How high did British state collusion go asks Bernadette McAliskey

Writing in her column in this week's Impartial Reporter, Mrs. McAliskey speaks about the attempts on her life and if there was any collusion in these incidents.

On one occasion in 1981, Mrs. McAliskey was shot 14 times by Loyalists at her home near Coalisland.

This happened in front of her children and her husband, Michael was also shot in the attack.

Mrs. McAliskey was writing about the Kenova Interim Report in to the activities of British State agents and that of IRA informer Freddie Scappaticci codenamed 'Stakeknife' before writing about the attempts on her life.

Mrs. McAliskey also says the Legacy Act is "increasingly exposed as a cynical exercise in covering the State's complicity".

She said that "while three members of the UDA were arrested and convicted, having belatedly pleaded guilty, their decision meant the evidence of collusion emerging from the early morning attack on my home has never been investigated".

"The role of State agents within Loyalist armed organisations, like that within PIRA (and all other armed groups on the Republican Nationalist axis) has yet to be exposed, but it continues to beg one crucial question, as follows," writes Mrs. McAliskey.

"To what extent were 30 years of ‘Troubles’ – of death and destruction – orchestrated and prolonged by the unlawful activities of uncontrolled networks of individuals in the employ of British Military Intelligence, who were strategically placed both in the infrastructure of the NI law enforcement and justice system, and in the various armed organisations within the community?

"How far up the chain of command and authority did knowledge go, and to what extent were the decision-making leadership of both Republican and Loyalist armed groups infiltrated?

"This question should be adjudicated at the International Court of Justice."

You can read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/4e9uaekz