NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Northern Ireland’s First Minister dismisses calls for Truth Commission

Northern Ireland’s First Minister dismisses calls for Truth Commission

DUP leader Peter Robinson doubts paramilitaries could tell the truth

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, February 27, 2012, 8:10 AM

Updated Monday, February 27, 2012, 8:10 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

7 Comments

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson

Photo by AP

Northern Ireland’s First Minister has dismissed calls for a Truth Commission – as he doubts former paramilitaries would tell the truth.

DUP leader Peter Robinson told a function in Newry that there is ‘no point’ in establishing a commission to address Ulster’s troubled past.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with Northern Secretary Owen Paterson on how to deal with the past, Robinson said the issue was difficult but could not be ignored.

“What would be the purpose of having a truth commission when we know without a doubt that the terrorists will not be coming forward to tell the truth?” asked Robinson.

“All you would get, once again, would be the police and army in the dock and history being distorted.
“The DUP will not allow any talks to become a rewriting of history.

“For any talks to succeed there must be an acceptance that part of the problem in dealing with the past in Northern Ireland is the refusal by some to accept the part they played in creating these problems.

“Any process dealing with the past must not include an amnesty or proposal which could allow some individuals to escape justice for their actions.”

Robinson has also called on Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and British leader David Cameron to meet representatives of families of the 10 Protestant workmen murdered by the IRA in south Armagh in 1976, an incident that became known as the Kingsmill Massacre.

“Those families are still crying out for justice,” he claimed.

The First Minister also addressed the issue of sectarianism. The Irish Times reports that he said: “A divided Northern Ireland cannot succeed economically, politically or culturally.

“While difference is to be mutually respected, room needs to be made for all cultural traditions to be celebrated. Now is the time to seize a new future.”

Nster.com

E-mail

7 Comments

See all comments

seanomelb | Feb 29, 2012, 05:09 PM EST

Is Robinson afraid of a commission,He the brits and his orange buddies would most likely be embarrassed by the truth.

Report abuse

DaithiSuibhne | Feb 29, 2012, 01:17 PM EST

Look at it from the outside lads, 'Truth' is obviously the first casualty of any war so to find 'It' is virtually impossible. Depending on whom your talking with their own version of 'History' will always be the truth in their own mind.

Report abuse

IrelandNorth | Feb 29, 2012, 08:44 AM EST

Rejection based on doubt? Northern Ireland isn't Ulster, even if both terms are frequentlly used interchangeably! Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is an unelected British Proconsul. Elected First Minister of fradulently established neo-provincial statelet answering to an unelected British Overlord. You can't "know without doubt" unless you enquire. One persons "terrorist" is anothers' freedom fighter. Peter's apprehension is [un]writing [a]history. Is Peter accepting his part in the problem as Big Ian's 'third force' deputy sidekick. To escape justice for their actions in defending their community against a discredited sectarian RUC police force and disbanded bigoted UDR Protestant militia. "A divided ... Ireland cannot succeed economically, politically or culturally. Ergo! A United Ireland is imperative to success.

Report abuse

seamus60 | Feb 28, 2012, 08:54 PM EST

What chance any truth commission. NONE. The North is run as a statelet where everyday life as we know it is determined by the PUBLIC INTEREST. Who decides what the public interest is, the securocrats and their allies, all under the duvie together. Mc Guinness is happy enough with an apoligy for Bloody Sunday. Can`t go digging for those in authority who gave the orders, far too murky. Adams refuses to take part in any inquirey where the brits have relevant authority, cause they`re not to be trusted, but reckons its ok for people in the community to pass on information regarding republicans who aren`t towing his party line,to the same brits. Robinson lives in the comfort that he dare not even appear in favour of amnestys, a must for such an inquirey to get out of the starting blocks. All of them sitting on another nice little earner of an impass that will no doubt suck millions more out of the decreasing kitty. But hey, having talks about having talks about having talks, takes up a lot of precious time and before we know it, anyone relevant will have just died off from old age along with the issue at hand. Now theres something an immunity from prosecution certificate can`t take care of. Ruling by fooling the lot of em.

Report abuse

U.S. Dave | Feb 27, 2012, 04:36 PM EST

If you're on the west side of the Atlantic, it's starting to show which side of the border has been screwed up. Ireland is progressing and the Ulsters can't seem to catch their tail no matter how hard they try. What's the plan? Move forward by digging a hole into the past as deep as you can? My family's best genealogy search says my great parents came from Ulster. How embarrassing this is. GET ON WITH IT, YOU FLEAS !!! Look South. They're a dam* fine people. ... so the American said.

Report abuse

RedBranch | Feb 27, 2012, 02:10 PM EST

'Mr. Adams were you ever in the PIRA?' 'No.' Well that's that then.

Report abuse

cillowen | Feb 27, 2012, 10:23 AM EST

proddis cant handle the truth - but a mother apartheidness and hatred for those they've destroyed. totally.

Report abuse