Patrick McVeigh

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:13 pm on 14 June 1988.

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Photo of Sir Patrick Mayhew Sir Patrick Mayhew , Tunbridge Wells 5:13, 14 June 1988

The hon. Gentleman sinks reliably to every occasion. I entirely reject what he has said —[Interruption.]—in a contribution that has dramatically lowered the standard of exchanges, which have been characterised by the gravest concern and the highest responsibility.

If the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that yesterday's decision derived from a belief that there was no fair trial to be obtained in this country for any Irish citizen, that was not the ground advanced by the distict justice; nor would any sensible person have expected it to be so. I resent the imputation placed on the appeal that was heard over six or seven weeks at the end of last year, and on the judgment pronounced by the Lord Chief Justice, which was a unanimous judgment of the Court of Appeal.

The matter must be approached on the basis of good faith on each side. Where it is found, after sensible examination, that our arrangements need improvement and that the Irish arrangements for extradition to this country need to be improved, everyone will wish to see that improvement—except, I suspect, the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).