Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Catholic Primate, has stated that the bitter truth about Northern Ireland’s history needs to be unmasked for reconciliation to occur, irrespective of its harshness. He highlighted the continuing struggle of victims’ families for closure and trust that can only be achieved when the truth is revealed, and their loss is appropriately recognised. The Archbishop was speaking at an annual Mass for the families of the ‘Disappeared’ at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.
Eamon Martin praised the preliminary report from Operation Kenova, a recent investigation into Freddie Scappaticci’s activities; a high-ranking Belfast IRA member who was reputedly a UK military double agent known as ‘Stakeknife.’ According to Martin, the report reveals how families’ suffering during the ‘Troubles’ was insufficiently recognised and the undisclosed murders, which would not be permissible elsewhere.
The Kenova report indicated that more deaths resulted from ‘Stakeknife’s’ activities than were prevented, pinning blame on a specialised UK military unit and the RUC special branch for withholding crucial information resulting in serious crimes, including homicides.
The report was assembled by a team under Jon Boutcher, the current Chief Constable of PSNI. Boutcher surmised that the IRA’s handling of informants was amongst the vilest and most disgraceful he had seen.
To this date, 13 of the 17 ‘Disappeared’, individuals thought to have been secretly murdered and buried by republican paramilitaries during ‘the Troubles’, have been located. The remains of Joe Lynskey, Seamus Maguire, Robert Nairac, and Columba McVeigh are still missing.
The Archbishop asserted that the Kenova report affirms that families and others dealing with our conflict’s legacy can only find peace once the truth surfaces and their loss is adequately acknowledged. He further stated that Mr Boutcher’s admission of the frequent suppression of information in legacy cases sheds light on the families’ prolonged troublesome search for their loved ones’ burial sites, a struggle that sadly continues for some.
Archbishop Martin expressed his gratitude for the ability of many to recover their loved one’s remains and give them a Christian burial but acknowledged it took far longer than it should have and that some still suffer from not knowing what happened. He stated the urgent need for continued outreach within our communities to listen to the often brutal narratives of murder, defamation, unjust accusations and life-altering penalties.
He asserted, “To facilitate reconciliation, it is essential that all families affected by tragedy, including yours, continue to receive recognition, the memory of loved ones honoured suitably, and the truth of what occurred, as uncomfortable as it may be, must continue to be brought to light.”
He added, “We must accept and understand our history in order to genuinely progress, in anticipation of a brighter shared future that comprises peace, mutual comprehension, and prosperity for all.”