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NIO's appointment under scrutiny | NIO's appointment under scrutiny |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A High Court judge has asked the attorney general to investigate the government's appointment of interim Victims' Commissioner Bertha McDougall. | A High Court judge has asked the attorney general to investigate the government's appointment of interim Victims' Commissioner Bertha McDougall. |
Mr Justice Girvan has asked Lord Goldsmith to examine if the NIO deliberately misled the court during a judicial review of the appointment. | Mr Justice Girvan has asked Lord Goldsmith to examine if the NIO deliberately misled the court during a judicial review of the appointment. |
The judge has tabled 67 questions for Lord Goldsmith to consider. | The judge has tabled 67 questions for Lord Goldsmith to consider. |
NI Secretary Peter Hain said he rejected there had been a "deliberate attempt to mislead" the court. | |
Mr Justice Girvan said there should be an immediate inquiry into the appointment, which he said was a confidence-building gesture to the DUP. | Mr Justice Girvan said there should be an immediate inquiry into the appointment, which he said was a confidence-building gesture to the DUP. |
I would welcome any decision by the attorney general to hold an inquiry - it will receive our full co-operation Peter HainNorthern Ireland secretary | I would welcome any decision by the attorney general to hold an inquiry - it will receive our full co-operation Peter HainNorthern Ireland secretary |
Earlier this month, he said the appointment had been motivated by an "improper political purpose". | |
The judge ruled that Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain failed to take account of the fact that there was no evidential basis for concluding that Mrs McDougall - the widow of a police reservist murdered by the INLA - would command cross-community support. | The judge ruled that Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain failed to take account of the fact that there was no evidential basis for concluding that Mrs McDougall - the widow of a police reservist murdered by the INLA - would command cross-community support. |
He also criticised civil servants who had been advising Mr Hain in connection with the appointment. | He also criticised civil servants who had been advising Mr Hain in connection with the appointment. |
He said they "provided partial, misleading and incorrect information" as to the manner of the appointment". | He said they "provided partial, misleading and incorrect information" as to the manner of the appointment". |
'Full co-operation' | 'Full co-operation' |
In Monday's judgement, Mr Justice Girvan ruled that if the inquiry was to be fair and meaningful it could not be conducted by those directly involved in handling this case. | In Monday's judgement, Mr Justice Girvan ruled that if the inquiry was to be fair and meaningful it could not be conducted by those directly involved in handling this case. |
The judicial review was taken by Brenda Downes, whose husband was killed by a RUC plastic bullet in 1984. | The judicial review was taken by Brenda Downes, whose husband was killed by a RUC plastic bullet in 1984. |
Mrs McDougall, 59, a former school teacher, helped set up the victims' group, Forgotten Families. | Mrs McDougall, 59, a former school teacher, helped set up the victims' group, Forgotten Families. |
Speaking after the judge's ruling, Mr Hain said: "I absolutely reject any suggestion that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the court in relation to the appointment of Bertha McDougall as the interim victims' commissioner. | Speaking after the judge's ruling, Mr Hain said: "I absolutely reject any suggestion that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the court in relation to the appointment of Bertha McDougall as the interim victims' commissioner. |
"I would welcome any decision by the attorney general to hold an inquiry. It will receive our full co-operation. | "I would welcome any decision by the attorney general to hold an inquiry. It will receive our full co-operation. |
"On the wider issue of the judicial review judgement on public appointments, which have implications beyond this specific case, an appeal is still under consideration." | "On the wider issue of the judicial review judgement on public appointments, which have implications beyond this specific case, an appeal is still under consideration." |
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary David Lidington said: "The criticisms contained in Mr Justice Girvan's judgement today are a devastating indictment of the secretary of state and his advisers." | Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary David Lidington said: "The criticisms contained in Mr Justice Girvan's judgement today are a devastating indictment of the secretary of state and his advisers." |