Government needs to investigate collusion more fully: report

The British Government should do more to fully investigate allegations of collusion, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has said.

In its Fifth Annual Report (covering the period April 2003 to March 2004) presented before Parliament today, the Commission said the Government needed to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not assist the activities of terrorist organisations.

Chief Commissioner, Professor Brice Dickson, said: “I am pleased with the progress we have made this year in developing a culture of human rights, however there remains a number of concerns which we hope can be addressed by Government and local political parties.

”For example, we believe the British Government should do more to fully investigate allegations of collusion and to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not assist the activities of terrorist organisations.

“The Government should also reform the inquest system and respond to recommendations increasing the powers of the Commission. We also believe that paramilitary violence should be more widely condemned across the community and local politicians should re-energise their efforts to develop a comprehensive Bill of rights.”

Today’s report sets out the Commission’s activities during the year, describing its work on casework, legislation, policy development, education, investigations and research as well as progress on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

It also provides an overview of developments in human rights standards in Northern Ireland and identifies seven key areas about which it has serious concerns.

These areas include allegations of collusion, paramilitary violence, systems for preventing and investigating deaths, policing and prisons issues, the Bill of Rights and the failure of Government to provide effective support to the Commission.

(MB)