05/04/2012

Decision On Troubles Interviews Could Take Weeks

A US court has adjourned to decide whether it will hand over controversial interviews by former IRA members to Northern Ireland's Police.

The interviews which took place between 2001 and 2006 were part of the Boston College Belfast Project which involved academics, historians and journalists conducting interviews with former republicans and loyalists about their activities during the Troubles.

It is understood that a judgement in the case could take weeks.

The Background

The PSNI have been seeking the transcripts of an interview given by former IRA member Dolours Price.

It is believed that this particular interview will give insight into the murder of so-called 'disappeared' Jean McConville.

The PSNI said it has re-opened the inquiry into Mrs McConville's murder, and on that basis is seeking the transcripts.

Earlier a US court ruled that PSNI interest in the interviews was legitimate and the tapes of the Price interview and seven others deemed pertinent to an investigation into the Disappeared are now in the hands of the US federal court.

The Boston College who helped conduct the interviews however have appealed against the decision to release some of the tapes. They admit that they can no longer protect the anonymity of Dolours Price after she 'outed' herself during another interview but they query the value of the other interviews to police investigations.

Meanwhile others in Northern Ireland argue that the release of these could rock the peace process.

(LB)

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