SF should ask activists about IRA's victims, says Kenny

TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has challenged Sinn Féin to encourage former IRA activists to provide information to the authorities on the deaths of victims of the Troubles.

The Taoiseach was replying to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who called on the Government to put renewed pressure on the British government to release files relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

Mr Kenny told Ms McDonald it would be in her party’s interest “to continue to encourage volunteers, who are members of the IRA, to produce the evidence about the death of Jean McConville, Jerry McCabe or others”.

He noted, he said, the statement made by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams about the Smithwick Tribunal, in which he indicated his party was in a position to influence volunteers who were previously IRA members.

“While Deputy Adams has never admitted being a member of the IRA, in his capacity as a member of Sinn Féin he was in a position to influence former members of the IRA, known as volunteers, to consult with the Smithwick Tribunal,” he added.

Ms McDonald said she could tell the Taoiseach that republicans would fully co-operate with an independent, international and properly established commission on truth and reconciliation.

Earlier, Ms McDonald said the House had twice called for the release of the Dublin and Monaghan bombing files.

“Nobody in this House disputes the fact that there have been victims on all sides and that all victims must have acknowledgement and truth,” she added. “It is a given that this cannot be a selective process.”

Sinn Féin’s position was that a properly constituted truth-recovery process was needed.

Mr Kenny said he had raised the release of the files during a broad discussion with the British prime minister David Cameron in April and, again, when he met him during Queen Elizabeth’s visit.

“We both acknowledge that there is a great number of sensitive issues relating to the past, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, that need to be sensitively considered, without getting into endless, open-ended inquiries,” he added.

“There are many other acts of violence from the past where victims on all sides would wish to have more information on what happened to their loved ones.”

Mr Kenny said the task was being approached in the context of transformed relations on the island and with Britain.

“In addition, I remind the House that there was a significant and lengthy inquiry by two very eminent judges, Mr Justice Hamilton and Mr Justice Barron, a thorough examination by an Oireachtas committee and a full commission of investigation conducted by Mr Patrick MacEntee,” he said.

The Barron inquiry and the MacEntee investigation had cost €3.5 million and €2.6 million respectively, he said.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the issue was fast becoming a major test of the new British government’s goodwill towards peace and reconciliation.

“It is not one that can be left to lie or fester,” he added.