HAS REID THE COURAGE TO BACK O'LOAN? ASKS DOHERTY
Has Reid the courage to back O'Loan? asks Doherty
THE Secretary of State has opted to shore up the securocratic agenda instead of embracing the need for democratic accountability in policing according to the West Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty.
He said that the Police Ombudsman's office had simply been discharging its democratically mandated function under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement but that John Reid had abdicated his responsibility to act as a guarantor to ensure that the integrity of the institutions and mechanisms set up under the Agreement are protected.
"He [John Reid] has sat back while the integrity of the Ombudsman's Office has come under concerted attack. It is obvious that Nuala O'Loan and her office have incurred the wrath of those who are determined to maintain the status quo on policing. The world inhabited by Special
Branch, the British Intelligence Services and their political masters is not open to either public scrutiny or democratic accountability."
He continued saying that to let this happen would expose the full extent of Britain's 'dirty war' in Ireland.
"The fate of those who have previously attempted to peer behind the veil into this murky world is well known. Detective Chief Constable, John Stalker was suspended, taken off the case and his name was blackened when he began getting too close to the truth in regards to the RUC's shoot-to-kill policy.
"Likewise, when former British Intelligence Officer, Fred Holroyd stated that SAS Captain, Robert Nairac was involved with loyalist murder gangs he was duly labelled as a 'Walter Mitty' type of Character - echoes of Ronnie Flanagan's description of Kevin Fulton."
Mr Doherty went on to say that John Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police conducted two enquiries into allegations of collusion between the 'Crown forces' and loyalist paramilitaries.
In 1990 there was a mysterious fire that badly damaged the offices of the inquiry team. The RUC decided not to make the findings of either report public.
The West Tyrone MP said that the vitriolic reaction to Nuala O'Loan's report from those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo must be judged in the context of the experience of others who have attempted to get at the truth.
"The concerted effort to undermine the Ombudsman's findings began in earnest with the selective leaking of her report and has continued
unabated since then. Nuala O'Loan has been personally vilified and the professional integrity of her team of investigators has been called into question."
He added that John Reid has no intention of putting the need for democratic accountability on policing above protecting the 'nefarious interests of Special Branch', MIS, and their political masters in the establishment.
Concluding he said that in the absence of political support from this quarter, the office of the Ombudsman would be effectively neutralised and become a lame duck.
The net result of this would be to perpetuate the control that the securocrats have over policing. John Reid holds a vital key to breaking this cycle of control but does he possess the courage?"
THE Secretary of State has opted to shore up the securocratic agenda instead of embracing the need for democratic accountability in policing according to the West Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty.
He said that the Police Ombudsman's office had simply been discharging its democratically mandated function under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement but that John Reid had abdicated his responsibility to act as a guarantor to ensure that the integrity of the institutions and mechanisms set up under the Agreement are protected.
"He [John Reid] has sat back while the integrity of the Ombudsman's Office has come under concerted attack. It is obvious that Nuala O'Loan and her office have incurred the wrath of those who are determined to maintain the status quo on policing. The world inhabited by Special
Branch, the British Intelligence Services and their political masters is not open to either public scrutiny or democratic accountability."
He continued saying that to let this happen would expose the full extent of Britain's 'dirty war' in Ireland.
"The fate of those who have previously attempted to peer behind the veil into this murky world is well known. Detective Chief Constable, John Stalker was suspended, taken off the case and his name was blackened when he began getting too close to the truth in regards to the RUC's shoot-to-kill policy.
"Likewise, when former British Intelligence Officer, Fred Holroyd stated that SAS Captain, Robert Nairac was involved with loyalist murder gangs he was duly labelled as a 'Walter Mitty' type of Character - echoes of Ronnie Flanagan's description of Kevin Fulton."
Mr Doherty went on to say that John Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police conducted two enquiries into allegations of collusion between the 'Crown forces' and loyalist paramilitaries.
In 1990 there was a mysterious fire that badly damaged the offices of the inquiry team. The RUC decided not to make the findings of either report public.
The West Tyrone MP said that the vitriolic reaction to Nuala O'Loan's report from those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo must be judged in the context of the experience of others who have attempted to get at the truth.
"The concerted effort to undermine the Ombudsman's findings began in earnest with the selective leaking of her report and has continued
unabated since then. Nuala O'Loan has been personally vilified and the professional integrity of her team of investigators has been called into question."
He added that John Reid has no intention of putting the need for democratic accountability on policing above protecting the 'nefarious interests of Special Branch', MIS, and their political masters in the establishment.
Concluding he said that in the absence of political support from this quarter, the office of the Ombudsman would be effectively neutralised and become a lame duck.
The net result of this would be to perpetuate the control that the securocrats have over policing. John Reid holds a vital key to breaking this cycle of control but does he possess the courage?"
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0891
Published Date: 20-Dec-01
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