Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The House of Commons report on the OTRs is welcome, though disappointing in parts, most particularly the failure to agree a demand for the publication of all recipients of OTR letters.
“On 26th February last year Peter Robinson demanded:
“I want to know who the 187 people are that received these letters …. 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 That’s why I want all the letters rescinded.”
“One year later NONE of that has been obtained and Mr Robinson remains in office – propping up the immoral system of which OTR letters were an essential part.
“The report confirms the atrocious and underhand political meddling in the criminal justice system, which the OTR scandal represents. Let the PSNI evidence that 95 of the OTRs are suspected of 300 murders, never be forgotten as indicating the magnitude of what was undertaken by government for the political purpose of placating Sinn Fein. Tony Blair as chief architect of this sordid and concerted assault on due process is let off too lightly by the committee, though they are explicit in exposing the public deception which lay at the heart of this nefarious process. This was the skullduggery of “the peace process” in action.
“On the key question of what now, HMG must face up to its responsibilities by acting urgently on Recommendation 26 by taking all necessary steps, including legislation, to ensure the letters have no legal effect. But more than that, the focus must now shift to the pending Judicial Review in the High Court. The Government should move swiftly, in response to the Morrison Judicial Review*, which will now be reactivated, to concede in court that the scheme was unlawful. That is the logic of the Secretary of State proclaiming no reliance can be placed on these letters and would represent a tangible effort to seek a rapprochement with the all important innocent victims.”
*The Judicial Review by Mrs Morrison, who lost family in the Shankill bomb, has stood adjourned pending the outcome of the Hallett Inquiry and the Select Committee investigation. It will now be reactivated.