This morning I hear that the British government may have to give compensation to Gerry Adams, among others, for unlawful imprisonment back in the days of Long Kesh. On BBC Radio 4’ ‘Today’ programme the presenter pressed his guest on this issue, as though the inclusion of Gerry Adams in compensation would prove how stupid the whole recompense thing was.Removing a block on former Troubles internees, such as Gerry Adams, seeking compensation will deliver a taxpayer-funded pay day for ex-detainees, a think tank has claimed.
Policy Exchange has published a report criticising the Government’s proposed repeal of legislation that had put a stop to such civil claims.
The relevant sections of the Legacy Act had been agreed by Parliament in 2023 in response to a Supreme Court judgment in 2020 that paved the way for former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams to secure compensation over his internment without trial in the early 1970s.
in February last year, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the provisions of the Act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
That the flagship ‘Today’ programme should appeal to the lowest common denominator in British life (‘You mean we’re going to have to give money to that gangster because we locked him up?’) shows how eager Britain is to understand the Irish question over the last half century. The equation goes ‘Sinn Féin = IRA = of course we locked the bugger up.’ When it comes to Ireland, Britain finds it hard to live up to its hypothetical high standards of justice.
Seemingly it boils down to the fact that a junior colonial administrator signed the interment papers rather than the senior colonial administrator thus rendering the imprisonment illegal. Why shouldn’t those affected be recompensed by the Great White Father/Mother?
Indeed, Nosuch. If it was up to me,I’d include as part of the recompense a chance for Adams to boot the backside of any and all responsible for internment in the first place…
Very good jude free Palestine
What struck me was the framing of the statement, that Gerry Adams would be getting this money from the taxpayer, when normally claimants for wrongful arrest and detention would be getting it from the government!
This is just illustrating their attempt to whip up antipathy to Mr Adams’ claim being successful!!
But wasn’t it worth it all to be considered an ongoing threat to the security and stability of the state. Along with the 47 virgins