Statement by North Antrim MLA Jim Allister:

“The on-going saga surrounding tapes of interviews conducted with terrorists has rightly outraged many innocent victims. Imagine if these had been interviews conducted with Nazis who talked candidly about their role in the mass murder of Jews, saying things which incriminated both themselves and others.

“No one would seriously argue that the interviews should remain locked away because of assurances given to the criminals.

“Why should the victims of Republican and self-styled Loyalist terrorists be treated any differently?

“I believe that it is incumbent upon the Justice Minister to do all he can to assist and support the police in their efforts to recover these tapes. Yet he has yet to so much as declare his support for the release of the entire archive to the PSNI. I have now provided David Ford with an opportunity to spell out his position on the matter and detail the role his Department has played in assisting the police in their quest for access to the recordings by way of a written question.

“Additionally, I have tabled a motion which would enable the Assembly to demonstrate its support for the release of the archive to the PSNI so that it can be used in the tackling of unsolved terrorist crimes.

“We hear much talk about Sinn Fein/IRA’s supposed Damascus Road conversion to support for justice and the rule of law. Will the Business Committee allow this motion to reach the floor of the House so that all of Northern Ireland can see if they support the PSNI when it comes to solving some of the countless cases where their colleagues until now literally got away with murder?”

Note to editors:

Mr Allister’s question to Minister Ford and the motion which he tabled read as follows:

To ask the Minister for Justice what assistance and support has the department given to the PSNI in its quest for access to records of interviews with terrorists held by Boston College and will the Minister, in the interest of tackling unsolved terrorist crimes, declare support for the release of the entire archive to the PSNI.

That this Assembly supports the PSNI in securing access to the records of interviews with terrorists which are held by Boston College; and calls for the release of the entire archive to the PSNI to help tackle unsolved terrorist crimes.