Pressure grows for statement on Colin Wallace

Ralph Atkins
31 January 1990
Financial Times
PRESSURE on the Government for a full Commons statement on Mr Colin Wallace, the former Army information officer, grew last night amid allegations of 'dirty tricks' by the security forces.
The demands followed an implicit admission by the Ministry of Defence that prior to the mid-1970s the security forces deliberately disseminated disinformation in Northern Ireland to denigrate individuals and organisations for propaganda purposes.

In a parliamentary written answer, the Government also said the fact that relevant records were not brought to Ministers' attention had 'caused inaccurate statements to be made to the House.'

The MoD admissions accompanied a decision to set up an inquiry into the circumstances in which Mr Wallace left the civil service in 1975 after serving with the army in Northern Ireland.

Sir Geoffrey Howe, leader of the House, promised to consider Labour complaints that the five-page written statement was inadequate. Mr Martin O'Neill, shadow defence spokesman, called for Mr Tom King, Defence Secretary, to answer questions in the House today in person.

Mr Tony Benn (Lab, Chesterfield) said Mr Wallace had made allegations about disinformation being spread about MPs with MoD authorisation. Mr Merlyn Rees, former Labour Northern Ireland Secretary, said the allegations spread beyond a MoD disciplinary case to include 'dirty tricks' operations.

Mr James Molyneaux, Ulster Unionist leader, said it was 'arguably one of the most serious constitutional crises we've had in recent years.'

Mr Wallace resigned from the civil service following an appeal against a MoD decision to dismiss him after he passed a journalist a restricted document without authority.

Yesterday Mr Archie Hamilton, Armed Forces Minister, said information had come to light showing that when Mr Wallace had been appointed it was proposed that his duties should include giving 'unattributable covert briefings' to the press.

The inquiry by Mr David Calcutt QC, will consider whether Mr Wallace suffered 'an injustice' and if compensation should be paid.

Mr Wallace was a central figure in the row over allegations of homosexual abuse at the Kincora Boys Home in Belfast and attempts to discredit or blackmail prominent Loyalists.

However, Mr Hamilton said: 'The new information which has come to light does not substantiate Mr Wallace's allegations of a cover-up relating to the Kincora Boys' Hostel.'