Mr Starmer (aka Sir Keir) who is now Britain’s first minister has met his match. As reported in the media he is determined to stop Gerry Adams, the former President of Sinn Fein, from receiving compensation for being illegally held in prison without trial in the early 1970s. Gerry was one of several hundred arrested and held in Long Kesh without a trial.
Gerry Adams has applied for compensation for being illegally deprived of his freedom when he was arrested and held in custody for a number of years without any trial. He has never been convicted of a crime in any court of law. He is entitled to compensation by the State for this illegal action. So are hundreds of others who were arrested and held illegally without a trial in a court of law. They were regarded as ‘suspects’ and were so described by the RUC and British security agents- and in some cases by the Garda Siochana who passed on their suspicions to the RUC.
However, as part of the Legacy bill the British government and judicial process is stalling. They do not want to admit that what they did was illegal. They do not want to ever concede that the arrest and internment of Gerry Adams was completely illegal and therefore he is due for compensation by the State. They did not produce a shred of evidence to justify his arrest and detention in Long Kesh.
This case exemplifies the extent to which the British establishment will go to hide their illegal actions in the past. This time Starmer and the Brits will not get away with it. For Gerry Adams and his legal team are determined to fight for his right to be compensated-and he will expect all of those who were interned illegally to be compensated by the British state.
This case is not about money but it is about justice and human rights. We know from sad experience that Justice and Human rights mean little to the British establishment. It is time they were made to pay for their indifference and cruelty towards Irish citizens.
Where is the justice and compassion for Jean McConville?
Well said Fr Joe.