Sinn Fein 'selective' on rights

Sinn Fein 'selective' on rights

Eileen Bell was forced out of the country in the 1970s

Sinn Fein is being "selective about human rights" over the issue of people forced to leave Northern Ireland by the IRA, the Alliance Party deputy leader has said.

Eileen Bell accused Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness of "double standards" over comments he made in a newspaper interview on Monday.

Mrs Bell has been campaigning to have a clause allowing people exiled to return home included in any deal leading to the return of devolution to Northern Ireland.

In the Times interview, Mr McGuinness said he would be "concerned at the prospect of people coming back into communities and there being a community reaction".

"When will Sinn Fein acknowledge that human rights belong to everyone, including IRA exiles? said Mrs Bell.

"An end to the abuse of forcible exiling is a necessary act of completion for all paramilitary groups.

"If any of those exiled have been guilty of a crime, and that does not include all exiles by any means, then the only way to deal with them is through the PSNI and justice system - not intimidation by thugs."

Sharp rise in exiles

Eileen Bell and her husband spent six years in England in the 1970s after being intimidated from their west Belfast home because they were in a mixed marriage.

Both loyalist and republican paramilitary groups used the tactic on people they claimed were involved in anti-social behaviour.

A study last year revealed a sharp rise in the number of people being ordered to leave the country under threat.

In 1995 there were 224 referrals. The figure has risen significantly in the past six years with a total of 906 people seeking help in 2001.

The findings were the work of the Base 2 organisation, set up by the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO).

It provides a crisis intervention service for individuals and families under threat from paramilitaries.

In most cases the victim is given less than 24 hours to leave - Scotland and England are normally their destination.