A memo recorded at Stormont on July 10, 1972 details a meeting chaired by Willie Whitelaw, Northern Ireland secretary at the time, as well as the GOC (the most senior army officer in Northern ireland), Paul Channon MP, the deputy chief constable and senior civil servants.
The document states that "The army should not be inhibited in its campaign by the threat of court proceedings and should therefore be suitably indemnified."
The Guardian reports on the newly revealed memo. The three page document - which was marked “secret” - includes a list of “conclusions” arrived upon at the meeting which immediately followed the breakdown of the Provisional IRA’s two-week-long truce.
The memo has only recently come into possession of groups who campaign for justice for those killed on Bloody Sunday in Derry. The campaign groups have focused on re-examining the killings of those at the hands of security forces.
The document reveals that Whitelaw would "put the blame for the ending of the 'truce' fairly and squarely on the Provisionals who must now take the consequences", and "announce the government's intention to carry on the war with the IRA with the utmost vigour".
Additionally, "The GOC would see UDA [the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association] leaders and impress upon them that while their efforts as vigilantes in their own areas were acceptable, their presence in any riot or shooting situation could not be tolerated."
Mark Thompson, director of Relatives for Justice, which works for justice on behalf of victims, said: "The discovery of this document indemnifying British soldiers from the threat of court proceedings whilst they took their 'war' to nationalist communities with the 'utmost vigour' is the first official documented evidence of a policy amounting to impunity.
"It is a clear amnesty being put in place for what would later occur, the inevitable loss of life. In 1972 the British army killed 79 people. Not one soldier was held to account for these killings.
"This document provides an important insight into the mindset of the British government and those directly involved in and responsible for 'security' and its policy development – a policy that went on to have disastrous consequences for our entire community. Many observers will view this document as sectarian in its outlook and strategic approach.
"Despite their involvement in sectarian murders, the UDA was not [at that time] a proscribed organisation. They were permitted to patrol areas and exist alongside the RUC and British army at a time when intelligence would have clearly shown the UDA to be involved in sectarian murders.
That Sunday in July 1972, five people had been shot dead by republican paramilitaries. Six Catholics, including a priest, were killed by the British army.
Kevin Winters, a Belfast lawyer who represents relatives seeking justice, said: "It will lead to a request for the police's historical enquiries team to re-examine all the army killings that they have looked at to date.”
"The consequences of the document should permeate a lot of their investigations. It potentially strengthens grounds for fresh inquests. It could generate a huge amount of legal proceedings. If that was the mindset ... it would be grounds for a series of [out of time] civil actions for unlawful killings."
Paul O'Connor, of the Pat Finucane Centre in Derry, which also examines files from the period, said: "This document tells us something about the culture [at the time].”
“We deal with cases of people who were being kidnapped at UDA checkpoints and who were tortured and murdered. That ties in with allowing UDA members to join the Ulster Defence Regiment. It was the worst months of the Troubles."
28 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Jul 03, 2012, 07:00 PM EDT
Did I attack you Stiofan?? please show me where.
Stiofain | Jul 03, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT
seanomelb: Personal attacks again. No argument w/ facts.
seanomelb | Jul 02, 2012, 08:30 PM EDT
The phrase is rather universal if you were quoting the proclamation (which you abhor)you should say so.Not that you'd have any sympathy for the signatories of that historical document.The proclamation is for the true believers not to be abused by Brits like you.
DanOLoingsigh | Jul 02, 2012, 04:27 AM EDT
Those are not my words, I was quoting part of the Proclamation...but as usual, you missed that...
seanomelb | Jun 30, 2012, 07:40 PM EDT
You're sounding more like a "bleeding heart" each day.Your postings make marshmallow look tough.
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 30, 2012, 04:58 AM EDT
The real oxymoron is equating 'cherishing all the children' with the actions of your heroes...or maybe you can explain that?
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 30, 2012, 04:55 AM EDT
Warrenpointless=Idiot...
seanomelb | Jun 29, 2012, 07:53 PM EDT
He just doesn't listen sirpeter.To thick by far methinks.I wonder why he uses the Gaelic O'Loingsigh it's almost an oxymoron.
warrenpoint00 | Jun 29, 2012, 07:37 PM EDT
Slan abhaile old Dan Longshanks you fool time you was headin on back to the mainland instead of hanging around Ireland you fool and mouth peice defender of british terrorists in Ireland.You have nothing to offer Ireland or the Irish old boy you probably are in Ireland for the scenery and of course advocating terror and fear on the Irish nation on behalf of your british friends. Shooh now old boy run along back to your old brit friends tell them all that the Irish are not going to be dictated to by your ilk. Ireland = Irish.All Irish
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 29, 2012, 04:37 PM EDT
IN ONE SINGLE INCIDENT Warrenpoint’s heroes killed: An 18 months old from Augher, County Tyrone, a 20 month old from Donemana, Co. Tyrone, Two 12 year olds and an 8 year old from Buncrana, Co. Donegal, a 15 year old and three 17 year olds from Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and a 12 year old from Madrid, Spain…so much for his ‘values’and his 'love for Ireland'
warrenpoint00 | Jun 29, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
Nothing new here, as a nationalist citizens of Ireland besieged by imperialist british terrorist thugs claiming rights to my nation I am all to aware of this story and many stories of the wanton destruction, rape and murder of our nations children by these same british terrorist invaders.I revel in the knowledge that I and thousands of my country men through out our nation still work tirelessly to uphold our nationalist values that those imperialist british terrorists tried to steal from us.Ireland = Irish.Love it or get outa here.
sirpeter | Jun 29, 2012, 04:22 AM EDT
We know the truth alright.This nit-picking has got to stop Dano.I'm getting embarrassed for ya now.This was government policy.
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 29, 2012, 04:20 AM EDT
The misery visited on so many streets, not just the Falls, was the direct responsibility of your ‘heroes’…unlike you, I remember the detail…unlike you, and third or fourth generation embittered armchair republicans, I don’t defend the indefensible… take the recent ‘handshake’, wrong in Dublin, but right in Belfast… better late than never… better than your ‘heroes’ dragging Ireland’s good name through the gutter… now that they’re off the hook mainly of their own making, they and their supporters need to reinvent the history of the last 40 years….wasted years, wasted lives…
seanomelb | Jun 28, 2012, 07:28 PM EDT
Clutching at straws? Dano equating an accident with murder.Just to set the record I do not know of the incident. If you are correct the man was stupid in handling a "device with children around.Stick to common sense replies (if you can).
seamus60 | Jun 28, 2012, 05:37 PM EDT
Lets all just hope and prey that the SDLP don`t let the Nationalists of the North down in their demands for truth and justice.
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 28, 2012, 03:54 PM EDT
Let's face it Seano, you can't handle the truth, such as two young sisters killed by the hand of their own father, when his 'device' went off prematurely...one of your heroes, eh?
seanomelb | Jun 28, 2012, 02:09 PM EDT
Babies on the Falls road been murdered by brave British tommies!! never again.Your just a petty little Brit Dan Lynch.
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 28, 2012, 05:37 AM EDT
Now all the Belfast children can sing again, there’ll be no more war babies…and only true ‘simple-minds’ support the failed attempt of a small minority to coerce their neighbours into an ethereal, utopian, republican future ...now that’s what I call ‘anti-Irish’…
seanomelb | Jun 27, 2012, 08:53 PM EDT
Dano with another anti Irish post.It's all so simple to the simple minded.
DanOLoingsigh | Jun 27, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
Posters who have seized on this memo as ‘documented proof’ of a cover up would do well to look at the actual memo…it states that of the 17 deaths by violence in the period of the ‘truce’, 13 were attributable to the ‘Provisionals’…that’s over 75%...and in the context of the whole piece, the ‘indemnity’ sought was not what’s being portrayed here…otherwise how do they account for the prosecutions of members of the security forces in the 70’s? Trying to divert attention from the real cause of most of the misery of the troubles, this is the desperate reaction of supporters of the failed effort of a minority to coerce their fellow citizens…sad but typical…they really need to move on…
seanomelb | Jun 26, 2012, 08:52 PM EDT
True redbranch just ask Mrs Robinson.
RedBranch | Jun 26, 2012, 02:53 PM EDT
Lot of lust going on there IrelandNorth.
IrelandNorth | Jun 26, 2012, 07:08 AM EDT
Once upon a time there was a small green and fertile island nation. Then a lustful class of people on a larger neighbouring island nation cast its covetuous glances upon the golden vales of its smaller neighbour, and yearned to possess it with all the lust of their souls. To possess their own island more fully, this lustful class displaced other less lustul classes of that larger island, so that this less lustful class of the larger island were forced to seek refuge on the more fertile part of the smaller neighbouring island. In time, the more lustful class of the larger island used their displaced less lustful classes to hold that smaller island for them in perpetuity to the detriment of the majority peace loving natives of that smaller island, thereby inflicting an abominable injustice across generations (with the help of a equally lustful native minority of that smaller island). The more lustful classes went on to gain the world but lost their souls in the process, as had been foretold by wise wo/men of old. And everybody lived unhappily ever after. Until near the end of time, everybody learned to love each other and share their wealth in common, and to practice the religion they preached but rarely practised. Much tears were shed, and peace and happiness grew like sheaves of wheat in the well watered furrows of forgiveness of past.
maireadinmelb | Jun 26, 2012, 06:16 AM EDT
So there you have it documented proof of a cover up! The deafening silence from some of teh usual commentators on this site is interesting....
seanomelb | Jun 25, 2012, 06:17 PM EDT
Sinn Fein can now say "I told you so". Willie Whitewash giving a wink and a nod to orange terrorist groups is a terrible indictment of British colonial policies in the six counties.
Bythebay | Jun 25, 2012, 12:15 PM EDT
United The States military certainly isn't inhibited to carry out illegal wars and violate the Geneva Convention on prisoner treatment. Those of you in the US see no problem with that. Additionally, the US shows no reticence going after Al Qaeda terrorists on its own soil or anywhere else in the world, eg. bombing Pakistan without that country's agreement.
Seanmor | Jun 25, 2012, 10:23 AM EDT
The five Nationalists shot dead by British forces in Belfast on 9 July, 1972, included Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick (40)(who was shot while praying over a wounded ma), Pat Butler (39), David McCafferty (14), John D- (16) and Mgt. Gargan (13). One wonders why there was no official investigation into the killings of the priest, another middleaged man, two teenaged boys and a 13-year old girl. Why is there scarcely a mention of these 5 innocent victims in the mainstream media of theIrish state?
Portia777 | Jun 25, 2012, 09:27 AM EDT
Finally the truth finds a way.