Motion on Ballymurphy Massacre debate in Dáil this week
This week the Dáil will debate an all-party motion in support of the Ballymurphy Massacre families.
Commenting on the decision Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said:
“Since I was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 I have been pressing the Taoiseach to assert his authority to persuade the British government to deal properly with incidents involving its forces including the case of Pat Finucane, the killing by British forces of six citizens in Springhill in 1972 and in particular the Ballymurphy Massacre.
In May 2014 I raised with the Taoiseach the refusal by the British Secretary of State to a request by the Ballymurphy families for a review of the events that led to the deaths of their eleven loved ones. The Taoiseach volunteered to introduce an all-party Oireachtas motion of support for the Ballymurphy families.
This week that motion will be brought to the Dáil and almost 20 family members will be present to hear the debate.
The motion supports the Ballymurphy families and backs their call for an Independent Panel of Inquiry to look at the context, circumstances and aftermath of the events in August 1971 in which their family members were killed.
It is critical of the British Secretary of State’s decision not to establish independent reviews into certain Troubles-related deaths and calls on the relevant authorities “to ensure that incidents such as Ballymurphy, and other cases of similar circumstances and contention, are dealt with in a manner and a timescale that meets international human rights standards”.
The all-party motion also supports the “implementation of the comprehensive institutional arrangements agreed under the Stormont House Agreement “ for dealing with the past and urges the British Secretary of State to“reconsider her decision in April 2014 not to establish an independent panel to consider the events in Ballymurphy in August 1971”.
In conclusion Gerry Adams said:
“This is an important motion that deserves the full support of all parties in the Dáil. It is an important further step toward persuading the British government to agree to the demands of the 11 families for truth. “
Text of All Party Motion
That Dáil Éireann:
Supports the Ballymurphy families in their quest for the truth through an Independent Panel of
inquiry concerning the context, circumstances and aftermath of the events in
August 1971 in which eleven people died in Ballymurphy in West Belfast;
And
Disagrees and is disappointed with the decisions by the Secretary of State
for Northern Ireland in April 2014 not to establish independent reviews into
certain Troubles-related deaths, including into the events in Ballymurphy in
August 1971;
And
Notes that the Taoiseach met with the Ballymurphy families on 27 March last at
which time he reiterated the Government’s support for the families' quest for
the truth and justice regarding
the deaths of their loved ones, including their proposal for an Independent
Panel of Inquiry, and that he has written further to Prime Minister Cameron on
the matter.
And
Calls on the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland and in Britain to ensure
that incidents such as Ballymurphy, and other cases of similar
circumstances and contention, are dealt with in a manner and a timescale that
meets international human rights standards;
And
Notes, in addition, the
importance of addressing legacy issues related to the troubles in a
comprehensive way that encompasses all victims of violence and that respects
the principles of the Stormont House Agreement, namely:
· Promotes
reconciliation;
· Upholds the rule of law;
· Acknowledges and addresses the
suffering of victims and survivors;
· Facilitates the pursuit of
justice and information recovery;
· Is human rights compliant; and
· Is balanced, proportionate,
transparent, fair and equitable;
And
Notes that inquests have now been reopened in
Northern Ireland into a number of the deaths at
Ballymurphy in August 1971 and other similar cases and
calls on the British Government and all relevant authorities to cooperate fully
and in a timely manner with those inquests and in line with the principles for
dealing with the past established in the Stormont House Agreement;
And
Supports the implementation of the comprehensive institutional arrangements
agreed under the Stormont House Agreement as part of the transition to long term
peace and stability, for dealing with the legacy of the past – in particular,
the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU); the Independent Commission on
Information Retrieval (ICIR); an Oral History Archive; high quality services
for victims and survivors and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group;
And
Supports the full co-operation of all relevant Irish authorities with the
mechanisms provided under the Stormont House Agreement as part of the transition to long term
peace and stability;
And
Calls on the Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland to reconsider her decision in April 2014 not to establish an
independent panel to consider the events in Ballymurphy in August 1971;
And
Directs the Clerk of the Dáil to communicate the text of this Resolution to both the Northern Ireland Assembly and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with a request that the matter be considered by them and appropriate action taken.