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The
recent media frenzy in relation to "Stakeknife"
is very reminiscent of what happen to our family in
1998.
The
underlying current that runs through the many controversial
and tragic events of the past 30 years - Bloody Sunday,
Dublin/Monaghan bombing, Pat Finnuacane/Rosemary Nelson
murders, Omagh bomb, the stitch-up of Michael McKevitt
and the latest Stakeknife episode, which includes
the Notarantonio murder and many more - is MI5.
In
Michael's case, MI5 directed and manipulated the activities
of David Rupert whilst in Ireland, paying him bonuses
to encourage him to invent stories. The FBI merely
sat on the sideline. It was MI5 who decided when Michael
was to be arrested and what his charges were to be.
Rupert in response to their request to testify described
himself as a mercenary and replied "tell me what
to do, make it worth my while and as long as the benefit
overrides risk in my view it will be done to the best
of my ability." With that in mind they set about
compiling evidence to sustain these charges and eliminating
anything that would undermine the credibility of their
star witness Mr. Rupert. This is not unique to Michael's
case. Eamon McCann writing in last week's Sunday
Tribune (May 11) described how MI5 had constructed
statements for the witnesses appearing before the
Saville inquiry.
Irish
Prime Bertie Ahern has expressed his concern in relation
to the "Stakeknife" reports, however once
again he demonstrated how he was willing to let the
media colour his judgement. One would have thought
first and foremost his concern would have been to
uphold a citizen's right to be presumed innocent until
found guilty by a court of law and to have criticised
the trial by media that took place over the last number
of days. It seems ironic that he was alarmed by the
reports of MI5 operating agents in the "Republic"
when one of those same agents will appear before the
Special Criminal court Dublin in four weeks time to
frame an Irish citizen. When approached by me in Portlaoise
town during his election campaign last year, Mr Ahern
emphatically denied any knowledge of MI5 agents operating
in the 26 counties, he advised me to go to the Gardai
if I had any information concerning this issue! How
then does he explain Garda Assistant Commissioner,
Dermot Jenning's liaisons with MI5, where according
to MI5 documents (an extract of which was read at
a recent court hearing) Jennings had urged MI5 officers
to "remove" certain reports that would have
made David Rupert "an untrustworthy source".
The
combination of MI5 operating illegally and without
accountability in Ireland, the unscrupulous elements
within the media and the cowardly inaction of Irish
political leaders in upholding the human rights of
Irish citizens, inevitably perpetuate the cycle of
human rights abuses.
Michael
asks for no more than that awarded to any other Irish
citizen - the right to a fair trial and presumption
of innocence.Your support in ensuring Michael's right
to justice and a fair trial would be greatly valued.
In
order to make sure that the trial is fair, the presence
of Observers from Ireland and from countries abroad
would be very helpful and deeply appreciated. It would
also be helpful in this serious matter involving the
integrity of the courts and justice system if written
expressions of concern were sent to the Minister for
Justice, Michael McDowell, Leinster House, Kildare
street, Dublin 2.
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