Sinn Féin calls for immediate inquiry into Victims Commissioner appointment
Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Antrim and party spokesperson on victims issues
Philip McGuigan today said that the referral of the case taken by Brenda
Downes into Peter Hain's appointment of the interim Victims Commissioner to
the British Attorney General, was significant and important given the very
serious issues exposed by the case.
Mr McGuigan said:
"The
serious issues and abuses of procedure which this case has exposed raise
very significant issues for Peter Hain and his department. Since the High
Court verdict Peter Hain has attempted to dismiss the court findings and has
arrogantly insisted that neither he nor his department have done anything
wrong.
"This position is clearly not tenable and the decision by
the court to refer the case to the British Attorney General increases the
pressure on Mr Hain to face up to the enormity of the situation he finds
himself in.
"The case has already exposed the fact that the
appointment of Bertha McDougal was a political sop to the DUP and could
never command the sort of cross community support required.
"Peter
Hain now needs to stop pretending that he has not created a serious problem.
He needs to begin to undo some of the damage and hurt he has caused by his
approach to this appointment and indeed the British State approach to
the
issue of victims and the role they have played in the conflict.
"A
first step along this road would be for Mr Hain to apologise for his
conduct
and establish the inquiry demanded by the court into his conduct and
that
of his department in this case without further delay and for its
findings
to be made public." ENDS