Ahern backs Troubles Truth Commission
The families of victims of Northern Ireland’s Troubles need a forum like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.
He told the Dáil families needed to tell their stories and get some form of closure on their grief.
Mr Ahern also said the Government was studying the terms of reference of a Police Service of Northern Ireland review of 2,000 unsolved deaths during Northern Ireland’s Troubles, announced today.
He told Dáil TDs: “It’s very useful to look and see if there is some way that people can lodge their case or submission.
“I’m certainly open to that. Otherwise I don’t think there’s any way that we’ll get closure.”
He said he has raised the issue with Northern Secretary Paul Murphy and the Northern Ireland Office on many occasions.
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission proved to be a quick and effective process. But he added: “I don’t know it if solved any problems for people.”
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up by former president Nelson Mandela in 1996 to probe apartheid-era atrocities in South Africa.
Mr Ahern added: “It is something we have to look at. We do have to find some process.
“It is endless the number of groups (concerned with) various atrocities. As time passes, instead of the healing process setting in, bitterness arises.
“I have met numerous groups of families, and the more they see one case getting prominence, the more they feel that they haven’t served their families’ interests.
“Every death, every atrocity from whatever quarter is enormous.
“To find a way of dealing with all of these, we would be still here talking about them in 100 years time and I don’t think anybody wants that, not least the families.”
Mr Ahern also said the Government may take a case to the European Court of Justice if it does not receive cooperation from the British authorities on investigations into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.
Mr Ahern said British Prime Minister Tony Blair told him in a letter in January that there was not enough evidence to justify a public inquiry into the matter in the UK and that it would not be possible to carry out another major search of documents in relation to other matters under investigation by Mr Justice Henry Barron.
Sinn Féin’s Caoimghin O Caolain claimed this amounted to a “point blank refusal” by the British authorities to cooperate.
Mr Ahern said he and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, had continued to raise the matter with the British authorities, but it did not appear likely that they would cooperate.
