... and families call for Bradley to quit over ‘terrible’ comments on Troubles
NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley was under pressure to resign last night after saying deaths caused by security forces during the Troubles were ‘not crimes’.
The Cabinet Minister made a grovelling apology for comments she made in the Commons less than 24 hours previously, saying she was ‘profoundly sorry for the offence and hurt’ caused.
She sparked widespread anger in both Northern Ireland and the Republic after she said killings by the military and police were people ‘acting under orders’ in a ‘dignified and appropriate way’.
Downing Street said Theresa May still had full confidence in her – but relatives of those killed during the Troubles called for her resignation. John Kelly, whose brother was killed on Bloody Sunday, dis- missed Mrs Bradley’s apology as ‘too little, too late,’ telling BBC Radio 4’s The World At One: ‘What she said yesterday was a terrible, terrible statement. The families are very hurt by what she said. In my view, she should resign.’
Northern Ireland’s former police ombudsman Baroness Nuala O’Loan urged the Prime Minister to seek Mrs Bradley’s resignation. Ahead of the apology, Baroness O’Loan said: ‘Those comments show a complete disregard for the operation of the rule of law.
‘Moreover, they also demonstrate a total lack of understanding about Northern Ireland and utter contempt for those who suffered the loss of loved ones.’
Mrs Bradley’s comments came before a decision next week on whether soldiers will face trial for the Bloody Sunday killings of 14 civilians in Londonderry in 1972.
Mrs Bradley apologised yesterday after the backlash, saying her language was ‘wrong’ and ‘deeply insensitive’ to many of those who lost innocent loved ones.
Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney welcomed Mrs Bradley’s apology, and said she had made a ‘significant effort’ to correct her words. In September she admitted that before becoming Northern Ireland secretary, she was profoundly ignorant of the country’s political divisions and ‘slightly scared’ of the place.
Her comments come at a sensitive time in the Brexit debate as the UK appeals to Ireland for concessions over the backstop.