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Matt Baggott difende la decisione di chiudere Historical Enquiries Team in tre anni

Baggott defends HET decision

Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable Matt Baggott has defended his decision to wind up the HET in three years and insisted the timeframe would enable all unsolved Troubles killing to be re-investigated.

Historical Enquiries Team, HETMatt Baggott has been heavily criticised by a number of victims, campaigners and politicians since he revealed his intention to close the unit, which was set up in 2005 to re-examine more than 3,200 deaths in the conflict.

With more than 1,300 cases still to be re-opened, they claim the deadline is too tight and will leave many families without answers.

But Mr Baggott said he was confident all the killings could be looked at in the period and pointed out that he was actually extending the life of the HET, which he said had originally been scheduled for closure next year.

“We looked at what we’ve done historically in the timescale and I think it is a reasonable ambition, which has been predicated against a review that looked at victims’ needs and the length (of investigations), to set an ambition to deal with that effectively in three years,” he said.

Victims

Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by the UVF, said Mr Baggott’s decision was betraying victims.

“I’m disgusted. Matt Baggott has betrayed the victims of the Troubles”, Mr McCord told UTV.

“Is this about money, or politics? Because it’s not about justice for victims”.

Northern Ireland’s Human Rights Commissioner Monica McWilliams said the chief constable should not set a time limit.

“The Commission has consistently called for all violations of the right to life relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland to be effectively investigated,” she said.

“There should be no artificial deadline imposed on this process which would be unfair to the families of the victims and would reduce the standard of protection for human rights.”

Victims’ Commissioner Patricia McBride, whose brother was an IRA member killed in the conflict, asked what would happen if three years did not prove to be enough time.

“So does that mean after three years we are just going to stop and whatever hasn’t been done won’t be done?” she said.

Victims’ campaigner Willie Frazer also hit out at the decision.

“After listening to what Matt Baggott has come out and said, we find it completely unbelievable,” said Mr Frazer, who is chair of FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives).

“His statement seems to be following the now-common line that justice for the innocent victims is out of the question.

“In other words we should just hurry up and move on and not remain in ‘the dark old days’ that many talk about whenever justice is even mentioned now.”

The HET, which is staffed by around 100 detectives seconded from other UK forces, was established with a £34m budget by Mr Baggott’s predecessor Sir Hugh Orde.

“I absolutely share the desire of my predecessor that we will give people resolution and as far as we can the ability to understand what happened and then move on and if we have the ability to bring them justice we will do that,” said Mr Baggott.

“So that ambition (of Sir Hugh) is absolutely secure, I’m not changing that in fact what I am doing is I am adding to that by my ambition to keep this going.”

He added: “Let me be clear: we work within a finite budget to deal with a security situation, to deal with issues of people trafficking, road deaths and day to day policing and I have to do the best I can.

“I don’t think this decision is anything other than an honourable and a good one and the right thing to do on behalf of victims.”

Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins has backed the chief constable’s position.

Baggott defends HET decision

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Victim’s reaction

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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