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16/11/2012
Sinn Féin And UUP Criticise Inquest Suspension
Two of Northern Ireland’s parties have criticised the Senior Coroner’s decision to suspend inquests into 14 controversial killings in Northern Ireland.
Senior Coroner John Leckey made the decision after he expressed concerns that NI Attorney General John Larkin may have stretched beyond his remit when he ordered the inquests.
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Raymond McCartney said: "This is obviously deeply concerning and upsetting for the families involved who have already waited too long to find out the truth about the death of their loved ones.
"Not only is it disappointing that the inquests have been suspended but the matter in which that action was taken by the Coroner showed a lack of respect and sensitivity to the families concerned."
"Previous inquests were and are seen nowadays for the sham they were and new inquests were the only means the families had of finding out the truth about the killing of their loved ones."
One of the trials concerned the case of Francis Rowntree, an 11-year-old who was hit by a rubber bullet fired by a British soldier in 1972.
The office of the Attorney General was established in 2010, but matters like national security remain a matter for the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Mr Leckey has now referred the matter to NI Secretary of State Teresa Villiers.
Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott called on the Attorney General John Larkin to consider his position following the revelation.
"The Attorney General is certainly proving rather accident prone to the point where I believe he must now consider his position," Mr Elliot said.
"The problems which are undermining public confidence in his office all flow from his interpretation of his role as the guardian of the rule of law and the extent to which he sees himself becoming involved in Assembly proceedings.
"The Attorney General is developing an unfortunate habit of becoming the story and I believe that with this latest incident, the time has come for him to consider his position."
(IT)
Senior Coroner John Leckey made the decision after he expressed concerns that NI Attorney General John Larkin may have stretched beyond his remit when he ordered the inquests.
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Raymond McCartney said: "This is obviously deeply concerning and upsetting for the families involved who have already waited too long to find out the truth about the death of their loved ones.
"Not only is it disappointing that the inquests have been suspended but the matter in which that action was taken by the Coroner showed a lack of respect and sensitivity to the families concerned."
"Previous inquests were and are seen nowadays for the sham they were and new inquests were the only means the families had of finding out the truth about the killing of their loved ones."
One of the trials concerned the case of Francis Rowntree, an 11-year-old who was hit by a rubber bullet fired by a British soldier in 1972.
The office of the Attorney General was established in 2010, but matters like national security remain a matter for the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Mr Leckey has now referred the matter to NI Secretary of State Teresa Villiers.
Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott called on the Attorney General John Larkin to consider his position following the revelation.
"The Attorney General is certainly proving rather accident prone to the point where I believe he must now consider his position," Mr Elliot said.
"The problems which are undermining public confidence in his office all flow from his interpretation of his role as the guardian of the rule of law and the extent to which he sees himself becoming involved in Assembly proceedings.
"The Attorney General is developing an unfortunate habit of becoming the story and I believe that with this latest incident, the time has come for him to consider his position."
(IT)
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