9 November 2000 Edition
Give Ombudsman access to reports
Speaking on Friday, 3 November, the day Nuala O'Loan took up her new role as Ombudsman, Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry Kelly called on the British government to give her adequate access to past reports.
According to Kelly, under the present proposals in the Police Bill the British government will greatly restrict the Ombudsman's access to past reports. Clause 62 of the bill prevents any retrospective work on the part of the Ombudsman. This could be interpreted as excluding her from dealing with complaints about cases that are `old' but still ongoing, including reports involving Brian Nelson, British intelligence and the RUC, along with those relating to multiple killings, including that of Pat Finucane. ``The British government must permit the Ombudsman adequate access to reports such as the Stalker/Sampson/Stevens reports into shoot to kill and collusion,'' said Kelly.
According to Kelly, under the present proposals in the Police Bill the British government will greatly restrict the Ombudsman's access to past reports. Clause 62 of the bill prevents any retrospective work on the part of the Ombudsman. This could be interpreted as excluding her from dealing with complaints about cases that are `old' but still ongoing, including reports involving Brian Nelson, British intelligence and the RUC, along with those relating to multiple killings, including that of Pat Finucane. ``The British government must permit the Ombudsman adequate access to reports such as the Stalker/Sampson/Stevens reports into shoot to kill and collusion,'' said Kelly.