Amnesties and Covenants
The Consultative Group on the Past, chaired by Robin Eames and Denis Bradley, hold the first of a series of public meetings tonight at the Holiday Inn hotel just opposite the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in Belfast. The group is continuing to take soundings from the public until the end of this month, when they expect to have talked to around 90 different organisations. They hope to produce a report on schedule this summer.
What might feature in their report? One idea which it's understood has been floated is some way of making it easier for ex-paramilitaries and others to tell their stories without fear of legal repercussions. However that's styled it sounds like an amnesty of some kind.
Another idea is for people to sign up to a new "covenant" pledging to never again resort to political violence. If such a solemn declaration were to be made, would it provide a convenient moment for the IRA Army Council and other remaining paramilitary structures to disappear?
The group hasn't yet talked directly to the IRA or other paramilitary leaderships, but expect them to press hard for some contact before they produce their report.
Another area being explored is the expansion of the police Historical Enquiries Team, or something like it. Should such a team be an all-Ireland organisation? In the future could a remodelled HET have an input from the Police Ombudsman and even the paramilitary organisations themselves?
The group has been to see the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, to learn more details about his inquiries into collusion. There are indications that what they might say on this score could shock people, especially in the unionist community.
The group want the politicians at Stormont to buy in to what they recommend, but there's plenty of potential for disagreement amongst the parties about how all these sensitive issues might be handled.
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