said any decision on reintroducing internment would be made on the recommendations of the two police chiefs.
"There are varied opinions on the merits and demerits of internment, and the police will have their views," he said.
He added that police chiefs were in the best position to "come up with proposals that they think will best address the situation we have got".
First Minister David Trimble visiting Omagh yesterday also said it would be up to the police chiefs to decide what is necessary.
"Whatever measures the RUC chief constable and Garda commissioner recommend to both governments people on both sides of the border
had a duty to support them." Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon has said he will also back their judgment on the matter.
When asked whether he would support any new security initiatives recommended by the police chiefs from both sides of the border, even if that included the use of internment he replied:
"Yes, without any doubt. Whatever is decided in the interests of the entire community on this island, our party will support, we will rule nothing out, we will look at every option ... Ultimately we will give the full support for whatever it takes to end this type of murderous violence."
However the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has urged both governments to avoid "panicky, ill-thought out measures" which it said "would
only make things worse."
The council's co-chairperson Michael Farrell said: "The way forward, in our view, is by ending emergency measures, not by introducing new ones."
Alliance justice spokesman Stephen McBride said the means already existed to combat the threat from militant republicans it was the "will" that was needed.
"I don't know that there has ever been any quick legislative fixes to these sort of things. At the end of the day it is good police work and it's the co-operation of the public which is fundamental to making sure that works," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0692
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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