Paisley: Turn up or face jail
Ian Paisley could be jailed if he ignores an order to appear before the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Derry tomorrow.
The Democratic Unionist Party leader was warned he faces contempt proceedings if he fails to turn up at the hearing into the January 1972 atrocity when British soldiers shot dead 13 civilians for a second day running.
Despite claiming parliamentary duties prevented him from complying with a summons to attend, inquiry chairman Lord Saville accused him of giving the hearing the ‘‘runaround’’.
Cautioning the hardline unionist’s solicitor, John McBurney, he said: ‘‘We have come to the conclusion that we will certify Dr Paisley for contempt if he does not appear here by 9.30 tomorrow morning.’’
It is understood the DUP chief was tonight considering whether to travel to Derry.
But one solicitor working for the family of a Bloody Sunday victim insisted he could be sent to jail if Lord Saville notifies the courts.
Greg McCartney, who represents the family of 22-year-old James Wray, said: ‘‘If the high court found he was in contempt, imprisonment is certainly a live option.’’
The development followed last week’s order for two Channel 4 journalists to comply with a 14-day order to reveal the names of army sources involved in a documentary on Bloody Sunday or face contempt charges.
Despite being subpoenaed to testify about a counter-demonstration his Democratic Unionist Association called off on the eve of the fateful civil rights march, Mr Paisley failed to turn up today as requested.
Instead, his solicitor told the tribunal his client was giving priority to his parliamentary duties.
Mr McBurney stressed his client was willing to attend the hearing in the city if a suitably flexible date was arranged.
He also claimed the DUP chief had been subpoenaed on several previous occasions, although he had not been authorised to accept them on his behalf.
On these occasions the DUP leader had notified the tribunal his work at Stormont, Westminster and Strasbourg prevented him from attending, he said.
He added: ‘‘If there are several alternatives, then I would like to hope that at least one of them would be possible.’’
However, Lord Saville pointed out that confirmation the DUP leader would not be attending today was only received 12 minutes before the close of business on Friday - at the beginning of a three day holiday weekend.
He told Mr McBurney, the tribunal and its staff had ‘‘bent over backwards’’ to accommodate Mr Paisley.
But the solicitor had made it quite clear his client regarded parliamentary business as being of far greater importance than attending the inquiry.
‘‘On the face of it it looks as if your client is trying to give us the runaround,’’ he added.
Mr McBurney insisted this was not the case.
‘‘I have not come here today to say that in no circumstances will he give evidence to this inquiry.’’
Mr Paisley was due to take the witness box today despite what Christopher Clarke QC, counsel to the inquiry, described as difficulties in securing his attendance at the city’s Guildhall, where the inquiry is being held.
Mr Clarke also stressed it was inaccurate to suggest arrangements had been made with Mr Paisley over previous subpoenas.
Referring to the North Antrim MP’s son, Ian Paisley Jr, claiming the reputation of the tribunal was ‘‘in tatters’’, Mr Clarke suggested it could explain his lack of co-operation.
He added: ‘‘It is no longer tolerable for matters to limp on in the manner that I have described.’’
The DUP leader had given notice in January 1972 that his Democratic Unionist Association was to hold a rally outside the Guildhall in Derry - at the same time the civil rights march was due to parade to that point.
The huge security operation was mounted in the city and the civil rights march prevented from proceeding to the Guildhall.
In the event the Paisley demonstration never materialised.
Mr Paisley had been called to explain if any assurances had been given, and by whom, which led him to call off his counter demonstration.
