SF call for criminal record abolishment criticised

Sinn Fein have been criticised after the party called for the criminal records of convicted terrorists to be removed to help their reintegration into society.

Sinn Fein's north Belfast representative Cathy Staunton, said the call was entirely appropriate and that it was an issue consistently discussed during the negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement.

However, the DUP, SDLP and Alliance parties all attacked the request claiming Sinn Fein where being hypocritical.

DUP representative, Sammy Wilson said: "It would be an absolute disgrace if those convicted of terrorist offences, including multiple murder, were to have their criminal records erased.

"To have their criminal records erased would mean that these terrorists would be completely free from their crimes and would then also open up the possibility of them being able to apply for jobs such as the Police Service where a criminal record would prevent them from being acceptable."

Alliance councillor Stewart Dickson said Sinn Fein were attempting to rewrite history. He added: "Any proposals to wipe the IRA's terrorist slate clean are an affront to their victims and justice. Such attempts at rewriting history are no better than the revisionists who deny the Holocaust.

"If Sinn Fein's chief concern is the ability of ex-prisoners to gain employment, there are better ways to go about it than airbrushing the history books."

SDLP former Assembly member, Alban Maginness also attacked the call. He said: “Sinn Fein is trying to create a hierarchy whereby those in the IRA are treated more favourably than others involved in human rights abuses. On the one hand they want the State to be exposed for human rights abuses. On the other, they want their own people to be applauded.

"Sinn Fein needs to get real. Pushing this issue only highlights their hypocrisy, and people out there realise that. We can not turn a blind eye to any of those people who have committed human rights abuses.”

(MB)