Taoiseach and PM agree on ‘joint approach’ to tackling legacy issues in Northern Ireland

Gabija Gataveckaite, Irish Independent, May 14th, 2025

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, agreed on a “joint approach” in tackling legacy issues in Northern Ireland in a phone call this morning.

Leaders will aim to agree an “ambitious package” at the first UK-EU summit in London next week to help “hard working people and businesses” across Europe.

“The Prime Minister updated the Taoiseach on his ongoing discussions with the European Union, ahead of the first UK-EU summit next week. Both leaders agreed that there was an ambitious package on the table that would serve to benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe,” a statement from Keir Starmer’s office said.

“Finally, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach reflected on the constructive bilateral discussions held recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in April on a joint approach to dealing with legacy issues of the past in Northern Ireland. They agreed that their respective teams would continue these discussions at pace.”

The two men also agreed to put pressure on Russian president, Vladimir Putin, so he would accept a ceasefire deal “without conditions” in Ukraine.

“The pair discussed the productive Coalition of the Willing meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine. They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions,” the prime minister’s office added.

We didn’t disappear Seamus say former OIRA sources

Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent, Irish News, May 14th, 2025

Official IRA sources have said it had no involvement in the disappearance of a man believed to have been killed and secretly buried by republicans in the 1970s.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains recently said it has “established” that Seamus Maguire was “killed and secretly buried in the Aghagallon/Derryclone area”, near Lurgan, in 1976 after returning from England.

Last month the ICLVR said a specific search site in the area has yet to be identified. It previously said the 29-yearold, who was from Aghagallon, had gone missing in 1973 or 1974. The ICLVR also said it is believed Mr Maguire’s “death was as a result of republican paramilitary activity though it is not yet clear which wing of the IRA was involved”.

Official IRA sources denied involvement in Seamus Maguire’s disappearance

Both the Official and Provisional IRA had a presence in north Armagh at the time of Mr Maguire’s disappearance.

Official IRA sources have now denied the oganisation had any involvement in the death and secret burial of Mr Maguire. It is understood the organisation has also told the ICLVR it had no role.

Sources say Mr Maguire was taken from Downings Bar in Lurgan by two men, believed to be members of the Provisional IRA, in early September 1973.

Taken from Bar

It is claimed punches were thrown before Mr Maguire was placed in the back of a waiting car and taken away by members of a local Provo unit. The Irish News revealed last month that a source, although not present at the time but with knowledge of Mr Maguire’s abduction, suggests he was driven to a location near the Kilwilkie estate where it had been arranged for him to be moved to a second vehicle.

The occupants of this car were not known to the Lurgan based republicans who had earlier taken Mr Maguire from Downings Bar. It is said Mr Maguire made his way to the waiting vehicle where he climbed into the back seat “like a lamb”.

An Official IRA unit in the roof space of a house in Andersonstown, west Belfast, in 1974

It is believed the second vehicle then left the area.

Although not a member of any republican group, Mr Maguire was said to have engaged in ‘loose talk’ about IRA activities and had previously received a warning.

It is also claimed that he regularly used the name of a senior north Armagh republican in conversations, claiming they were friends.

After his disappearance it was speculated locally that he had travelled to England for work.

In its statement last month the ICLVR has said that “it has now been established that after spending time in Manchester he returned to Northern Ireland and was then killed”.

However, sources say two people from Lurgan who had been living in England later falsely claimed to have seen Mr Maguire in that country when they returned to their hometown.

PPS remains quiet over why Irvine wasn't charged under terror laws

Allison Morris, Belfast Telegraph, May 14th, 2025

PROMINENT LOYALIST AND CO-ACCUSED WERE CAUGHT BY POLICE WITH GUNS

The Public Prosecution Service has refused to say why prominent loyalist Winston 'Winkie' Irvine and a co-accused were not charged under terrorism legislation after they were caught with firearms.

Irvine (49) and Robin Workman (54) will be sentenced on Thursday, following a plea hearing last week during which both were remanded in custody.

Terrorism charges would have allowed a judge in the Crown Court case to issue a harsher sentence.

The pair previously admitted a host of firearms charges dating back to June 2022 when police seized a bag containing weapons and ammunition from the boot of Irvine's car in north Belfast.

After listening to submissions from both the prosecution and defence, Judge Gordon Kerr KC said he was “satisfied that the custody threshold has been met in respect of both defendants”.

The Crown's case against both men was set out by a senior barrister. The KC revealed that on the morning of June 8, 2022 police observed both men in the Glencairn Crescent area of the city.

Police observed Workman taking an item from the side door of his van, which was placed into the open boot of Irvine's car.

After the boot was closed, Irvine drove to nearby Disraeli Street where, at 9.32am, he was stopped by police.

In what was branded by the Crown barrister as “the first false statement” made by Irvine, he told police he could not account for the bag found in the boot of his car and did not know what it contained.

Items located in the bag included a Brixia pistol, a Brocock air cartridge revolver, ammunition and magazines.

Irvine's barrister Brenda Campbell KC outlined his work and direct engagement with the PSNI and Irish and UK governments over many years.

Invited to Afghanistan

The court was also told Irvine has been invited to travel to Afghanistan by a UN ambassador to speak about his “peacebuilding” work.

Ms Campbell added that the “individual before the court” was evidenced to be “exceptional”.

Workman's barrister Michael Borrelli KC told Judge Kerr that an air rifle found in Workman's home was used to “cull vermin”.

The court was also told about Workman's previous service with the UDR.

When Judge Kerr asked what explanation had been offered by Irvine regarding the items found in his boot, Ms Campbell accepted he hadn't put one forward. She did, however, say that Irvine's possession of the items “was not for any violent or terrorist intent” and pointed out the items were “low grade.”

Both provided references to the court and argued that their clients should get less than the minimum sentence of five years. That can be split between prison and probation.

Had they been charged under legislation to which the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act (2021) applies, both would have had to serve two thirds of their sentence and then apply to the parole commissioners for a release date.

The legislation ends the prospect of earlier release for anyone convicted of a serious terror offence and has been used in the case of dissident republicans.

The law allow courts to consider whether a much wider range of offences have a terror connection — for example, an offence involving the supply or possession of firearms with a proven link to terrorist activity — and to hand down tougher punishments. This also ends the prospect of terror offenders being released automatically before the end of their sentence.

It expands Registered Terrorist Offender notification requirements — the system whereby offenders are required to provide the police with regular updates on changes to their circumstances, such as a new address, new phone or when they plan to travel abroad.

During a bail hearing for Workman in 2022 a police officer told the court that the gunrunning incident had the “hallmarks of a paramilitary operation”.

Despite this, the PPS decided not to prosecute offences to which the beefed up terrorist provisions apply, saying only for guidance purposes that as the case is currently before the Crown Court for sentencing on May 20 it is considered inappropriate for the PPS to comment on this matter.