Unionists unprepared for prisoner releases
From IRISH TIMES June 2nd, 1998
The prisoner release issue has become something of an unexpected difficulty
for politicians promoting the Belfast Agreement. The Rev William Bingham,
six members of whose congregation have been murdered by the IRA, indicates
why this has happened To some they were "the unsung heroes of the peace process." To others they were "evil, corrupt and unrepentant terrorists."
Little wonder the accelerated release scheme for prisoners became the major
contentious issue during the recent referendum campaign. There is no doubt
in my mind that the unionist community as a whole was not prepared by its
politicians for the inclusion of a "deal on prisoners" within the agreement.
David Trimble and his team had concentrated on constitutional issues, and
any ground which could possibly cultivate any thought of prisoner release
within the unionist community had not even been ploughed. This problem became
a millstone around the neck of the Yes campaign and was the genesis of a
group of voters which became known as "soft Nos". The situation was, of
course, exacerbated by the temporary release of the Balcombe Street gang
and Michael Stone. The sight of Stone on a platform being acclaimed as a
hero was repulsive to the Protestant community. To many of us it seemed
as if both the Irish and British governments were bent on making Mr Trimble's
job of selling the agreement even more difficult. Would they ever learn?
As a minister who has had to bury both personal friends and members of my
congregation murdered by terrorists, the "prisoner issue" came like a horrible
bolt from the blue. I had been in contact with friends in the Ulster Unionist
Party at Castle Buildings during the days leading up to the agreement, encouraging
them to do the best for unionism and for peace. When the final document
appeared I, along with some of those friends, was stunned at what was being
proposed on early releases. For me there were several major concerns. The
very thought of terrorists, who have displayed no remorse let alone repentance
for their actions, walking the streets having served only a minimal part
of their sentences, seemed a great injustice. It remains my firm conviction
that a man or woman found guilty of murder should serve the full sentence
in prison with no remission. Secondly, there is the real danger that the
brightest and best (or should I say worst) of the terrorists are being freed
to go back into organisations which have given no commitment that "the war is over", and which still retain the capacity to murder and destroy. Should we not be alarmed at this possibility? People in Bristol protested vehemently outside a local police station because they believed that a released paedophile would be a threat to their community. Is the threat to both communities
here from these sectarian killers not just as great? In short, there is
not the confidence within our community at the moment to cope with an accelerated
release of prisoners. It is time for some confidence-building measures from
the republican and loyalist movements, if this is to change. A third and
major area for concern is the problem of unresolved murders. David Martin,
Nigel McCollum, Reggie McCollum, William Graham, Stanley Adams and Jim Johnston
were all members of my congregation murdered by the IRA. Only one person
has been convicted in connection with any of those. What incentive is there
for the police to continue investigating them when they know that by June
2000 anyone convicted could be set free? There would also be a great sense
of injustice if anyone found guilty of the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe
should be treated differently from murderers of RUC officers. Such a move
could only suggest that the life of a member of the Garda was seen as more
precious than the life of a member of the RUC. We have been told that an
independent commission will continually review the situation. This I welcome,
but my fear is that commissions such as this will inevitably do what is
politically expedient rather than what is morally correct. For many who
have served in the security forces and for many who have lost loved ones
in the violence, it seems a travesty of justice that more and more prisoners
will be released having served less and less of their sentences. What has
it all been for? Why did I give those years of service? Why did I put my
family through so much just for this? These are all questions that I have
heard since April 10th. |
