THE computer used by the illegal blacklisting organisation
The Consulting Association (TCA) has dramatically been found after being 'lost'
of more than 7 years. The PC was seized during the Information Commissioners'
Office raid in 2009 but unbelievably the ICO returned the computer to Ian Kerr,
chief executive of the blacklisting body without even turning it on to analyse
it. The government department believed they had enough evidence for a conviction
but their actions were subsequently roundly condemned by MPs during a Select
Committee investigation into the systematic victimsation of union members in
the construction industry.
According to Kerr, once the PC had been returned, it was
destroyed along with all the data on it. But this has now turned out to be
incorrect. During research for his book 'Blacklisted: the secret war between
big business and union activists', investigative journalist Phil Chamberlain
acquired the PC from the one time TCA book keeper Mary Kerr, who is set to be a
witness in the imminent High Court blacklisting trial.
Phil Chamberlain commented:
'The Consulting Association and the construction industry went to
great lengths to keep their operation secret but we've gone to even greater
lengths to gather evidence of their activities. It was only at the end of hours
of interviews at her home that Mary Kerr mentioned a computer stored in her
garage. I hadn't expected to be driving home with that in the boot of my car.
Despite their best efforts, the secrets of the construction industry blacklist
are being dragged into the light. Investigative journalism should and can
change the public discourse but it often relies on persistence and lucky
breaks.'
Apart from one letter chasing an unpaid invoice, all of the
documents relating to the blacklisting operation have been deleted from the
computer. The hard drive from the PC is now undergoing expert forensic computer
examination to discover if previously deleted emails, word documents and
spreadsheets can be recovered from hidden historical archives and ghost files.
Any retrieved documents would then be used as evidence in the High Court. Sir
Robert McAlpine Ltd, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Skanska, Kier, Vinci
and Laing O’Rourke are the defendants in the trial.
The rediscovery of the computer has the potential to blown
apart the wall of secrecy surrounding the blacklisting conspiracy. Despite numerous Court Orders, the
blacklisting firms have repeatedly failed to disclose documents and in some
cases the High Court has been told about evidence being deliberately destroyed.
Not a single set of minutes from 16 years of TCA meetings have so far been disclosed.
Not a single letter or email to or from Cullum McAlpine, the founding chairman
of the blacklist conspiracy has been disclosed to the court. In a few days, the
entire cover up may start to fall apart at the seams.
Howard Beckett, Legal Director at Unite the Union said:
'These defendants openly admit to the
destruction of documents. Their attempts to deny meaningful levels of
compensation and to deny conspiracy allegations rely upon the lack of records.
This discovery allows the victims legal teams to further explore the
possibility that undisclosed documents still exist showing the true extent of
those involved in the disgraceful practice of blacklisting.'
The hard drive also has the potential to shed further light
on the involvement of the police in the human rights scandal. In 2008,
Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Mills from the National Extremism Tactical
Coordination Unit (NETCU), one of the infamous and now disbanded police
political surveillance units gave a PowerPoint presentation to senior managers
and company directors at a TCA meeting in Oxfordshire. Ian Kerr claimed that a
'two way exchange of information' was established following the secret meeting.
Both the police and the companies claim that no correspondence whatsoever
relating to this meeting exists.
Dave Smith, BSG secretary and core participant in the
Pitchford inquiry into undercover policing commented:
'Its like Indiana Jones finding the Lost Ark. No one
knows what secrets might be locked away inside but if you're one of the bad
guys, you might want to keep your eyes closed.
Lots of people involved in the blacklisting conspiracy will
be having sleepness nights worrying what is about to come out. My heart bleeds
for them.'
Next Blacklisting High Court hearing Thursday 7th April Royal
Courts of Justice, The Strand
Photo-opportunity with blacklisted workers at: 9;15am
'Blacklisted: the secret war between big business and union
activists' has been shortlisted for the Bread & Roses Book Award .
Blacklist Support Group:
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment