Post by Wasp on Sept 15, 2010 21:24:43 GMT
Republicans 'need to face up to inconvenient truths'
SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie
Published Date: 10 September 2010
UNIONIST and nationalist parties combined yesterday in their criticism of deputy first minister Martin McGuinness over his handling of the Father James Chesney affair.
In perhaps the most hard-hitting remarks, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie claimed it was now time for senior republicans to face up to "inconvenient truths" in the wake of the revelations.
She said: "Following Martin McGuinness' recollection that he did in fact meet Fr James Chesney, many people will now be asking what else has the deputy first minister and other senior republicans forgotten over the years whether it be in relation to Claudy, the 'disappeared' or the multiple deaths of innocent people.
"Until they face up to this inconvenient truth, doubts about their credibility will remain."
Ms Ritchie added it was belief of her party "that those who know the most, did the worst and have said the least should now speak up and allow victims and their families to have the justice they deserve".
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, who raised the issue of Claudy in the House of Commons this week, said the onus rested on Mr McGuinness to provide more information.
"Martin McGuinness needs to answer questions," he said.
"He needs to answer questions, and the questions he needs to answer now are what was he doing and who was he with on the days immediately leading up to the Claudy bomb and the days immediately afterwards."
Sir Reg Empey said the revelations demonstrated the "inherent flaws in any potential truth recovery process".
"For the deputy first minister to now admit that he met Fr Chesney – after previously denying he had done so – makes a mockery of any professed hope for a 'truth recovery process'," said the Ulster Unionist leader.
"If we cannot guarantee absolute transparency from political figures at the very head of government, then what hope is there for truth from anyone else?"
He said the controversy had "done little for Martin McGuinness's credibility".
TUV leader Jim Allister claimed Mr McGuinness' "mendacity" was "plain for all to see".
"Why would a priest he'd never heard of ask to see him, a person known then only for his IRA leadership, to discuss the generic goals of nationalism on his deathbed, but never mention the IRA?" said Mr Allister.
Victims campaigner Willie Frazer said no one could be expected to believe the deputy first minister's recollection of his meeting with Fr Chesney.
"There is no way that a man in that position at that time could recall with clarity the events of Bloody Sunday in January 1972 and not remember three car bombs exploding in Claudy six months later or his meeting with Father Chesney.
"Events such as those just don't simply slip from your memory," said Mr Frazer.
SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie
Published Date: 10 September 2010
UNIONIST and nationalist parties combined yesterday in their criticism of deputy first minister Martin McGuinness over his handling of the Father James Chesney affair.
In perhaps the most hard-hitting remarks, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie claimed it was now time for senior republicans to face up to "inconvenient truths" in the wake of the revelations.
She said: "Following Martin McGuinness' recollection that he did in fact meet Fr James Chesney, many people will now be asking what else has the deputy first minister and other senior republicans forgotten over the years whether it be in relation to Claudy, the 'disappeared' or the multiple deaths of innocent people.
"Until they face up to this inconvenient truth, doubts about their credibility will remain."
Ms Ritchie added it was belief of her party "that those who know the most, did the worst and have said the least should now speak up and allow victims and their families to have the justice they deserve".
DUP MP Gregory Campbell, who raised the issue of Claudy in the House of Commons this week, said the onus rested on Mr McGuinness to provide more information.
"Martin McGuinness needs to answer questions," he said.
"He needs to answer questions, and the questions he needs to answer now are what was he doing and who was he with on the days immediately leading up to the Claudy bomb and the days immediately afterwards."
Sir Reg Empey said the revelations demonstrated the "inherent flaws in any potential truth recovery process".
"For the deputy first minister to now admit that he met Fr Chesney – after previously denying he had done so – makes a mockery of any professed hope for a 'truth recovery process'," said the Ulster Unionist leader.
"If we cannot guarantee absolute transparency from political figures at the very head of government, then what hope is there for truth from anyone else?"
He said the controversy had "done little for Martin McGuinness's credibility".
TUV leader Jim Allister claimed Mr McGuinness' "mendacity" was "plain for all to see".
"Why would a priest he'd never heard of ask to see him, a person known then only for his IRA leadership, to discuss the generic goals of nationalism on his deathbed, but never mention the IRA?" said Mr Allister.
Victims campaigner Willie Frazer said no one could be expected to believe the deputy first minister's recollection of his meeting with Fr Chesney.
"There is no way that a man in that position at that time could recall with clarity the events of Bloody Sunday in January 1972 and not remember three car bombs exploding in Claudy six months later or his meeting with Father Chesney.
"Events such as those just don't simply slip from your memory," said Mr Frazer.