Fr Gary Donegan
Credit ©Press Eye/Darren Kidd Catholic Bishops in Northern Ireland expressed ‘deep concern’ for how the UK will handle the legacy of the past in a letter to the Northern Secretary.
Archbishop Eamon Martin and Bishops Noel Treanor, Donal McKeown, Larry Duffy, Michael Router stated to Brandon Lewis that the proposals made on March 18 departed from the principle of prioritising the victims and pursuing justice.
They said they disagreed with the statement by Mr Lewis that the proposals were consistent with what had been agreed upon in 2014, they said they: “Do not believe it is consistent with the principles of the Stormont House Agreement or will deliver for all affected by the events of the past.”
Mr Lewis proposed a new independent body mainly focused on information recovery and reconciliation. It will review cases but only those which have compelling new evidence and a realistic prospect of prosecution will be fully investigated.
Fr Gary Donegan said to The Irish Catholic: “In a civilised society there has to be recourse to the normal justice that’s there and that everybody is held up to”
He reiterated the Bishops statement on the importance of justice for those affected and added: “All institutions, including the one I belong to, there have been situations where people in the past have sullied the name of institutions, so therefore we have to double the efforts to restore confidence, restore peoples belief in that institution.”
Justice
The Belfast priest said that he has spoken to many families affected by the issue; some want just want it put to bed, while others want full investigations and justice. “The reality is, can we actually handle the truth?… there’s an argument to be held on both sides. One of them is to wipe the slate clean and the other is to go down the route that most civilised societies do which means that people have recourse and justice from the law.”
He said however that there is the possibility that the investigations could have a damaging effect on the peace in Northern Ireland.
The bishops also warned that the current proposals also “could destabilise the Executive and other institutions which are only recently operational again.”