‘It is vital that DoJ continue to fund HET’ – Bradley | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

‘It is vital that DoJ continue to fund HET’ – Bradley

SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh has called on the Minster for Justice to intervene immediately to ensure the Department of Justice continues to directly fund the Historical Enquiries Team (“HET”).

This follows reports that the Department of Justice have refused the HET’s funding request for next year and have instead asked the PSNI to fund them from their reserves.

Speaking to Newry Times, Bradley said, “The HET is an important element in dealing with the past here, in fact, we have little else which offers survivors the opportunity to learn what happened to their loved ones.

“The HET has done good work in investigating the murder of the Reavey brothers,  the Kings Mills Massacre, and the murder of Majella O’Hare. They are currently investigating the activities of the Glenanne Gang and the murder of Kevin Heatley.

“The suggestion that the PSNI should fund the HET is ill judged and could serve to undermine public confidence in the HET as well as their independence which is so important to many families of troubles victims requiring their services.

Bradley added, “It also places the PSNI in a position where a choice may have to be made between funding the present policing needs of Northern Ireland or supporting the HET. This is absolutely unacceptable.

“The Minister for Justice needs to urgently clarify his position on this matter. The SDLP would never support any undermining of the HET’s independence, nor should any Justice Minister.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=29943

Posted by on Mar 25 2013. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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