Office of the Police Ombudsman
Public Judicial Enquiry – Pat Finucane
Minutes:
Office of the Police Ombudsman
In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor O’Neill proposed:
“The Council notes with concern the three recent damning reports which have highlighted the lowering of the operational independence of the Police Ombudsman’s Office and which have left the citizens of the City devoid of confidence in the Office.
The Council calls for the immediate resignation of the Police Ombudsman, Mr. Al Hutchinson, in order that the process of restoring public confidence in the Office might commence.”
The proposal was seconded by Councillor Garrett.
A division on the Motion was demanded. A poll having been taken on the Motion, there voted for it twenty-three Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Ó Donnghaile); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M.E. Campbell, Convery, Corr, Cunningham, Garrett, Groves, Hanna, Hargey, Hartley, Keenan, Kelly, Mac Giolla Mhín, Mallon, Maskey, McCabe, McCarthy, McVeigh, Mullan, Ó Muilleoir and O’Neill; and against it twenty-four Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman R. Patterson); Aldermen Browne, M. Campbell, Ekin, Humphrey, R. Newton, Rodgers and Stalford; and Councillors Curran, Haire, Hendron, Hussey, Jones, Kingston, Kyle, McKee, McNamee, A. Newton, L. Patterson, Reynolds, Robinson, Spence, Thompson and Webb.
The Motion was accordingly declared lost.
Public Judicial Inquiry – Pat Finucane
In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, it was proposed by Councillor Hargey:
“The Council recognises that numerous families in the City have suffered the loss of a loved one over the course of the conflict and that each family has a right to the truth.
The Council calls upon the British Government to honour its public commitment given following the Weston Park talks in 2001 to hold an independent judicial inquiry into the murder of the human rights lawyer, Mr. Pat Finucane.”
The Motion was seconded by Councillor by M.E. Campbell.
Amendment
Moved by Alderman Stalford,
Seconded by Councillor Robinson,
That the Motion in relation to the Public Judicial Inquiry – Pat Finucane standing in the name of Councillor Hargey and seconded by Councillor M.E. Campbell be amended to provide that this Council recognises that many families in the City have suffered the loss of a loved one during the course of the conflict; affirms that attacks upon those who are tasked with implementing the legal and judicial process, including police officers, lawyers, judges, court clerks or any other person are morally reprehensible and criminal behaviour; calls upon all parties to the conflict to participate fully in the process of truth recovery, including full co-operation with the Historical Enquiries Team, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other agencies.
A division on the amendment was demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it eighteen Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman R. Patterson); Aldermen Browne, M. Campbell, Humphrey, R. Newton, Rodgers and Stalford; and Councillors Haire, Hussey, Kingston, Kyle, McKee, A. Newton, L. Patterson, Reynolds, Robinson, Spence and Thompson; and against it twenty-nine Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Ó Donnghaile); Alderman Ekin; and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M.E. Campbell, Convery, Corr, Cunningham, Curran, Garrett, Groves, Hanna, Hargey, Hartley, Hendron, Jones, Keenan, Kelly, Mac Giolla Mhín, Mallon, Maskey, McCabe, McCarthy, McNamee, McVeigh, Mullan, Ó Muilleoir, O’Neill and Webb.
The amendment was accordingly declared lost.
Further Amendment
Moved by Councillor Attwood,
Seconded by Councillor Mallon,
That the Motion in relation to the Public Judicial Inquiry – Pat Finucane standing in the name of Councillor Hargey and seconded by Councillor M.E. Campbell be amended to include the following additional wording between the first and second paragraphs:
“The Council calls on the Governments to continue to work with victims and survivors to develop a holistic process for addressing the past”.
A division on the amendment was demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it twenty-nine Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Ó Donnghaile); Alderman Ekin; and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M.E. Campbell, Convery, Corr, Cunningham, Curran, Garrett, Groves, Hanna, Hargey, Hartley, Hendron, Jones, Keenan, Kelly, Mac Giolla Mhín, Mallon, Maskey, McCabe, McCarthy, McNamee, McVeigh, Mullan, Ó Muilleoir, O’Neill and Webb; and against it eighteen Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman R. Patterson); Aldermen Browne, M. Campbell, Humphrey, R. Newton, Rodgers and Stalford; and Councillors Haire, Hussey, Kingston, Kyle, McKee, A. Newton, L. Patterson, Reynolds, Robinson, Spence and Thompson.
The amendment was accordingly declared carried.
The Motion, as amended, was thereupon put to the meeting as the Substantive motion. On a vote by show of hands twenty-nine Members voted for the Substantive Motion and eighteen against and it was accordingly declared carried.