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Editorial Prisoners of history

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The advent of summer has not brought the prospect of a relief from the difficult issues that still confront the participants in the Northern Ireland. Last week, Sinn Fein’s president, Gerry Adams, made that clear at a hush-hush meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair, during which the contentious problem of IRA men "on the run" was discussed, among other topics.

That is, just when one problem involving prisoners has been resolved, another one has arisen. In fact, the issue of "OTRs," as they are termed, has been central to the peace process for years. In July last year, it was one of the three "pillars" of agreement reached at Hillsborough as the Irish and British governments attempted to establish the power-sharing government — an attempt that failed. The other two pillars were policing and demilitarization. Despite British commitments to resolve these, republicans are unhappy, accusing London of reneging on the first and being too slow on the second.

Moves must be made to deal with the OTRs before it too grows into a crisis and undermines confidence between the parties. This will not be easy. There is doubt that the treatment of paramilitary prisoners remains an emotive and upsetting one for many people. Anger and hurt were caused when convicted paramilitaries were released before serving their sentences only two weeks ago. The families of their victims believe they suffered a grave in justice. But it was one that they suffered in order to enhance the peace process.

The idea that people wanted for serious crime should walk free without even standing trial — as suggested by Adams — would undoubtedly inspire further outrage among many. Realistically, the British government would be reluctant to proceed in this manner so soon after the prisoner release controversy.

However, because the issue of OTRs is so difficult does not mean that commitments entered into to deal with it can be reneged upon. That would be a recipe for further disasters.

An idea floated by the Irish government that an independent adjudicator be brought in to review each case seems like a promising compromise. Evidence would be reviewed objectively, on a case-by-case basis. If it is deemed sufficient to bring about a trial, then so be it. The prisoner, if convicted, would then come within the terms of the Good Friday agreement. His or her early release would follow.

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It is true that this is certain to cause pain in some quarters. But all sides signed up to the Good Friday agreement in the knowledge that such sacrifices would be required if Northern Ireland was to enjoy a settlement that would endure.

The bottom remains. The "war" is over. Therefore, the logic of the process demands that those still wanted for taking part in that war should have their status clarified and resolved. An independent body seems the sensible way of going about it.

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