- Father Patrick Ryan
Father Patrick Ryan, an Irish
Catholic priest, was alleged to have been involved with theProvisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in the 1980s. [ [http://www.tkb.org/MorePatterns.jsp?countryCd=EI&year=1989 Suspected PIRA paymaster, Father Patrick Ryan] ]Acting on a tip-off, Belgian authorities arrested Ryan on
June 30 ,1988 . Although Britain immediately sought Ryan'sextradition from Belgium, legal argumentation took place over a 5-month period before he was eventually transferred toIreland in November 1988, but was not held in custody of theGarda Síochána .Extradition demand
On
November 25 ,1988 Britain formally demanded the extradition of Father Patrick Ryan from Ireland.Four days later, Conservative MP
Michael Mates called atPMQs for the immediate extradition of this "terrorist". Mrs Thatcher responded::"The failure to secure Ryan's arrest is a matter of very grave concern to the Government. It is no use governments [ofBelgium andIreland ] adopting great declarations and commitments about fighting terrorism if they then lack the resolve to put them into practice."The next day in parliament
Tony Benn MP raised with the Speaker the following point of order::"It is clearly a misuse of privilege to use the protection of the House of Commons to make such an allegation. Father Ryan is wanted on a serious charge. It could hardly be more serious. It is in accordance with the practice of British courts that anyone charged is presumed innocent until convicted. Therefore, when a senior Member of the House says, and it is confirmed by the Prime Minister, that that person is a terrorist, it is impossible from that moment on for that man to have a fair trial. The BBC broadcast those remarks and every newspaper has highlighted them. Yesterday, the House of Commons became a lynch mob, headed by the Prime Minister, whose remarks are bound to prejudice any jury or judge if Father Ryan is brought to this country." [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1988-11-30/Debate-2.html PM abused Question Time to make a statement on the extradition of Father Patrick Ryan] ]Michael Mates MP was the next to speak::"Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker, I am grateful to the right hon. Member for
Chesterfield (Mr Benn) for the courtesy of telling me that he was going to raise this matter. I used the phrase yesterday solely in the context of my outrage at the fact that that person was not being brought here to face trial. It was not intended to be an intimation of guilt. Strictly, I should have said, 'Ryan is the man the security forces most want in connection with serious offences.' I am happy to make that plain."Extradition denial
However, the damage was done. The Irish prime minister announced in the
Dáil Éireann onDecember 13 ,1988 that the serious charges levelled against Ryan should be investigated by a court in Ireland, and because of prejudicial remarks made in the House of Commons he could not expect to receive a fair trial in Britain. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/northern_ireland/history/68885.stm Extradition is refused on grounds that Ryan would not receive a fair trial in UK] ]In October 1989, the
Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland announced that he had decided not to initiate proceedings against Father Patrick Ryan. [ [http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0392/D.0392.198910240013.html Dáil Éireann - Decision of DPP - Father Patrick Ryan] ]References
See also
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James Mates
*Mebo
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