Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Independent Inquiry into Convictions.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

12 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call on the British Government to institute an independent inquiry into the conviction of 21 people for the torture and murder of two British soldiers at a Republican funeral in Casement Park, Belfast, in view of the fact that Amnesty International has expressed doubts about the safety of the convictions as they were denied prompt access to lawyers and that none was alleged to have carried out the fatal shootings.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I am aware of the Amnesty International report. I share the concerns expressed by Amnesty International with particular reference to the murder convictions of Patrick Kane, Seán Kelly and Michael Timmons. I had the opportunity to hear about these cases at first hand when I met representatives of their-families earlier this year.

I have raised these three cases with the British authorities through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Conference. The Secretary of State announced some months ago that he would review the matter and indicated subsequently that he was examining additional material in the context of this review. Accordingly, I do not propose to call on the British Government to institute an independent inquiry. I have made it quite clear, in the light of the widespread doubts which have been expressed about these cases, that I would welcome a decision to refer them back to the Court of Appeal.

These cases, and the concerns to which they have given rise, illustrate the importance which attaches to ensuring adequate safeguards and access to legal counsel for persons in custody. We shall continue to keep these matters under close review within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Conference.