Is truth recovery for Troubles killings really possible? |
ANY truth recovery process for the Troubles appears futile after publication of the Operation Kenova report into Stakeknife and its subsidiary Operation Denton report into loyalist murders.
Investigators received almost no information from loyalist or republican paramilitary-linked suspects. Most replied through their solicitors that they could not remember anything.
MI5 was completely uncompromising on national security.
The absurdity of Kenova being blocked from naming Stakeknife is fundamental from MI5’s perspective. It believes it cannot recruit agents and informants unless it can demonstrate it will never identify them, even after death. The government accepts this position.
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A court separately stopped Denton from publishing the names of any suspects, alive or dead, following an application from a deceased suspect’s family.
Despite the time, money and effort that went into the inquiries – far more than will be possible for the vast majority of Troubles murders – many victims’ groups and families are dismayed with the reports for various reasons.
Sinn Féin has criticised the overall finding of no evidence of collusion above the individual level. As nobody appears to be satisfied, what has been achieved?
Even a process with a full amnesty would not resolve most of these issues.
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THE BBC has obtained leaked letters between Sinn Féin finance minister John O’Dowd and DUP education minister Paul Givan. They reveal a robust exchange of views on a teachers’ pay rise, with Givan writing he will have to overspend his budget by £288........