A federal judge has ordered Boston college to hand over recorded interviews with a former member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), to British authorities who are investigating crimes during the Troubles.
On Tuesday, Federal Judge William G. Young in Boston directed the school to hand over the interviews this week.
The data includes recordings and transcripts related to Dolours Price, who has admitted to being involved in many IRA crimes during the era.
In response to the judge’s ruling, Boston College said it was disappointed, arguing that the decision “could have a chilling effect because people could be reluctant to participate in oral history projects moving forward,” the Boston Globe reports.
However, Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn, said the school would not be appealing the decision.
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The recordings are part of the Belfast Project, a Boston College oral history project about the troubles. The Belfast Project assured all interviewees that their identities would remain anonymous and the material would remain confidential until the person had died.
The Northern Irish police now want everything in the BC oral history archive related to the murder of Jean McConville in 1972, a mother of ten who was shot by the IRA. Attempts have long been made to link Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to the murder.
Judge Young provided no explanation to his ruling on Tuesday but he pointed out two weeks ago that the US and the UK are bound by treaty to share information that is relevant to ongoing criminal investigations.
“These are serious allegations, and they weigh strongly in favor of disclosing the confidential information,’’ Young wrote.
13 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Jan 04, 2012, 08:08 AM EST
Academic protocol states that information collected for research purposes under confidentiality clause cannot be betrayed. Academic confidentiality is on a par with that between layers and their clients, or priests and their confessees. I.e. sacradotal. All good scholars would go to prison rather than betray a trust.
FallsRNat | Jan 01, 2012, 04:42 PM EST
the sheer illogical comments from canadianirish amaze me, he is amongst many on the bandwagon berating the brits for not releasing documents on collusion, yet on the other hand if anything threatens PIRA he would like the evidence burned, thank god eejits like him don't live in the real world.
clevelander | Dec 31, 2011, 12:08 PM EST
Why are the british asking for tapes from Republican's only? Many loyalists were interviewed but no request for those tapes? As I personally know many men recorded for this project I am outraged by this one sided ruling.
DaithiSuibhne | Dec 30, 2011, 08:46 PM EST
I can honestly say after hearing of this 'Ruling',that obviously nothing is sacred.
ellenfromcork | Dec 30, 2011, 07:32 PM EST
As I said before, blood will be spilled over this.
cillowen | Dec 30, 2011, 06:31 PM EST
Colluder troika of us/uk/proddi oranges connections are tight. That's why the Saxon tribe has its way with soft Celts and will forever.
maireadinmelb | Dec 30, 2011, 04:30 PM EST
And will the Northern Ireland Police investigate teh murder of Majella O'Hare or the McGuire Children??
canadianirish | Dec 30, 2011, 04:02 PM EST
Judge William C. Young is an ass. As I've posted previously, surely these tapes have 'vanished' by now!
Murph46 | Dec 30, 2011, 01:32 PM EST
If Nixon could have an 18 minute gap ,surely these tapes could be erased.What business is it of an American judge.The people were promised secrecy!
FallsRNat | Dec 30, 2011, 12:54 PM EST
how stupid do you have to be to record your involvement in terrorist activities whether it be for educational or newspaper coverage while you can still be held accountable for your actions. The US like every other democratic country are committed to the defeat of terrorist organisations, criminals have to be held account for their own actions whether they wear green, orange or arab clothing.
Searlit | Dec 30, 2011, 12:27 PM EST
They're rolling over. If anyone had any faith left in institutions, they are the last.
SeamusMartin | Dec 30, 2011, 12:16 PM EST
Destroy any tapes or notes on the matter. Enough blood has been spilled. Don't open a Pandora's box. Orange and Green and peace between!
glencolme | Dec 30, 2011, 12:10 PM EST
SHAME! SHAME!! SHAME!!!