Dáil Role In Birth Of Provisionals In Focus

There has been a welcome for news that the Dáil is to be asked to report on the role played by previous Dublin administrations in the genesis of what became the deadly terrorist group, the Provisional IRA.

The Upper Bann MP David Simpson has welcomed a statement by NIO Secretary of State Owen Paterson that he will raise the issue of their role in the formation of the IRA and the alleged failure of successive government's on matters such as extradition when he next meets with his counterparts.

Yesterday, the Secretary of State confirmed that he would ask the Republic of Ireland to open its archives to satisfy unionist concerns about Dublin's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA.

Now, Owen Paterson has made the commitment at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster in response to requests by Upper Bann DUP MP David Simpson.

One major point to be examined will be the background to the infamous Arms Trial of 1970 in which Dublin ministers were accused of buying weapons for the IRA.

Any probe will have to examine the controversial role of Captain James Kelly, the former Irish Army officer who was implicated in the case.

Although he died before he could clear his name, James Kelly was said to have obtained two versions of a crucial witness statement, one of which was altered significantly before being used against him in court.

The original statement from the former Irish head of Military Intelligence appeared to show that the then Justice Minister was fully aware of attempts to import arms destined for the growing Northern Ireland conflict.

Yesterday Mr Paterson said he would raise the issue of 'collusion' with Dublin, adding: "Obviously there will be some key material in the Republic of Ireland."

Westminster MP David Simpson said the matter was key to "healing" for Northern Ireland while SDLP Leader Alasdair McDonnell told the Belfast News Letter that he "strongly denied that Dublin had trained the IRA".

But the DUP man insisted that successive Irish governments failed to prevent terrorism along the border and pressed Mr Paterson to ask the Irish government to make information on such historical matters available to unionists.

Owen Paterson said: "I think it is perfectly public knowledge that I am very interested in opening up archives and establishing opportunities for oral testimony and getting an oral archive.

"If there is to be a full history [of the Troubles] I think obviously we will have to discuss this with the Republic of Ireland to see how they would be making information available."

Speaking after Mr Paterson made the commitment following questions from him in the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster, David Simpson said: "While this is a small step in the right direction is a significant step when measured against the failure of successive UK governments to properly prioritise the complicity of the southern government in the murder of many hundreds of UK citizens.

"I do therefore welcome this small but telling change in approach by the Secretary of State.

"The Secretary of State should become a persuader to encourage [Taoiseach] Enda Kenny to step forward, acknowledge Dublin's direct complicity at the onset of the Troubles, admit the catalogue of governmental failures that marked most of the period of that period and apologise officially for them in the same manner that we have seen from the UK government.

"This should be accompanied by a full disclosure of the facts and the release of all relevant government documents," he said.

(BMcC/GK)