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Northern Ireland Police Sue for Boston College Interviews Northern Ireland Police Sue for Boston College Interviews
(4 months later)
LONDON — The police in Northern Ireland said on Thursday that they were taking legal action against Boston College to obtain all transcripts and recordings of interviews with paramilitary members on both sides of the sectarian divide who took part in an oral history project there. LONDON — The police in Northern Ireland said on Thursday that they were taking legal action against Boston College to obtain all transcripts and recordings of interviews with paramilitary members on both sides of the sectarian divide who took part in an oral history project there.
The move came after 11 interviews with former members of the Irish Republican Army were subpoenaed last year. They had all referred to the 1972 abduction, execution and secret burial of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10 whom the I.R.A. believed to be an informer.The move came after 11 interviews with former members of the Irish Republican Army were subpoenaed last year. They had all referred to the 1972 abduction, execution and secret burial of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10 whom the I.R.A. believed to be an informer.
Tapes of those interviews led to the brief arrest and questioning this month of Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, the former political arm of the I.R.A. and now one of Ireland’s most successful political parties. Mr. Adams denied any links to the McConville murder and was released without charge on May 4.Tapes of those interviews led to the brief arrest and questioning this month of Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, the former political arm of the I.R.A. and now one of Ireland’s most successful political parties. Mr. Adams denied any links to the McConville murder and was released without charge on May 4.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said in a statement that it had a “statutory duty to investigate fully all matters of serious crime, including murder.” It has now requested access to the college’s entire audio archive, which includes testimonies from former nationalists and unionists alike.The Police Service of Northern Ireland said in a statement that it had a “statutory duty to investigate fully all matters of serious crime, including murder.” It has now requested access to the college’s entire audio archive, which includes testimonies from former nationalists and unionists alike.
Jack Dunn, a spokesman for Boston College, said on Thursday, “We have received nothing from the Department of Justice, so it would be inappropriate to comment.”Jack Dunn, a spokesman for Boston College, said on Thursday, “We have received nothing from the Department of Justice, so it would be inappropriate to comment.”
Most of the I.R.A. veterans and members of Protestant militias who participated in the oral history project — run by the journalist Ed Moloney and the former I.R.A. member Anthony McIntyre — had agreed to speak on the understanding that their interviews would be kept confidential until they died.Most of the I.R.A. veterans and members of Protestant militias who participated in the oral history project — run by the journalist Ed Moloney and the former I.R.A. member Anthony McIntyre — had agreed to speak on the understanding that their interviews would be kept confidential until they died.
Some have said that they, too, plan to sue Boston College to have any records of their testimonies returned. The college announced on May 6 that it would return interviews if subjects wanted them back.Some have said that they, too, plan to sue Boston College to have any records of their testimonies returned. The college announced on May 6 that it would return interviews if subjects wanted them back.
Asked if any of those who had taken part in the project had requested materials back, or if anything had been returned, Mr. Dunn said, “We have not divulged specifics regarding responses to that offer.”Asked if any of those who had taken part in the project had requested materials back, or if anything had been returned, Mr. Dunn said, “We have not divulged specifics regarding responses to that offer.”
Thursday’s announcement came after NBC News began its own legal action, demanding to see all transcripts and tapes that had been provided to the police in Northern Ireland for the McConville case.Thursday’s announcement came after NBC News began its own legal action, demanding to see all transcripts and tapes that had been provided to the police in Northern Ireland for the McConville case.