Sir, On last week’s Question Time five politicians, including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Mr Martin McGuinness, took part. The question of the recent bank robbery in Belfast arose and every member of the panel save Mr McGuinness claimed that they believed the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland and the head of the Garda in Dublin to have evidence demonstrating that the IRA was guilty of carrying out that robbery. The Secretary of State said that he had seen the evidence and had no doubt but the IRA was responsible.
I have no brief for the IRA or any other paramilitary body in Northern Ireland, but can it be right for such claims to be given publicity before a trial? It is wholly improper in a society where the rule of law is said to prevail for any organisation to be singled out as containing the guilty parties to the robbery. If any member of the IRA were arrested, would he not be able to say that any hearing was so prejudiced by these allegations that he was unable to get a fair trial?
Is this the way in which justice is to be done here with a Home Secretary who seeks power to detain anyone, British or foreign, in this country without trial? We are in very murky waters indeed, and the more we dislike terrorism or the activities (as alleged) of paramilitary organisations the more, surely, we should ensure that we are not tarred with the same brush.
Yours faithfully,
STANLEY BEST,
(Chairman),
British Legal Association,
Metropole Chambers,
Salubrious Passage,
Swansea SA1 3RT.
February 16.