Daily Dispatch Wednesday 19th May 2006

MAGINNESS - RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH RULE OF LAW

SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness MLA has welcomed the commitment given by the Secretary of State that Restorative Justice schemes have to be consistent with the rule of law and agreed with the police. However he has warned that this commitment will amount to absolutely nothing if the Secretary Of State does not revise radically the NIO’s Restorative Justice guidelines.

Mr Maginness stated:
“The SDLP supports Restorative Justice. What we do not want is so called paramilitary justice. We are profoundly concerned that the government’s proposed Restorative Justice guidelines are so weak that that is what we might be getting. We do not want paramilitaries in the background abusing their power over communities. We insist that working class communities have the same right to decent policing, protection against crime, and respect for human rights as anywhere else. Brutal so called policing by local hard men is just not on anywhere.

The Secretary Of State needs to face up to the fact that these guidelines could actually be used to frustrate the rule of law and obstruct proper police investigations, in the same manner that people were obstructed from giving evidence to the police investigating the murder of Robert McCartney. Patten was also about impartial policing whereas the fact is that Sinn Fein’s Catriona Ruane has made clear that Sinn Fein is setting up some Restorative Justice groups. That is political policing and they seem happy with it as long as they control it. As far as we are concerned that is not on.

Real concerns have been expressed. The Secretary of State has to realise he will not get away with anymore spin. He should not make a mess of Restorative Justice like he has with the Parades Commission. Now is the time to get this right.”

MAGINNESS SADDENED BY EMPEY’S LUST FOR POWER

SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness MLA has today said the move by Reg Empey to form an alliance with the PUP has sadly ‘nothing to do with peace but everything to do with lust for power’.

Mr Maginness stated, “Reg Empey’s justifications for having David Ervine join the UUP Assembly Group don’t hold water. The bottom line is that the UUP have fundamentally compromised their position on violence. By trying to get themselves an extra seat on the Executive on the back of PUP support.

“There is no getting away from the fact that the UVF is not on ceasefire. Nor can Reg pretend that this is about encouraging them to decommission. It’s purely for an extra Executive seat. And the UVF publicly boasts that decommissioning isn’t even on their agenda. Reg Empey’s move sadly has nothing to do with peace and everything to do with lust for power.

“This week we will be looking at the legality of what the UUP has done. But ultimately it’s the immorality of teaming up with representatives of a political wing of the UVF that should make Reg Empey think again.”

 

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