23rd May 2003

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Irish government must ensure effective end to British policy of collusion

Sinn Fein Chief Negotiator, Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness speaking ahead of tomorrow's meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said:

 

``Tomorrow Gerry Adams and I will meet the Taoiseach to discuss the issue of collusion between British Intelligence and unionist paramilitaries. For decades Sinn Fein pointed out that British Intelligence was manipulating, controlling and directing loyalist death squads as the deniable arm of the British war machine Ireland. These assertions were dismissed and ignored.

 

``Recent revelations prove our case beyond any doubt. It took a long 13 years to produce the Stevens Report. This is a damning indictment of the role of British Intelligence and the Special Branch in their war against Irish republicans and nationalists-

 

``The Stevens Investigation produced a report which ran to thousands of pages. Only 19 pages of this have been made public. Yet this is an issue of the deepest public concern.

 

``The Irish government, acting on behalf of and in the interests of Irish citizens should have full access to this report in its entirety.

 

``But the Stevens Investigation was itself very limited.

 

``The Irish government should also demand full disclosure on the activities of British Intelligence over the past three decades, particularly in light of events such as the Dublin/Monaghan bombs and the killings of Seamus Ludlow in Co. Louth and of Councillor Eddie Fullerton in Buncrana.

 

``The British government at the highest political level sanctioned the activities of British Intelligence. The Irish government must challenge the British government on this. The Irish government must challenge and demand an end to the continued activities of these agencies in Ireland. The Irish government on behalf of Irish citizens, north and south must demand that the files of these agencies are now opened to full scrutiny.''

 

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