REACTION: The North's Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson has described the Eames-Bradley recommendations on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles as "a constructive and genuine effort to find a way forward".
Mr Hutchinson said he hoped the proposals would be the subject of community discussion that would result in a more effective way of dealing with the past.
“The recommendations are challenging and would seem to offer a very reasoned attempt to start a process that can deal with the many issues arising from Northern Ireland’s past”.
Mr Hutchinson added that the concept of independent investigation of police must remain: "It is important to ensure that those people investigating police complaint issues from the Past are and are seen to be wholly independent of those they are investigating".
Barry Gilligan, vice chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, echoed Mr Hutchinson, saying the report findings must be given “careful consideration”.
Mr Gilligan also said that the board was aware of the pressures placed on the police to address the legacy of the past whilst also having a commitment to ensure that policing delivered at the present time and in the future is appropriate and meets the needs of the community.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin also welcomed the publication of the report of the Consultative Group on the Past, saying “Our understanding of the difficult issues outstanding from the past, including the loss felt by families and friends at the death and injury of loved ones in terrible circumstances, has also been helped by the ongoing work of the Weston Park inquiries, whose significance is recognised in the report”.
The Consultative Group's report marks the end of a first stage in a process and, as I discussed with Secretary of State Woodward this morning, it is important that all stakeholders give the report careful consideration, he added.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader and MEP Jim Allister described the report as one of “shame”, saying it “provides the basis of sand upon which its proposals are built”.
Mr Allister, who picketed the launch of the report today, said “I was there to convey my outrage that Eames and Bradley, and their support cast, had delivered such a victory to terrorism”.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams commended the efforts of the Eames/Bradley group for finding ways by which the legacy of the past can be dealt with.
“Sinn Féin will now take the report and reflect on its proposals. We will also discuss this matter with victims and survivors organisations and the governments in the time ahead," he said.