The Tory MP Mr Andrew Hunter was under intense pressure last night not to proceed with a proposal to name those he believes responsible for the Omagh bombing.
Mr Hunter has been threatening to "name and shame" under parliamentary privilege those he suspects are responsible for the explosion. He and other MPs are also planning to identify those they believe are involved in "punishment" attacks.
He wanted to reveal names because the authorities did not appear to be in a position to prosecute. He would not identify the alleged Omagh bombers if this would prejudice any future cases against them, but his understanding was such action would not be prejudicial in Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland courts.
Mr Hunter said in Belfast yesterday he had his information from a variety of sources, some of which were security and journalistic. Some details were "informally, almost improperly" given to him by a police source. He said he might seek to raise the issue during Northern Ireland question time in the House of Commons this afternoon.
The RUC chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, warned that naming people could prejudice any court proceedings against those responsible for the bombing, which killed 29 people in Omagh last August.
Dr Mowlam was particularly hostile to Mr Hunter's proposal. She said the primary duty of politicians was to help the RUC apprehend the Omagh bombers. "What Mr Hunter is proposing to do will have the reverse effect," she said.
"I have it confirmed on the best possible legal advice that it could prejudice any eventual prosecution, the continuing police investigation - and therefore prevent justice being done," she added.
She wanted to see the Omagh bombers brought to justice "but it is not enough to rely on rumour, or the word of a journalist, as Mr Hunter admits he has done", said Dr Mowlam.
Mr Hunter, and other MPs, are also proposing to identify republicans and loyalists they suspect have been carrying out so-called punishment beatings and shootings. The RUC chief constable warned that such a move could undermine the prospects of prosecuting the Omagh bombers and those responsible for "punishment" attacks.
"Such a move could be prejudicial to the prospect of successfully bringing before the courts those involved in such crimes," said Sir Ronnie. "This applies particularly to the Omagh atrocity in which, while there is continuing grounds for optimism that those responsible will be prosecuted, there is not yet sufficient evidence to place those responsible before the courts." The Chief Constable said he would make his views known to Mr Hunter and any other MPs planning similar action. Mr Andrew Mackay, the Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, who visited the North yesterday, while not opposed to the idea of naming names said parliamentary privilege should only be used on very special occasions.
"Any politician, Andrew Hunter or anybody else, must be very certain of their facts first, and I am sure that Andrew will be if in due course he decides to name," said Mr Mackay.
Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the UVF, said Mr Hunter was doing a "very dangerous thing" in proposing to name names in the House of Commons. "I will hold Andrew Hunter personally responsible for a single death of anyone he names in parliament," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said Mr Hunter should reveal the names. This could act as a deterrent to those planning bombings or "punishment" attacks. Mr Ian Paisley Jnr said MPs were being forced to use parliamentary privilege to name names because the system of law and order was letting the public down.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Mr Gerry Kelly said naming names would undermine the legal process. "If there is evidence, let it be produced. If there is not then do not make a mockery of the law," he added.
