Brendan Smith praises families, rejects amnesties after inquest
Brendan Smith spoke to the committee on 25 May 2021, responding to statements by John, Carmel and Podrick about recent inquest findings. He welcomed the inquest's vindication of innocent victims, praised the families' dignified campaign and firmly rejected any amnesties for those responsible.
Welcome to witnesses
He warmly welcomed John, Carmel and Podrick to the committee and described John's initial statement as striking, saying it exposed the huge injustice inflicted on innocent people and the untold grief suffered by victims' families.
Inquest findings and family vindication
He noted the Barry Murphy families' view that the inquest findings vindicated their loved ones' innocence and quoted Mrs Justice Keegan's reference to the isolation some victims' families faced in their communities.
Rejection of amnesties
He echoed the families' clear stance that amnesties for perpetrators of heinous crimes are unacceptable, quoting their pledge that "we will not accept an amnesty for these murderers and will challenge any attempts to do so." He said public representatives must not deviate from that position.
Stormont House Agreement and wider truth-seeking
He called for implementation of the Stormont House Agreement's political architecture, arguing it must be used to help other families and victims who have likewise been denied the truth for decades.
Tribute to campaign and engagement
He praised the dignity, quality and persistence of the families' campaign, recalled meeting them in Leinster House in 2014 and commended their focus on securing truth, justice and recognition for victims.
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Chairman, first of all I want to join with all colleagues in warmly welcoming John Carmel and Podrick to our committee meeting and to indeed welcome their comments very much. I believe that the contents of John's initial statement are very striking and clearly show the huge injustice inflicted on so many innocent people. The taking away of the lives of those innocent people and also the untold grief inflicted on the families of the victims by being denied the truth for 50 years has to be heartbreaking. I know the Barry Murphy families have welcomed the inquest findings as a vindication of the innocence of their loved ones and quite rightly outlining very clearly the absolute frustration that it took half a century to reach these findings. Mrs Justice Keegan also referred in her report to the isolation that some victims' families were subjected to in their own communities during that period. We all know that losing a loved one, an innocent person, is just horrific and not having the truth told for almost 50 years has to be indeed an unbearable burden. Could I just say that I was, that I want to refer in particular to two of the comments of John in his opening statement and I believe that they are as powerful a comments as I have ever heard at this committee and I quote, We corrected the lies that our loved ones were gunmen and a gun woman. We always knew our loved ones were innocent. Now the world knows it. There's nothing more can be said, I believe. And you encapsulate so well everything about the murder of some of the innocent people. And you, the families of the victims being denied the truth for half a century. And of course, it was totally undignified the way the British Prime Minister and the government dealt with their so-called apology. Other speakers have quite rightly referred to the very dignified campaign that the families have engaged with over the years. I was privileged to meet the families, I think it was back in 2014 here in Leinster House. And it was clear at that time that you were going to search for the truth and get the truth through a dignified campaign. And it's so heartening that the campaign and the quality of the campaign that you led. I also hear very loud and clear the comments of Carmel, Podrick and John in relation to no amnesties for people who have committed heinous crimes. I absolutely agree. And I believe that we must never deviate from that position. And I think yourselves outlining that here is a very, very clear message. And amnesties are not acceptable. And I think John, and I quote again, we will not accept an amnesty for these murderers and will challenge any attempts to do so. I wholeheartedly agree. Carmel in particular, Podrick and John have also referred to the Stormont House Agreement. That political architecture is in place and it must be implemented. And I think again, you show the great quality of your campaign and the dignity of the families and their campaigners in that you are talking about other families and other victims needing to get the truth as well. There are people who unfortunately with other atrocities have been denied the truth for decades as well. So I think your message as well, that the Stormont House Agreement must be implemented, is a very strong argument from families of victims alongside the like of us in political life and public representatives calling for its implementation. So I compliment you on your campaign over the years and indeed the quality of that campaign and the excellence of the contributions you have made here this morning. Thank you. Thank you.
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