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Northern Ireland police reject Sinn Féin's claim of anti-reform 'dark side' Northern Ireland police reject Sinn Féin's claim of anti-reform 'dark side'
(35 minutes later)
Senior-ranking police officers in Northern Ireland have rejected Sinn Féin's claim following Gerry Adams' arrest over the Jean McConville murder scandal that there is an anti-reform dark side to policing in the region. Senior-ranking police officers in Northern Ireland have rejected Sinn Féin's claim following Gerry Adams's arrest over the Jean McConville murder that there is an anti-reform "dark side" to policing in the region.
The Police Superintendents Association said it would oppose any attempt by politicians to portray the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as split between two different forces – those in favour of change and those mired in the past.The Police Superintendents Association said it would oppose any attempt by politicians to portray the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as split between two different forces – those in favour of change and those mired in the past.
Ch Supt Nigel Grimshaw said many in the community would see this portrayal of reform and anti-reform elements among a so-called old guard as "sinister words".Ch Supt Nigel Grimshaw said many in the community would see this portrayal of reform and anti-reform elements among a so-called old guard as "sinister words".
The deputy first minister and Sinn Féin negotiator during the peace process, Martin McGuinness, warned of a dark side among the police old guard, whom he claimed was behind Adams' recent detention. McGuinness appeared to hint that Sinn Féin might review its support for the PSNI – one of the cornerstones of the 2006 St Andrews agreement that led to devolved power sharing government between the republican party and unionists. Martin McGuinness, the deputy first minister and Sinn Féin negotiator during the peace process, warned of a "dark side" among the police old guard, whom he claimed was behind Adams's recent detention.
However, when Adams was released from custody after four days of questioning about the 1972 IRA murder and secret burial of the widowed mother of 10, he re-affirmed Sinn Féin's backing for the PSNI – a move that defused a political crisis that threatened power sharing. McGuinness appeared to hint that Sinn Féin might review its support for the PSNI – one of the cornerstones of the 2006 St Andrews agreement that led to devolved power-sharing government between the republican party and unionists.
The Sinn Féin president has repeatedly denied allegations, some of them from former close friends inside the republican movement, that he ordered McConville be killed for being an alleged informer but that the murder be kept secret and her body "disappeared" to avoid the IRA being blamed for the killing. However, when Adams was released from custody after four days of questioning about the 1972 IRA murder and secret burial of the widowed mother of 10, he reaffirmed Sinn Féin's backing for the PSNI – a move that defused a political crisis that threatened power-sharing.
In his speech to the Police Superintendents' Association of Northern Ireland annual general meeting in Belfast on Wednesday, Grimshaw said: "The law is very clear, the police act of 2000 charges the police service with a responsibility to investigate crime. All of our officers have to follow this duty, in the words of Sir Robert Peel, 'without fear or favour'. The Sinn Féin president has repeatedly denied allegations, some of them from former close friends inside the republican movement, that he ordered McConville to be killed for being an alleged informer but that the murder be kept secret and her body "disappeared" to avoid the IRA being blamed for the killing.
In his speech to the Police Superintendents' Association of Northern Ireland annual general meeting in Belfast on Wednesday, Grimshaw said: "The law is very clear, the Police Act of 2000 charges the police service with a responsibility to investigate crime. All of our officers have to follow this duty, in the words of Sir Robert Peel, 'without fear or favour'.
"It does not matter whether that officer is a neighbourhood officer, in a response vehicle or in a detective unit. As an association, we reject all attempts to differentiate between our members and to single out as being different, those who lead on serious and terrorist crime.""It does not matter whether that officer is a neighbourhood officer, in a response vehicle or in a detective unit. As an association, we reject all attempts to differentiate between our members and to single out as being different, those who lead on serious and terrorist crime."
Grimshaw told the meeting that the "dark territory" was only occupied by those who wanted to remain in the shadows of a murky past, those who continued on a path of murder, violence and destruction.Grimshaw told the meeting that the "dark territory" was only occupied by those who wanted to remain in the shadows of a murky past, those who continued on a path of murder, violence and destruction.
Defending officers' actions in the arrest of Adams and others for past Troubles crimes, he said: "In carrying out criminal investigations, police officers are simply acting on behalf of the victims of crime and society in the search for justice. The multitude of victims of our troubled past can only look to the criminal justice system to do that on their behalf."Defending officers' actions in the arrest of Adams and others for past Troubles crimes, he said: "In carrying out criminal investigations, police officers are simply acting on behalf of the victims of crime and society in the search for justice. The multitude of victims of our troubled past can only look to the criminal justice system to do that on their behalf."
Grimshaw suggested that the toxic issues from the recent conflict and its aftermath – past Troubles crimes, contentious parades and protests such as those over the Belfast union flag dispute – should be separated in order to deal with each of them individually.Grimshaw suggested that the toxic issues from the recent conflict and its aftermath – past Troubles crimes, contentious parades and protests such as those over the Belfast union flag dispute – should be separated in order to deal with each of them individually.
He said: "Perhaps it is time to disaggregate the past, parades and protest and seek individual approaches rather than composite solutions. Any solution for the past must address the obvious pain of victims and their relatives, it must secure the truth, and it must ensure that no one can utilise such a process to inflict further hurt through any sense of perceived triumphalism."He said: "Perhaps it is time to disaggregate the past, parades and protest and seek individual approaches rather than composite solutions. Any solution for the past must address the obvious pain of victims and their relatives, it must secure the truth, and it must ensure that no one can utilise such a process to inflict further hurt through any sense of perceived triumphalism."
The senior PSNI officer also criticised those who were behind violent protests linked to issues such as parades and flags. In a reference to loyalist working-class communities in particular he said that "continued social deprivation and educational underachievement in some of our communities will not be assisted by maintaining limited horizons and reinforcing siege mentalities – sieges that might go all the way back to Drogheda or Derry." The senior PSNI officer also criticised those who were behind violent protests linked to issues such as parades and flags. In a reference to loyalist working-class communities in particular. he said that "continued social deprivation and educational underachievement in some of our communities will not be assisted by maintaining limited horizons and reinforcing siege mentalities – sieges that might go all the way back to Drogheda or Derry".
The president of the Police Superintendents Association in the region also issued a stinging attack on racists behind the recent upsurge in xenophobic hate crimes, the overwhelming majority of which are taking place in loyalist working-class districts across Northern Ireland. The president of the Police Superintendents Association in the region also issued a stinging attack on racists he said were behind the recent upsurge in xenophobic hate crimes, the overwhelming majority of which are taking place in loyalist working-class districts across Northern Ireland.
He said: "It seems that some elements with a dark past are seeking to envelop more victims in their actions. The motivations are the same – control. The victims are similar in some respects – the weak and the vulnerable. The result is the same – a shameless minority bringing shame on a wider well-intentioned community."He said: "It seems that some elements with a dark past are seeking to envelop more victims in their actions. The motivations are the same – control. The victims are similar in some respects – the weak and the vulnerable. The result is the same – a shameless minority bringing shame on a wider well-intentioned community."