Charles Kennedy

Liberal Democrats | Ross Skye & Lochaber

Kennedy At PMQs: ‘On The Run’ Amnesty A Matter Of ‘Principled Judicial Process’

Charles Kennedy put pressure on the Prime Minister at PMQs to re-consider the proposed amnesty of ‘on the run’ Northern Irish terrorists, as it was a matter of “principled judicial process.”

Pressed by Mr Kennedy to acknowledge that “if justice is seen to be done, it is imperative that those who have committed terrorist atrocities appear in court and answer for their crimes,” the Prime Minister admitted that the anger that the new measure provoked was “very natural, particularly from those who have suffered so much from acts of IRA terrorism.”

Mr Kennedy then asked “why won’t the Prime Minister put the victims of terrorism higher up the priority list?” adding that the Prime Minister could provide “direct linkage in this legislation to the early release scheme which involves a proper court process.”

Full text of exchange follows.

Charles Kennedy: Mr Speaker, can I associate my honourable and right honourable friends entirely with the expression of condolences we’ve heard for the families for those who have lost their loved ones in recent days in such tragic circumstances in the service of our police and armed forces. May I return to the opening question from the honourable member for Upper Bann, and the Prime Minister has acknowledged elsewhere a few days ago, those of us who disagreed with him over an aspect of the terrorism bill, the 90 days imprisonment without charge, did so because it was considered a matter of principle. Does he recognise that the Northern Ireland, that the Northern Ireland measures before the house this afternoon also raise matters of proper principled judicial process? Those of us Mr Speaker, who support the Good Friday agreement quite readily accept that the issue must be resolved. But surely, if justice is seen to be done, it is imperative that those who have committed these terrorist atrocities appear in court and answer for their crimes?

Prime Minister: I think he knows the reasons why we have to deal with this issue. We have to deal with this for a very simple reason. Under the provisions of the Belfast agreement, the Good Friday agreement, those who were convicted of offences before that agreement, in other words before April 1998, they have been released under the prisoner release scheme. We were always going to have to deal with the situation of those who were suspected or are being pursued in respect of crimes committed before April 1998 and that’s what we’re trying to do here. And these proposals were published some two and a half years ago, and they are a necessary part, in my view, of making sure that we follow this process through to its conclusion. I understand the anger that they provoked and that is very natural, particularly from those who have suffered so much from acts of IRA terrorism, but I do it’s a necessary part of securing the overall agreement.

Charles Kennedy: Mr Speaker, picking up on that reply, why won’t the Prime Minister therefore provide direct linkage in this legislation to the early release scheme which involves a proper court process? Now many of those like the Alliance Party and many others who’ve worked tirelessly for reconciliation in Northern Ireland, are now asking a very simple question; why won’t the Prime Minister put the victims of terrorism higher up the priority list?

Prime Minister: First of all, the special judicial tribunal has the powers of the criminal court, now it is true that this is for special procedures, because the circumstances itself are special. And as for his remark about putting the victims of terrorism higher up the political agenda, it is precisely for that reason that for the past eight years I have worked try and make sure that the Northern Ireland peace process succeed. And actually it does succeed and we have come a long way in eight years. It is sometimes because we do things that are uncomfortable and difficult, but none the less necessary. It’s called; I’m afraid, making difficult political decisions.