Head of Stakeknife murder inquiry condemns plan to block prosecution of soldiers
Former chief constable Jon Boutcher says he is uncomfortable with the proposals, with ministers ditching the rule of law
15 July 2021 • 8:00pm
Former chief constable Jon Boutcher has led Operation Kenova since it launched in 2016, with the focus of this investigation being to ascertain whether there is evidence of the commission of criminal offences by the alleged agent including, but not limited to, murders, attempted murders or unlawful imprisonments attributed to the Provisional IRA
A former chief constable investigating heinous murders in Northern Ireland linked to collusion with state security forces has condemned the Government’s attempts to ban any future prosecutions.
Eamon Martin backs calls for mother and baby home inquiry Archbishop Eamon Martin has said the homes should be subject to investigation. 29 January, 2021 17:21
THE leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he would support a public inquiry into what happened in the north s mother and baby homes.
The Catholic Primate also agreed that victims of mother and baby homes should be entitled to compensation.
A Department of Health report on the homes was published on Tuesday and the Executive have now agreed to commission an independent investigation into what went on in the institutions, workhouses and Magdalene Laundries.
The women are becoming much older, and have many and varied health issues, and the longer it goes on, many will die, she said. A public inquiry is necessary and what we deserve. It needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed promptly.
She described the 500-plus page report as a step in the right direction but said it hadn t gone far enough.
It detailed how victims of rape and incest had been put in the mother and baby homes. Women reported how they had to scrub floors during the final stages of pregnancy, and were described as fallen and stigmatised.
Northern Correspondent
Church leaders in Northern Ireland have spoken of shame and regret about how thousands of unmarried women and young girls were treated in mother-and-baby homes.
They also encouraged their members to co-operate with an independent investigation being established by the Stormont Executive after consulting survivors.
A research report published yesterday estimated that more than 10,500 women and young girls entered homes north of the border between 1922 and 1990.
More than 3,500 others passed through the doors of launderies, some remaining their until their deaths.
Most of those unmarried mothers babies were put up for adoption or put into children’s homes, with many saying they were forced to give their sons and daughters away.
RTE apologises after New Year s Eve sketch received over 600 complaints
The segment was broadcast on the New Year s Eve special and showed God being led away by Gardai
RTE Sketch which appeared as part of the NYE programming which accuses God of rape and shows him being led away by a Garda Officer.
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