asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglo-Irish Conference has discussed the recent wave of harassment and intimidation of Nationalists in the North; and, if so, the reason this was not reflected in the recent communiqué.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Security Forces in Northern Ireland.
29.
In so far as the Deputy's question may refer to allegations of harassment of Nationalists by members of the security forces, I would refer him to paragraph 5 of the Joint Statement issued after the conference of 6 October which states that the conference discussed relations between the security forces in Northern Ireland and the community. Allegations of harassment by members of the security forces would come under this heading.
Sectarian outrages and acts of intimidation are the subject of regular communication through the Secretariat and were the subject of a special meeting of the conference called by the Irish side on 29 July last. No one can be in any doubt about my records on the grievances of Nationalists about the security forces. I and my staff raise and press every single instance where we are satisfied that there has been a real problem. I should add that I am satisfied that a serious effort has been made on the other side to deal with those concerns raised by me.
Would the Minister have seen a letter dated 20 October 1986 to the Taoiseach from a community worker at the Upper Springfield Resources Centre in Belfast which states that since last November 200 Nationalist families have been intimidated out of Lisburn alone and that the pattern can be traced through Belfast, Derry, Ballymena, Portadown, Rosshamilton, Kilkeel, Ballinahinch and that there is daily a deliberate, conducted campaign of harassment, intimidation and violence against Nationalists by the security forces? Is he aware too that the demolition of the Divis Flats had nothing to do with the Anglo-Irish accord but was the result of a long, hard struggle by residents? Would the Minister care to comment on that?
In regard to Lisburn there were a number of intimidations.
The figure quoted by the community worker who contacted the Taoiseach is 200. We are referring to the allegations made by the Taoiseach at the Ard Fheis last weekend.
Lisburn has been a difficult place for the last 12 months. There have been a number of intimidations of Catholic families in the area. I am not sure if it is an much as the 200 mentioned by the Deputy, but it is certainly over 100. It has been the subject of constant attention by my Department, by the Conference and by the Secretariat during all that time. I understand that in recent weeks there has been a noticeable falling off in the number of complaints about intimidations in the Lisburn area.
In regard to the Divis Flats, up to 12 months ago the intention of the British Government was that they would knock down some of the blocks and rehouse the people, but they would not demolish the whole lot. They have now decided that they will demolish all of the flats.
The Minister would be very wise to see this letter that the Taoiseach got because it specifically states that there were 200 incidents of intimidation in the Lisburn area alone and the pattern continues right through the province and the parts of it I have named.
Did it also say that the number of complaints had fallen off greatly in the last few weeks?
It certainly does not.
That is a fact.
This letter does not say that. The Minister should see what is in this letter. Would the Minister agree that the statement by the British Attorney General yesterday on the Angela Whoriskey case indicates clearly that the supergrass system will continue?
The thing to note about the Angela Whoriskey case is that the people whom she had named, and who perhaps in other times would have faced trial, are not now facing trial.
Will the Minister agree that he was chancing his arm as was the Taoiseach at the weekend in claiming that the supergrass trials would be ended, pointing to the Whoriskey case as evidence of that? This is totally untrue as has been put on the record publicly yesterday by the British Attorney-General.
The Deputy will not find any statement by the Taoiseach or me that the supergrass trials would be ended.