MCGUINNESS AMONG REPUBLICANS NAMED IN FRAZER'S LEGAL ACTION
McGuinness among republicans named in Frazer's legal action
By Diana Rusk
DEPUTY First Minister Martin McGuinness is among five senior republicans to be named in a legal action taken by victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives, it has been claimed.
The group's director, William Frazer, said writs to launch a civil case will be served on the Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MP and four other senior republicans by the end of this month. He said the men would be sued in the High Court for directing and profiting from terrorism and claimed the case would bring new information about their role in the Troubles to light.
However, a spokesman for Mr McGuinness last night dismissed the threat of legal action, saying: "I think people will be aware of the track record of a self-proclaimed publicist like Willie Frazer."
Mr McGuinness has previously admitted to being a senior member of the Provisional IRA in Derry at the time of Bloody Sunday.
The four others Mr Frazer alleges will be named in legal documents ahead of a compensation case include three prominent republicans.
They are:
- Thomas 'Slab' Murphy (59) from Hacksballscross in Co Louth who was allegedly involved in the south Armagh 'brigade' of the IRA before becoming the organisation's chief-of-staff
- Michael Caraher (41), a member of the south Armagh sniper unit which shot dead Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, the last British soldier to be killed in Northern Ireland by the IRA
- Brian Arthurs (44), a Co Tyrone republican ex-prisoner who was the last released under the Good Friday Agreement after he was jailed for 25 years in 1995 for the possession of explosives.
Mr Frazer said more information on the case would be released following a meeting of the group's legal team on Wednesday.
He added that they have also consulted barristers from Britain and America to help them with their case.
"This case is not about money," Mr Frazer said.
"It is about exposing their activities in the public domain.
"It is about getting them into court and showing what they really are and if there is financial gain it will go into the victims sector."
Mr Frazer said the group was encouraged to pursue the case following the successful outcome of the civil case brought by the families affected by the Omagh bombing in June.
By Diana Rusk
DEPUTY First Minister Martin McGuinness is among five senior republicans to be named in a legal action taken by victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives, it has been claimed.
The group's director, William Frazer, said writs to launch a civil case will be served on the Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MP and four other senior republicans by the end of this month. He said the men would be sued in the High Court for directing and profiting from terrorism and claimed the case would bring new information about their role in the Troubles to light.
However, a spokesman for Mr McGuinness last night dismissed the threat of legal action, saying: "I think people will be aware of the track record of a self-proclaimed publicist like Willie Frazer."
Mr McGuinness has previously admitted to being a senior member of the Provisional IRA in Derry at the time of Bloody Sunday.
The four others Mr Frazer alleges will be named in legal documents ahead of a compensation case include three prominent republicans.
They are:
- Thomas 'Slab' Murphy (59) from Hacksballscross in Co Louth who was allegedly involved in the south Armagh 'brigade' of the IRA before becoming the organisation's chief-of-staff
- Michael Caraher (41), a member of the south Armagh sniper unit which shot dead Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, the last British soldier to be killed in Northern Ireland by the IRA
- Brian Arthurs (44), a Co Tyrone republican ex-prisoner who was the last released under the Good Friday Agreement after he was jailed for 25 years in 1995 for the possession of explosives.
Mr Frazer said more information on the case would be released following a meeting of the group's legal team on Wednesday.
He added that they have also consulted barristers from Britain and America to help them with their case.
"This case is not about money," Mr Frazer said.
"It is about exposing their activities in the public domain.
"It is about getting them into court and showing what they really are and if there is financial gain it will go into the victims sector."
Mr Frazer said the group was encouraged to pursue the case following the successful outcome of the civil case brought by the families affected by the Omagh bombing in June.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/1014
Published Date: 04-Aug-09
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