BC Appeals Ruling On Northern Ireland Project

Boston College is appealing a federal court order that it surrender portions of interviews done for an oral history project on the conflict in Northern Ireland to British authorities.

BC spokesman Jack Dunn says the school will argue Judge William Young violated his own standard for determining what, if any, of the materials should be turned over.

"It appears that these interviews have limited probative value to the criminal investigation," Dunn said. "We are engaged in this issue for the sake of academic research and the enterprise of oral history."

The researchers conducted interviews of former IRA members and British loyalists under signed agreements they would remain under seal until after their deaths.