Ed Moloney, the Irish journalist who oversaw the Boston College oral history project that featured leading IRA figures talking frankly says all tapes may have to be destroyed after the Northern Ireland police subpoenaed at least two of the oral histories.
In a major development one of the persons featured on the subpoenaed tapes, convicted IRA bomber and now leading dissident Marion Price, has been arrested in Belfast on suspicions of dissident IRA activity.
It is not known if the two events are related, Price was arrested also in 2009 but released after two British soldiers were killed by dissidents.
Ed Moloney told The Boston Globe the interviews given by Price and others had been given on the basis that the information would be kept confidential until the subjects died. He stated the final option may be to destroy the rest of the tapes because interviews had been given on the basis of confidentiality until after their deaths.
One of the tapes subpoenaed features Price a living subject. Another is of deceased IRA leader Brendan Hughes.
The tapes have been subpoenaed by federal authorities after the Police Service of Northern Ireland requested them to. They are looking into the killings of alleged IRA informers forty years ago.
“Everyone else who has given interviews will be worried now about the consequences of this, and quite rightly,’’ Moloney, who oversaw the project, told the Globe.
“They are going to be alarmed there will be more leaks, and we’re going to have to address that in a very determined way.’’
Moloney said the threat of subpoena power would have resulted in none of the paramiltaries participating.
“If that had been there, we would have had no interviews at all,’’ he said. “If we were saying to them: ‘We want you to tell us everything about your life as a bomber and gunman. And, by the way, if the cops come, we’re going to hand all this over. Is that OK with you?’ It would have never gotten off the ground.’’
Boston College stated that they were deeply concerned about the request. “We have concerns for the safety of the interviewers who conducted their interviews with the assurance of confidentiality, as well as concerns regarding the effect this subpoena may have on oral history projects as an academic enterprise,’’ said Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn.
However, Stephen Pope, a theology professor at BC, said the guarantee of confidentiality was misleading.
“It’s important to get legal advice on what can and can’t be promised in good faith to the interviewees,’’ Pope said. “At the very least, there is negligence on the part of the researchers, from what I can tell.’’
-------------
READ MORE:
British subpoena IRA records from Boston College oral archive
-------------
36 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelbourne | May 17, 2011, 07:46 PM EDT
nuzhound.com
citizen69 | May 16, 2011, 12:31 PM EDT
By the way, the invitation to the Queen and her visiting Croke Park & the Garden Of Remembrance are reconciliatory acts from both countries that should be welcomed. They were not planned to offend. Remember that the Queen also lost family members to the Provos. She was very close to Lord Mountbatten. Despite what you think there is still a close relationship between the British & Irish. They do not regard each other as foreign countries, hence the reason why no passport was ever needed to travel between both nations. Six million Irish people live in the UK. Most of the people of Ireland are ready for this visit.
citizen69 | May 16, 2011, 12:20 PM EDT
@scully & seano: So what are you guys saying? That people connected to illegal dissident terror groups shouldn't be arrested!? Just last week a dissident republican threw a military grenade at a police officer who was talking to two nationalist children in Derry. If that grenade had gone off two kids as well as policemen would have been killed... Should the police not be investigating that!? You are defending a woman who supports that!..... Could you please post a link to the apparent burning of 43 nationalist homes because it's the first i've heard of it.
ScullysSoulmate | May 16, 2011, 05:47 AM EDT
Oh and by the way, I know what the excuse was for arresting her, but the fact is that coupled with everything else it's simply another in your face slap to the Irish and those with enough guts to stand up and say ENUF IS ENUF!!!
ScullysSoulmate | May 16, 2011, 05:45 AM EDT
Citizen69 - that's what I'm talking about - not only no arrests, but NO MENTION OF IT IN THE bRIT OWNED MEDIA. It's always ALWAYS the Irish and SF supporters who are made to "look bad" by the one sided reporting. Recall the facts of Bloody Sunday when her monstrosity decorated the cowards who shot innocent poeple? No doubt this "visit" will cause even more innocent people harm, certainly the COST OF IT is already set up to do so, and personally I feel it's just MORE ORANGE TERRORISM under a different name - why name the new william or orange the new baron of carrickfergus just prior to the visit? it's an invasion of a different type, don't fool yourself for one minute thinking it's not.
seanomelbourne | May 15, 2011, 07:43 PM EDT
citizen69 can you reprint Marion Price's spoken word at the rally where she advocated murder.The PSNI/RUC are running around the north harassing anyone with a dissenting Republican point of view,43 nationalist homes have been burnt recently and no arrests.
Paradigm | May 15, 2011, 03:11 PM EDT
Now, now Dan Breen - I thought the Pope was infallible!
FallsRNat | May 15, 2011, 01:44 PM EDT
When PIRA/SF chose to accept the GFA they put a series of requests for investigations by the Brits into play, namely Bloody Sunday, Dublin/Monaghan bombings, Lloughall, Finucane etc, this was meant to put the onus on the brits to apologise for the troubles & prove the legitimacy of PIRA's campaign. However, in reality what was always going to happen was that whilst the 'brits' were happy to do so, they were also playing the long game & knew that disgruntled Unionists would insist that republican atrocities were looked into, Bertie Ahern, a much more enlightened FF leader started the ball rolling with the oft promised SI investigation into the Dundalk Gardai/PIRA collusion into the RUC murders. Now there are calls for enquiries Teebane, Bloody Friday, Dropping Well. FG/Labour will open be too happy to investigate further. My IRA uncles taught me at an early age about 'never putting anything' on the record, I'm afraid that whatever Maloney's promises on protection for the tapes that Darkie Hughes intended his thoughts to be used to damage Adams. These stories will run until Adams owns up to the truth on the McConville murder. If Adams still refuses to tell the truth about the McConville episode, maybe he will enlighten us about the 200K he took from the 'brits' in the mid 80's for services rendered?
dan Breen | May 15, 2011, 12:23 PM EDT
GOD BLESS THE IRA !
dan Breen | May 15, 2011, 12:22 PM EDT
Maybe Mr. Pope should be on a hit list !
citizen69 | May 15, 2011, 10:11 AM EDT
@GeorgeDillon: I'm not 100% sure but i think parties in the European Parliament can sit with whichever block they want to align themselves with regardless of how many already sit there, or alternatively they can sit in the non-aligned block. Aligning with the Communists was Sinn Fein's choice.
citizen69 | May 15, 2011, 09:59 AM EDT
Just for the record... contrary to what this article is implying, Marion Price's arrest lately had nothing to do with these tapes. She was arrested & charged with encouraging support for an illegal organisation following a dissident rally in Londonderry last week. She stood on a public platform and openly advocated the murder of Northern Irish citizens with masked terrorists.
Paradigm | May 15, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT
ScullysSoulmate - that 'well-known writer of fiction' doesn't appear to realise that Northern Irealnd has its own devolved Government; a Minister of Justice nominated by Sinn Fein and a super-abundance of never-ending enquiries into Loyalist violence (only)- so what makes the oul stick-in-the-mud want to blame "Brits" for pursuing the fight.
ScullysSoulmate | May 15, 2011, 07:52 AM EDT
WTF? So now on top of the in your face visit by her monstrosity, naming the new william of orange barron of carrickfergus, and insulting everyone by some of the venues of and the very timing of the visit, they've started (re-)arresting people in Belfast? wow, so what we all thought was perhaps just poorly thought out cooincidence is more like a plot to shove the brits down Ireland's throat again, huh? what a surprise...NOT. and yea, what maireadinbelb said...and citizen69, seanomelborne, and others too, and while on that topic, I want an explanation of what happened to Spud Murphy after he was picked up by the royals for playing gaelic football in the 80s, NEVER to be seen again...and I'm sure there are a LOT more people, do you really want to get this started again? Apparently so...remember this, as I always used to say if someone wanted to start a fight, ARE YOU SURE, ARE YOU REALLY SURE? REMEMBER, ONCE YOU THROW THE FIRST PUNCH THE REST IS ALL ON YOUR HEAD. I guess britain wants the fight to continue...big surprise to some of us...
maireadinmelb | May 15, 2011, 06:03 AM EDT
And to you in Westminister - Release all your government documents into all the collusion your employees (both military and supposed police)were involved in! Before you start demanding other peoples records! Including the few coronial investigations into deaths caused by your above mentioned employees that were not even released to the families!
maireadinmelb | May 15, 2011, 06:00 AM EDT
I thought the same as you ChiefJustice but upon reading the original article it appears that they applied to an American court who have granted the ORder that they can subpoena what they want and Boston College should comply! I would hope the College would appeal such a decision!
GeorgeDillon | May 15, 2011, 05:59 AM EDT
citizen69 : I would imagine this is because the Irish "slot" among the European Socialists is held by the Irish Labor Party. There couldn't be two Irish representatives in the same group. It sure doesn't make sense, though, because Sinn Fein is as much a left-wing party as Fianna Fail is.
citizen69 | May 15, 2011, 05:50 AM EDT
I'd also like to ask this question... Can anybody explain to me why in the European Parliament, Sinn Fein have decided to sit on the far left wing with Europe's Communist parties instead of the less extreme left with the Socialist parties?
citizen69 | May 15, 2011, 05:48 AM EDT
It seems people who take an objective or balanced view of 'the Irish Problem' are not valued here by some who seem to think that unless you are a rabid Republican you can't be Irish. Speaking personally, i have lived through every day of the Troubles here in the north, and unlike some i am still living with it today. People here are criticizing the British for not letting the past lie yet they support full inquiries into the past wrongs of the Brits & Loyalists. So which is it to be? Should we just let it lie for one side but not the other?
pilib04 | May 14, 2011, 09:52 PM EDT
Back in 1995 BC tried to honor Bloody Thatcher. Outcry by the Irish Community led to BC withdrawing the honor. These tapes must be destroyed.
Ajreaper | May 14, 2011, 08:26 PM EDT
PhlutiePhan = complete nutt job.
mamaginnty | May 14, 2011, 07:20 PM EDT
I actually feel I want to vomit when I read some comments here, from people who know absolutely nothing, nothing what so ever about the people who lived through this nightmare in the north of our country. PHLUTIEphan. "patriots or slugs...its hard to tell" then you take it upon yourself to tell us they are communist pagons. " Come live with us to know us "
seanomelbourne | May 14, 2011, 07:13 PM EDT
The plastic Irish ask us to forget the pass and move forward whilst the British trawl 40yr old information the hypocrisy of it all.This is not about redemption it's about demonizing republicans. The GFA allowed all prisoners to be released to put the past to rest.The British/unionist are still smarting, they never thought that Sinn Fein would accept the offer of peace talks.And the plastic Irish like Pluhtie who are ignorant of modern Irish history play into the hands of the British.
FallsRNat | May 14, 2011, 04:03 PM EDT
since 9/11 the US has introduced draconian laws that the EU has abided by & colluded with in extraditing people to the US with even the most trivial connection to business or terrorist alleged incidents, now the US is being asked by another sovereign nation to pursue the tapes that may lead to the truth finally coming out about 1 of the most troubling murders in the troubles. PIRA/SF still refuse to acknowledge that any of the atrocities that they carried out caused pain & suffering & they must apologise in full just like others have. Whatever anybody thought of Darkie Hughes, he had as PIRA OC Maze prison a long history of membership of the organisation & unlike Sean Callaghan, he evidence is less easy to refute by the republican leadership. I met him on a number of occasions & he was always forthright in his appraisal of Gerry Adams as an IRA man. Like the South Africans we need closure on this most sordid episode of our history & we the nationalists are aware that we going to face some difficult times ahead when the enquiries about McConville, Finucane, Nelson, Gardai/PIRA collusion in Louth, Teebane, Shankill Rd, Dropping Well, Enniskillen go public. We are going to acknowledge that we too played & important part in the pain & misery inflicted on others on this island, Europe/UK mainland, if the Republicans cannot bring themselves to join on this road to redemption, then the door to the troubles will never fully close
Nelsonbarry | May 14, 2011, 03:38 PM EDT
Burn the dam things like England burned Ireland.
Paradigm | May 14, 2011, 03:14 PM EDT
Is it not totally hypocritical that there is all this fuss about confessed Irish terrorists and yet U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder can callously demand, on U.K. television this week that Gary McKinnon, a 'special needs' young man with Aspergers Syndrome is extradicted from the UK to the US for hacking into the Pentagon's computer to search for evidence of extra-terrestrial life. If Gary was successful without resources should the U.S. authorities not be grateful he alerted them before the Taliban or Al Quaeda with their massive resources. Get a bit of balance U.S. before we all think you're becoming a Facist State.
Ms.Gail | May 14, 2011, 01:08 PM EDT
I would like Irish Central to pursue a story of how foriegn supoenas work on people and organizations here in the US. I don't think Boston College should destroy all their oral history materials, but I do think they should offer the originals and all copies back to the living individual who made the recording. The individual can decide what to do with the material - even store it in a country that will not honor a British supoena.
Nicomax | May 14, 2011, 01:03 PM EDT
It is clearly one-sided, and in an attempt to level the scale, let's demand we get all documents in the British Foreign Office as to what they knew about the US intent to invade Iraq.
PhlutiePhan | May 14, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT
The important thing to evaluate is whether these taped individuals are "patriots or slugs". It is hard to tell. Many of the provisionals were and are Communist with no belief in the Irish Republic. They were anarchists attempting to destroy viable society in order to create fear and chaos into which international radical socialism would step in and create a "new world order". I could very easily support military means to create an Irish Republic. However, paganistic communism is not an option especially in light of the ruthless means used to obtain their ends. There are plenty of parallels to the Red Brigades in both Italy and Germany. To see that BC is having trouble telling the difference is quite a bit disturbing.
citizen69 | May 14, 2011, 12:25 PM EDT
More astounding hypocrisy! Would you all agree then that the British should burn all evidence alluding to possible collusion or wrongful death from their side during the troubles? Or are we just seeking truth for one side here?
Chiefjustice | May 14, 2011, 12:23 PM EDT
I am not versed in International Law. Please answer. Under whitch Statutes does a Forign Goverment have the right to Issue a Subpoena for records stored in a U.S. College Libiary???
historybuff106 | May 14, 2011, 12:20 PM EDT
Foreign county has NO right to subpoena private, personal documents. Have to go through the State Department, Court system, etc. The U.S. can't subpoena records from other countries - what makes the UK think they can subpoena records from us? Especially when they are NOT public - but private - documents. Lock them down and stand firm. What are they going to do?
bostonblakie | May 14, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT
40 years seems a bit late to seek information that is most likely no longer relevant to anyone but historians. Would the UK be willing to make its secret files from that era available for inspection? Let the past be the past.
Searlit | May 14, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
The Irish shouild subpoena the records from Cromwell on up to the peace agreement. "The Troubles" are the English government's legacy.
HorsesInMdstrm | May 14, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT
I'm not an attorney, and the law may be different if the subpoena comes from a foreign country, but don't you get into deep trouble if you destroy something that has been subpoenaed?
MMLeprechaun | May 14, 2011, 09:51 AM EDT
Destroy the tapes for Heaven's sake and the sake of the living! That isn't brain surgery!!