News

Three panel members of new IMC announced

The three members of the new-established panel to assess paramilitary activity – (l-r) Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, Rosalie Flanagan and Stephen Shaw QC
The three members of the new-established panel to assess paramilitary activity – (l-r) Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, Rosalie Flanagan and Stephen Shaw QC The three members of the new-established panel to assess paramilitary activity – (l-r) Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, Rosalie Flanagan and Stephen Shaw QC

A Liberal Democrat peer who previously reviewed Britain's terrorism laws is among the three experts appointed to the new body charged with assessing paramilitary activity in the north.

Lord Carlile of Berriew will sit on the IMC-type panel which has been set up as part of the British government's response to the latest Stormont crisis.

He was the independent reviewer of British anti-terrorism legislation for a decade from 2001 and remains the independent reviewer of national security arrangements in Northern Ireland, a post he has held since 2007.

Rosalie Flanagan, a former permanent secretary at Stormont's Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and Northern Ireland-based QC Stephen Shaw are the other two panel members appointed by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.

Mrs Flanagan recently appeared in front of Stormont's culture, arts and leisure scrutiny committee as part of its investigation into the development of Belfast's Casement Park.

Mr Shaw is well-known in Belfast legal circles, having previously represented Aer Lingus in its dispute with Belfast International Airport and more recently appearing for US investment fund Cerberus in its legal battle with bookmaker and property developer Gareth Graham.

The three experts will report in mid-October after assessing information held by the PSNI, National Crime Agency and British security services.

Ms Villiers said the three appointees collectively had an in-depth knowledge of security issues, legal expertise, an understanding of Northern Ireland politics and political structures.

She said they also had credibility and standing from across the community.

"I am very grateful to each of the reviewers for agreeing to take on this important work," Ms Villiers said.

"They are all highly respected individuals. I am confident that they will bring rigour, integrity and independence to this important task."

In the wake of Friday's announcement about the panel's establishment, talks involving the five main Stormont parties and the British and Irish governments started on Monday.

No major breakthrough is expected in the process until the panel publishes its assessment.

The already financially vulnerable devolved institutions were plunged further into crisis last month with the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan .

The 53-year-old father of nine was shot dead in Belfast's Short Strand in a suspected revenge attack for the murder of former IRA commander Gerard "Jock" Davison, 47, in May.

The chief constable's assertion that individual members of the IRA were involved in the McGuigan murder has prompted unionists to remove all ministers but one from the Stormont executive.

Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy "nothing and no one" could be allowed a veto over the democratic process as his party was in government on the basis of its electoral mandate.

"Of course criminality is a real issue in our communities and it must be confronted wherever and whenever it occurs," he said.

"Sinn Féin supports any and all strategies which enhance the capacity of the PSNI and An Garda Síochána to deal with armed criminal groups and organised crime gangs."

TUV leader Jim Allister said there was widespread scepticism about the panel among unionists.

"The panel must show that they are totally independent and are prepared to face the reality of ongoing IRA criminality, regardless of its impact upon the terrorist inclusive executive," he said.