Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-09-Speech-1-059"
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"en.20050509.14.1-059"2
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".
Mr President, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on this resolution on the murder of Robert McCartney.
On my own behalf and that of the ALDE Group, I warmly welcome the sisters and partner of Mr McCartney to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. I should like to commend their courage and tenacity. They have raised their case in Belfast, Dublin, Washington DC and now in the European Parliament. I have no doubt but that we, in Parliament, will give them the strongest possible support in their pursuit of justice.
The circumstances of Robert McCartney’s murder shocked very many people. But the forensic clean-up and subsequent intimidation of witnesses and others outraged all of those who genuinely believe in justice, in truth, in the rule of law and democracy itself. While I know that the original intention was and still is to bring Mr McCartney’s murderers to justice, that search for justice has influenced the political landscape in Northern Ireland. It has dared to challenge those who thought of themselves as untouchable. It has forced the spotlight into some of the darker places where violence and intimidation still hold sway.
People have whispered about this for years, but those of us who did not experience it listened with incredulity and, I have to add, a certain amount of disbelief. However, it is now out in the open. While I cannot say that it will never happen again, I can say that finally the veil of secrecy has been lifted.
It is not possible in such a short time to give any meaningful background to the situation in Northern Ireland, but like any area where there is conflict, it is always a complex situation. Those who would have us believe that in Northern Ireland we have the good guys on one side and the bad guys on the other, do not accurately describe the situation.
I fully endorse the statement that violence and peace cannot coexist. But in order to finally eradicate violence and promote peace, there must be genuine willingness to enter into dialogue and to share power, and there must be an acceptance that the past cannot dictate the future.
When we look to the future, we look to women like the McCartneys, who refuse to bow down to intimidation and who want, more than anything, to live in a peaceful society. Unfortunately, when it comes to the peace process, we do not see too many women around the negotiating table; but when it comes to peace-making and peace-building in communities and neighbourhoods, it is often women who take the leading role; women who have an understanding that peace is not just about political statements, or documents signed or agreements negotiated. Such agreements are just the framework for peace. The real work of peace-building takes place in everyday interaction: in schools, offices, clubs and community centres, where women play a hugely important role.
With regard to peace funding, the EU has enabled many people of goodwill to contribute to peace-building in Northern Ireland. I believe that the EU can make a further contribution today. If the Police Service of Northern Ireland is unable to bring a prosecution, the EU could grant a financial contribution from the budget line for aid for the victims of terrorism to assist the McCartney family to mount civil proceedings in its search for the truth."@en1
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