McGuinness plays down compensation reports

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has played down the impact of reports that eight people, including leading republican Danny Morrison, are to share over £1.6 million in compensation from the British state after their convictions for kidnapping were found to be flawed.

Mr McGuinness said he did not believe the news the British government is to pay out compensation to all those originally convicted of the kidnapping of suspected IRA informer Sandy Lynch in 1990 would affect Sinn Féin’s relationships with unionists in the Assembly.

According to the London Times, eight people found guilty of being members of the IRA kidnap gang have each been awarded sums of at least £200,000 (about €263,000) after their convictions were quashed on appeal.

The convictions of the seven men and one woman were quashed by Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal in October 2008 as the role of British secret agent Freddie Scappaticci, known as Stakeknife, in the kidnapping was not disclosed during their trial.

The Northern Ireland Office told the Times that the compensation payments had to be authorised because the cases fell under legislation that was found not to be fit for the purpose of defining a miscarriage of justice by the Court of Appeal in 2008 and a Supreme Court judgment in 2011.

Following the announcement, the Northern Ireland Office said: “We fully understand and share the public concern and anger there will be over this.”

Ulster Unionist Party MP Tom Elliott told the Daily Telegraph that "republicans were being treated like a protected species.

“People left bereaved by the IRA do not get adequate compensation.

“It is that imbalance that frustrates and angers people.”

Mr Elliott also called on Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers to review the payments.

‘Old story’

Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr McGuinness said the reports of compensation were “an old story”.

He said the news had been in the public domain in the North for at least six months, even if no figure had been given for the amount of compensation.

"There will be individuals like Jim Allister and others who traditionally latch on to situations like this, but if you ask me is it going to affect my relationship with the First Minister, Arlene Foster, the answer is no," Mr McGuinness said.

He said it was important to keep a positive focus on the peace process in the North.

“The process doesn’t work unless we work together and have conversations about these attempts to create divisions and undermine the political institutions.

“I’m convinced and I think Arlene Foster is convinced of our mutual determination to ensure that we continue forward with a positive agenda.