Statement by Mid and East Antrim deputy presiding councillor and TUV North Antrim Westminster candidate Timothy Gaston:
“It was with some bemusement that I heard Ian Paisley call for the Government to publish the list of suspected terrorists who received On the Run (OTR) letters and bring in legislation to annul the letters.
“Speaking in the Commons Mr Paisley also noted that there is no foundation for believing that the single error uncovered by the Hallett review was the only mistake made.
“I agree with that analysis. However, these points only serve to highlight the fact that the DUP got nothing of what they demanded on the issue.
“Let’s recall that before the last elections Mr Robinson backtracked on his threat to resign supposedly because he got what he asked for. So let’s just recall what Peter Robinson said on 26th February last year:
“I want a full judicial inquiry into all of these matters so we can see who knew, when they knew and what they knew. Those are vital questions to be asked and answered. I want to know who the 187 people are that received these letters – if indeed it is only 187 people because I wouldn’t believe anything I hear any longer. I want to know who they are, what crimes they were believed to have committed because don’t forget justice isn’t just about whether the police at that moment in time have sufficient evidence to make a prosecution stick because as time goes on forensics may change, new evidence may come in where a prosecution could take place so it is absolutely vital that nobody is allowed to think they can get away with it. That’s why I want all the letters rescinded.”
“There was no “full judicial inquiry”. Furthermore, Lady Justice Hallett’s review only looked at a sample of the letters and there is no reason to believe there were not many more mistakes. The names were never published. Finally, the letters still haven’t been annulled.
“All of these points were highlighted by Mr Paisley yesterday but the great unanswered question remains – in light of all the above why didn’t the DUP leader follow through on his threat to resign?
“The Unionist electorate are fed up with posturing and Unionists who while talking tough are willing to swallow anything in order to maintain Stormont and remain in government with Sinn Fein. Mr Paisley’s comments only serve to remind us of his own party’s weak stand on the issue of OTRs.”