Over Your Head

Car bomb explodes near Northern Ireland MI5 base

2010-04-12T09:43:00.001+01:00

Monday, 12 April 2010: TODAY HAS TO BE APPROVED THE DEVOLUTION.......

Police at the scene of the bomb attack near Palace Barracks in Holywood, Co Down

A car bomb has exploded close to MI5 headquarters in Northern Ireland today within minutes of policing and justice powers being transferred from London to Belfast.

The explosion happened at the rear of Palace Barracks in Holywood, Co Down, shortly after midnight, police said.

Homes around the base, which houses the MI5 building, were evacuated and residents were taken to the nearby Redburn Community Centre.

Republican dissidents opposed to the peace process were suspected of planting the device, which is not thought to have caused any serious injuries.

Police sources said the bomb was taken to the barracks in a taxi which was hijacked in north Belfast after the cab driver's family was held hostage.

A Northern Ireland Police spokeswoman said: "A device has exploded in a vehicle at the rear of Palace Barracks in Holywood.

"The explosion occurred at approximately 12.24am this morning

"There are no reports of serious injuries at this stage. The incident is ongoing."

Basil McCrea, an Ulster Unionist member of the Policing Board, said one elderly man was taken to hospital after being "blown off his feet".

He said between 50 and 60 people living near the barracks were taken to the Redburn Community Centre in Holywood following a bomb warning.

Mr McCrea said: "The warning was given and the attack alarms went off, but it is obviously a significant device.

"One person, an elderly man, was blown off his feet. I think he was just a member of the community who happened to be walking past. He has gone to hospital. I think it must have been a bit of a shock."

The blast came as law and order policy was returned to Stormont at midnight, marking the end of 38 years of Whitehall control.

It follows a series of attacks by dissidents in Northern Ireland.

In January, PSNI officer Peadar Heffron was seriously injured in an under-car bomb attack in Co Antrim.

This was followed by a car bomb which damaged a court building in Newry, Co Down, in February.

The bomb also comes in the wake of the first anniversary of the deaths of two British soldiers - Mark Quinsey, 23, and Sapper Patrick Azimkar, 21 - who were gunned down by the Real IRA outside Massereene Army barracks in Antrim town in March last year.

Two days later, PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll was murdered by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Alliance Party deputy leader Naomi Long said the attack appeared to be an attempt to "drag Northern Ireland back into the past".

Cllr Long said: "I would utterly condemn any such attack and am sure that the vast majority of people from across our community are sickened by the actions of people who seem intent on dragging Northern Ireland back into the past.

"It is vital that all local politicians unite to condemn this attack and redouble our efforts to create stable political structures and a peaceful society.

"I would also appeal for anyone with information about this incident to contact the Police so that those behind the attack can be apprehended."

PM hails 'historic' Northern Ireland justice vote

2010-03-09T19:32:00.003Z

88 supporter
17 against

Devolution approved.

Policing and justice powers can now be devolved on 12 April....

....after a gap of 38-years.

UUP to vote against Northern Ireland justice deal

2010-03-08T23:39:00.000Z

Sir Reg Empey's UUP will not back the vote

The Ulster Unionist executive has endorsed the party's decision to vote against the devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland.

The assembly is to vote on whether the powers should be devolved on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, the UUP accused Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward of political and emotional blackmail ahead of Tuesday's vote.

Danny Kennedy said he had linked the vote to the anniversary of the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.

The vote takes place exactly a year after the police officer was murdered by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon.

Mr Woodward said transferring justice powers on Tuesday would send an important message to those responsible for his death and dissident republicans in general.

Bur Mr Kennedy, the UUP's deputy leader, said the secretary of state was guilty of "political and emotional blackmail" and called on him to consider his position.

Ian Paisley is stepping down as MP for North Antrim

The UUP has been refusing to endorse the Hillsborough Agreement, insisting that matters such as education, parading and "the dysfunctional nature of the current executive" must be addressed.

On Monday night, former DUP leader Ian Paisley said the UUP would be making a "colossal mistake" by not backing the deal.

Mr Paisley was speaking to DUP members in Ballymena as he announced his retirement as MP for north Antrim.

The DUP selected his son, Ian Jnr, as its candidate in the forthcoming Westminster election at the same meeting.

Meanwhile, an opinion poll commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive has indicated that the majority of people in Northern Ireland favour devolving justice powers.

It also suggested that 70% of unionists favour Northern Ireland politicians being in charge of policing issues, compared to 83% of nationalists.

bbcnews http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8556766.stm

2010-03-03T12:08:00.002Z

2 anni di carcere per apologia di terrorismo
16 anni di inabilitazione

“Abbiamo un debito con i prigionieri politici baschi, i rifugiati e i tanti compagni che abbiamo perso nella lotta e alla fine ce la faremo”

Arnaldo Otegi, leader del movimento indipendentista basco.

Device fired at police station

2010-02-28T00:15:00.000Z

Saturday, 27 February 2010

An explosive device has been fired at a police station in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

It did not hit the station at Craigavon, Co Armagh, and there were no reports of injuries, police said.

Last March, dissident republicans shot dead a policeman not far from the site of the attack and there has been an upsurge in paramilitary activity in recent weeks.

A nearby road was closed due to the separate discovery of a suspicious object.

The police station is in the Brownlow area of Craigavon, a sprawling urban centre of housing estates and roundabouts.

Pc Stephen Carroll was shot dead by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon last March.

Kieran Doherty, 31, was bound and shot by the Real IRA in Londonderry on Wednesday night. He had served time in prison in the Republic as a Real IRA member and his family claimed he had rebuffed MI5 attempts to recruit him.

On Monday night a 250lb car bomb caused damage to the wall and security hut at Newry courthouse, Co Down.

2010-02-27T20:47:00.000Z

The war is over chapter 2

2010-02-09T17:15:00.002Z

The Official IRA declare ceasefire in the 1972. In 2009 they declare decommissioning as the INLA.

Gordon Brown claimed that all the paramilitary groups in Ireland are over and he takes the credit for that.

He also thanks a lot of people involved in the peace process, like George Bush, Clinton and Tony Blair.

Strip searches

2010-02-09T10:11:00.000Z

Mo chairde,

Since it has been brought to light, that the British prison service and
British police are forcing the visitors of republican prisoners and
internees to comply with strip searches if they wish to visit relatives and
friends in Maghaberry, it is clear that this needs to be highlighted as
soon as possible, also section 44, POW status and criminalisation of POWs,
internment by remand etc, which all fall under the bracket of
'normalistation'.

As most of the mainstream media such as RTE, BBC, UTV etc wont cover such a
burning and crucial issue,it may be possible to have it highlighted on
FM104 which is Ireland largest independent commercial broadcaster, and in
particular the Adrian Kennedy phone show, which from experience has never
been much of a friend to republicans but is still willing to cover
republican issue as it has done in the past, the show is the most listened
to show daily and has huge listenership at night

It may be possible to get someone on the show to speak and highlight the
issue, and get some publicity for Saturdays protest in Drogheda and other
future protests, and most importantly let those in the dark know whats
going on, two hours up the road.

What we will need to do, it blitz the station with emails and texts,
forcing them to adknowledged the issue and give it mention and possible
devote some time to the subject, everyone on here needs to send emails and
texts to the show, possibly more then once to clog up there mailboxes.

I have prepared a small script for an email and text below, I understand it
may not be perfect but considering it needs be done post haste I think we
do.

Please I implore everyone, send an email and text in lets get this issue
out there.

Full details here

http://www.irishfreedomnews.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4333&p=13893#p13893

INLA DECOMMISSIONING, who thinks that the war is over?

2010-02-08T22:30:00.006Z

INLA DECOMMISSIONING

2010-02-07T14:16:00.002Z

Tomorrow the Republican paramilitary organisation, the INLA, is expected to confirm early next week that it has put all its weapons beyond use.

Nice words.

I'm sorry but I don't believe it so, I will have a good laugh...

2010-01-16T13:05:00.001Z

NO bloody sunday march in Glasgow

2010-01-12T12:52:00.005Z

I could said that at the end they win.

The march for the commemoration will be not taken in Glasgow.
Someone could said that I'm obsess about that because I asked so many time and to so many people what's going on, what they think...

The truth is that I really care about that commemoration for different motivations:

THE FIRST is a question of PRINCIPLE: freedom of speaking, freedom of think and freedom to show your thought.That was canceled with the march.

Commemoration of all the people that died, were killed and murdered, by the british army. I think that day represent the day for all the Irish that were abused during the british occupancy, that's is NOT ending yet, people has really short memory especially young generation that are grown up at the end of the trouble and are yet "immune" to all what's going on in Ireland, because the think (if they think) it's almost normal don't care anymore.

Remember of those 14 innocent people most of them kids dead with a shoot in the back by an army. And on this I felt ashamed when I saw the article on the newspaper that there were person ready to go against this commemoration (suppose nazi-fascist) that remember those innocent people! Honestly I don't believe that there was any group that could be against this march, I think is only something building up from the press, I've never seen nazi-fascist go against something like that! There are no reasons!

For all those reasons I will be anyway in George square the 30 of January at 16:00 for remember. And I won't be there alone.

Exclusive: Neo-Nazis launch web plot to attack Republican march in Glasgow

2010-01-10T16:35:00.001Z

Jan 10 2010 Stephen Stewart, Sunday Mail

A MOB of English neo-Nazi thugs plan to battle Irish republicans on the streets of Glasgow.

The football hooligans, right wingers and loyalists, under the Scottish Defence League banner, have secret plans to cause chaos at a march next week to mark the 38th anniversary of the Derry Bloody Sunday massacre.

A Sunday Mail investigation has revealed that SDL yobs aim to attack marchers from Irish republican groups on Sunday.

SDL fanatics were forced out of Glasgow in November after failing to stoke racial hatred. Hundreds of police hemmed in around 70 racists and BNP thugs as they met at a city centre pub after failing to march on the central mosque.

An SDL organiser called "Beight", said: "I urge SDL supporters to let these vermin know that their presence is not welcome on Scotland's streets."

A spokesman for Cairde Na hÉireann, an Irish republican support group in Scotland, said: "Groups should be entitled to demonstrate and not suffer because of the violent actions of others." Strathclyde Police's Chief Superintendent Bernard Higgins said officers had met with march organisers and council officials to discuss safety arrangements.

"The event organisers intimatedat this meeting that they now plan to withdraw their application," he added.

News of the week

2009-12-19T00:40:00.007Z

Apparently Martin McGuinness was planning to meet UDA ledears (Jackie McDonald, Matt Kincaid, John Bunting, Billy McFarland), the mature answer to this historic decision was: “We want to do a meeting, but we don’t want to do it now.”

Just back from Dublin

2009-12-10T17:48:00.001Z

Homes evacuated in security alert

2009-12-07T01:13:00.000Z

A number of homes have been evacuated after the discovery of a suspicious object in in the grounds of a house in Warrenpoint, Co Down.

The object was discovered in a hedge in Beechlodge Park at around 2.30pm on Sunday.

Army technical officers have been called to examine the object.

The residents of the affected homes are being moved to a local village hall as a precaution.

SAM missiles in the sky...

2009-12-02T20:57:00.003Z

Dissident republicans have secured a surface-to-air missile and are planning to use it to shoot down a helicopter full of police officers, the Belfast Telegraph has learned.

One day after dissidents launched an attack on a PSNI station in Strabane we can reveal that police have uncovered a terrifying plot to shoot down one of their helicopters — the latest indication of the growing sinister capabilities of dissident republicans.

'Loyalist mob' injures 10 police officers during Portadown riot

2009-11-30T21:33:00.004Z

The police operation was criticised for not being robust enough after trouble flared in the early hours of Sunday morning during an illegal rally organised via text messages.

It is understood the trouble stems from an incident last month when two men were barred from a pub because they were drunk.

Ten police officers were injured and several cars damaged in what the PSNI described as "vicious public disorder". "Police were aware that texts were circulating in the area.

The Irish News reported on 19 November that text messages were circulating urging loyalists to gather on a given weekend night

Police put an operation in place," Superintendent Barbara Gray said. "Community officers were out on the ground and were backed up by specially trained public order police," she added.She branded the scenes of violence as "disgraceful". "Sadly some people chose to attack the police and cause trouble on the streets of their own town.

"We need to be very clear where the blame lies here. It lies with the people who organised this illegal gathering. It lies with the thugs who attacked police."The PSNI has urged people in positions of civic leadership to ensure that future tensions are defused.

UTV obtained a copy of the text which read: "Due to recent beatings of Protestants, we're asking all loyalists who don't want to be beaten, walked over and treated like scum to gather at 12.45am (...). This is to show republicans we will not tolerate their behaviour or presence in our area. Pass this to all loyalists you know.

"On Sunday local SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly branded the violence as "naked bully-boy sectarianism", but admitted she felt the police operation had been "disappointing".

Nationalist and unionist politicians have appealed for calm."That's something we would totally condemn and should have never happened", DUP's Robert Smith told UTV. "This has brought great fear even within the community these people say they represent", he said. "Portadown is moving on. Let the police ultimately get on with the real job of hunting down republican dissidents."Officers faced criticism from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition who questioned their tactics to prevent the crowd from gathering.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a police officer, plus public order offences, while a 31-year-old man has been released on bail pending further police investigations.

Notorious Loyalist killer has sentence adjourned

2009-11-27T17:39:00.002Z

Notorious loyalist killer Torrens Knight who beat up two sisters inside a Coleraine bar will have to wait for his punishment after a planned sentencing hearing was adjourned.

The UFF assassin, who was convicted of 12 murders during the Troubles, including those of eight people in the infamous Greysteel massacre, has already had his early release licence suspended and been returned to prison following the guilty verdict in last month's assault trial.

The 40-year-old had been due to be brought from Maghaberry jail to Coleraine Magistrates Court on Friday morning to find our what additional sanctions he is to face for the aggravated assault and disorderly behaviour convictions.

Newspaper editor attacked in city

2009-11-25T23:48:00.000Z

Jim McDowell is the editor of the Sunday World

The editor of the Northern Ireland editon of the Sunday World has been beaten up in the centre of Belfast.

Jim McDowell, 60, was attacked by two men at about 1750 GMT on Wednesday while he attended the Continental Market in the grounds of City Hall.

Mr McDowell was injured in the head, arms and legs, but did not need hospital treatment.

The attack happened less than two weeks after his car was vandalised outside Craigavon court house.

He attended a hearing involving a number of men who were charged in connection with the murder of one of his reporters, Martin O'Hagan

Mr O'Hagan was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in Lurgan, County Armagh, in September 2001.

Mr McDowell has been threatened several times before by loyalists and republicans.

He said drug dealers were to blame for attacking him on Wednesday night.

"What does it say about the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press?" he said.

A police spokesperson, who appealed for information, said one of the attackers was described as being about 5ft 9ins tall, clean shaven with a pale complexion.

He was wearing a black hooded top and a distinctive black striped woolly hat.

The second man is described as being of stocky build. He had hair cropped at the sides and was bald on top. He was wearing a red jacket and dark trousers.

Two charged with PSNI murder bid

2009-11-25T11:46:00.000Z

Two men have been charged over the gun attack in Garrison

Two men, aged 32 and 26, have been charged with attempted murder over an attack in the County Fermanagh village of Garrison

One shot was fired at undercover police on Saturday. Police fired two shots in return but nobody was hurt.

Both men will appear in court in Dungannon later. They have also been charged with firearms offences.

The 26-year-old is further charged with using a firearm with intent to resist arrest.

Three other men arrested after the incident were released without charge on Monday.

Two were arrested by the PSNI in Fermanagh and one by Irish police in County Leitrim.

Meanwhile, the police are appealing for information about a car thought to be linked to the shooting.

They want to hear from anyone who saw a blue Vauxhall Astra, registration UBZ 6206, in the Fermanagh area on Saturday 21 November.

'pipe bomb' in a house in Derry

2009-11-25T11:20:00.001Z

The explosion happened in Glengalliagh Park on Tuesday evening

An explosion at a house in Derry was caused by a pipe bomb, the chair of the local District Policing Partnership has said.

The blast happened at the property in Glengalliagh Park in Derry at about 2330 GMT on Tuesday.

No-one was in the house at the time, and there were no injuries. Police are treating it as suspicious.

Elisha McLaughlin said the device, which was detonated in a built-up area, and could have caused serious injury.

"I am making it clear to those responsible that the community does not want this.

"Those behind this bomb attack need to consider their actions.

"In leaving this device they have shown no regard for the wider Galliagh community," she said.

shown no regard for the wider Galliagh community," she said.

Assembly to condemn bid to derail Northern Ireland peace process

2009-11-23T15:32:00.001Z

The Northern Ireland Assembly is today expected to condemn the latest attempts to derail the peace process after a car bomb attack and gun battle involving suspected dissident republicans.

The 400lb bomb partially exploded after a vehicle broke through a barrier outside the headquarters of the Northern Ireland Policing Board in Belfast.

Nobody was hurt but two men were seen escaping from the area at Clarendon Dock on Saturday night.

In a separate incident, five men were arrested after police exchanged fire with suspected dissident republicans close to the border with the Irish Republic in Co Fermanagh.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland detained four in the area and Irish police the other in Dooard, Co Leitrim.

Chief Constable Matt Baggott said Saturday's attacks were designed to derail political progress.

"We have said from day one that the terrorist situation is severe. We have substantial resources being put into investigating and thwarting these attacks," he said.

"This attack is an attack on the well-being of everybody in Northern Ireland, this is not about an attack on policing or the Policing Board, this is an attack on young people and young people's future."

A car was found burned out nearby in the staunchly republican New Lodge area of the city and police are investigating whether there was any link with the earlier attack at around 7pm last night.

The chief constable said that in Fermanagh his officers fired two warning shots, which are being investigated by Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson. He said his officers had been fired at once during the exchange.

It is understood the attack in Garrison was an attempt to kill a police officer who lived in the village but it believed the officer was not at home.

The ages of the detained men are 22, 26, 32, and 41.

A suspect arrested by police in the Irish Republic is aged 27.

Earlier this month the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) reported that the dissident republican threat in Northern Ireland was at its highest level for almost six years.

Dissident list circulated to PSNI

2009-11-23T15:23:00.001Z

Police forensic officers removed the 400lb bomb car from the front of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Monday

It is trying times for everyone.”
In a recent briefing, officers in A district were asked to be aware that dissidents were also starting to use the “honey-trap” ploy in the south Down area and officers were asked to be wary when socialising in Bangor, Donaghadee and nearby towns.
The majority of names on the list, passed to the News Letter, are not from the Belfast area, “but are known to be circulating there”.

A PSNI spokesman said: “We do not discuss intelligence matters.”

But a spokesman for the Police Federation said they were aware that briefing papers had been issued, which included the names of men who were dissident republicans and members of the INLA.
“We are alarmed about the increased threat and it remains a matter of major concern to the federation.”
Mid-Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong urged the police to be given free rein to combat the terrorist threat by any means necessary.
The UUP representative said: “The recent attempt to murder police officers via a horizontal mortar type device at the Friary Road in Armagh is further proof that republican murder gangs are back on the loose. If history tells us anything, it is that appeasement does not work when dealing with thugs and bullies. We have come too far to allow a few terrorists to drag us back to the horrors of the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s

Man arrested over Armagh bomb

2009-11-21T13:54:00.000Z

A 42-year-old man has been arrested by police following the discovery of a bomb in Armagh City on Thursday.

Bomb disposal experts were called to deal with a suspicious device in Friary Road after a member of the public raised the alert on Wednesday night.

They found a viable explosive, described as a "horizontal mortar-type device", which police said was intended to kill officers.

http://www.u.tv/News/Man-arrested-over-Armagh-bomb/964b4b9d-2652-4fa5-bc8f-c813aff11d69

I would like that everybody could hear that scream as I did.

2009-11-21T13:09:00.004Z

I’m a stranger.
My point of view is from the outside.
I’m a person that was never been exposed to the Northern Irish reality, not influenced by anyone.
I try to be objective.

I didn’t see the suffering; I never felt the pain on my skin, the oppression, the abuse by a foreign country, which chokes you because you have a different language, another culture, and other roots.
I see this divided Ireland: two national anthems, two flags, two religions, two governments....

But when the same people are divided by a brutal external force, how could you remain objective?
How you could objectively support and tolerate someone that doesn’t want your culture and your language in your land?
How could you tolerate someone that acts so superior using there might and power to treat your land as a colony?

The falsehood about the terrorsm is the thing that disgusts me most.
Is it acceptable to enter into another land and don’t expected any reaction from its people?
Invade with tanks and soldiers and persecute the people.
Is it so strange to think that those ruled people want to stop the abuse and the violence? Do you see other possibilitys rather than to fight for your freedom?

Without an army, without any past history of invading and dominanting other countries, choke back the tears because you know that will be not easy to fight against these masters of war, shoulder the rifle, put on a mask. Hide away in your own land. Complete doublethink.

The only outcome is destabilization.
That is called terrorism, and the terror of the victim is forgotten.
They are sentenced as bloodthirsty. Unable to defend itself.

I’m fully conscious that who’s came from that land those words are obvious, said thousand of time, but who watching from outside everything seems unreal and awful.
A nation as England, civilized, with such of history and culture how could it hammer away that beautiful piece of land and the few people that are living there nowadays?

From the distance London seems so multicultural, indulgent to the entire minority racial, sexual, religious and cultural.
That’s what is coming out from the newspaper.

Instead when it is speaking about Belfast and Northern Ireland, what comes immediately into our foreign mind is the 'RA with the b#mbs, ruthless persons that kill for an unclear independence, we don’t not why, we don’t know what they want, is not important for the news, is important only to show the violence side to indirectly insinuate in your mind that is a good thing that an foreign army is there to( repress) regulate those people, because they are bad, mad and unable to care and govern for themselfs

I think that now, you will have a question for me:- Why don’t YOU think that?-
The answer is easy.
Because I left my country a thousand miles away, and now I’m in contact with this reality, better I am IN the reality, with facts, with people that have suffered or suffering for there past.
But the power of that land are the people that after 800 years still believe in there right of liberty, they still desperate want that freedom, the want that in their hand, and is not important if in the other hand they had been a rifle. They deserve it. And it’s clear that they will never stop to resist until they end the occupation.
I think that the truth has to be spread everywhere, in every country.
Tell this far from those stupid borders. Open your eyes to this injustice. Open the ears of those who could hear that choke echoe lament of freedom that comes from the North.
I would like that everybody could hear that scream as I did.
We cant be deaf to that distant cry.
End brittish rule- give ireland back to the irish

ITALIAN VERSION

Sono uno straniero. Il mio punto di vista e’ esterno.
Sono una persona che non e’ mai stata a contatto con la realta’ nordirlandese, fuori dal ogni tipo di influenza.
Mi sforzo di essere oggettiva.
Non ho visto la sofferenza, non ho provato sulla mia pelle l’oppressione, l’abuso di una nazione straniera, che ti soffoca ti rende colpevole di avere altra cultura, alter radici.

Guardo questa irlanda divisa: due inni nazionali, due bandiere, due religioni, due governi…
Ma quando la stessa gente e’ divisa da una forza esterna brutale, come si puo’ rimare oggettivi? Come si puo’ oggettivamente sostenere e tollerare qualcuno che non vuole la tua cultura, la tua lingua, il tuo modo di essere in casa tua?
Qualcuno che si sente superiore a tal punto di rendere la tua terra a stregua di una colonia?

La cantilena del terorismo e’ la cosa che mi disgusta di piu’.
E’ permesso seviziare una terra e una popolazione senza aspettarsi una reazione?
Entrare con carri armati e esercito perseguitare la popolazione.
E’ difficile credere che questa gente si possa ribellare alla violenza e vedere come unica soluzione la lotta per propria liberta’?

Realizzare che e’ impossibile uno scontro diretto.
Senza un’esercito, senza aver mai combattuto, ricacciare indietro le lacrime perche’ sara’ difficile, imbracciare un fucile, indossare una maschera. Nascondersi in casa propria.
L’unica possibilita’ sembra quella di creare una destabilizzazione.
Questo e’ chiamato terrorismo, ma il terrore delle vittime dell’oppressione e dei soprusi, viene dimenticato.
Condannate alla stregua di folli sanguinari, terroristi appunto.

Sono pienamente consapevole che per chi proviene da quella terra queste sono cose ovvie, dette e ridette, ma chi osserva da fuori, chi e’ miglia e miglia lontano da quella realta’ tutto cioe’ sembra incredibile e irreale.

Una nazione come l’inghilterra, civilizzata, con storia e cultura, come puo’ ridursi ancora oggi ad accanirsi contro una pezzo di terra e un pugno di persone?
Da lontano questa Londra ci appare multiculturale, indulgente verso le minoranze, siano esse sessuali, religiose razziali o culturali.
Questo appare sui nostri giornali.

Quando invece si parla di Belfast e di Irlanda del Nord, subito ci viene in mente l IRA con le sue bombe, persone spietate che uccidono per un’indipendenza non ben definite, non sappiamo perche’, che cosa vogliono, ai giornali non interessa, intererssa solo mostrare il lato violento e indirettamente insinuare nella tua mente che e’ bene che ci sia un’esercito straniero a contenere queste persone, perche’ loro sono il male.

A questo punto vi sorgera’ una domanda:- perche’ tu non la pensi cosi’?
Perche’ ho lasciato il mio paese a mille miglia di distanza e ora mi trovo in contatto con questa realta’, anzi con la realta’, con I fatti, con le persone che hanno sofferto e ancora soffrono per il loro passato.
Ma la forza di quell piccolo pezzo di terra sono le persone che dopo 800 anni ancora ci credo al loro diritto di liberta’, la bramano ancora, la vogliono afferrare e stringere nella loro mano, e a questo punto non importa se nell’altra hanno avuto un fucile. La meritano. E non smetterranno di lottare finche’ non l’avranno.
Ebbene e’ la verita’ che deve uscire allo scoperto, raccontare al di fuori di qui fittizi confini cosa succede davvero aprire gli occhi di chi non puo’ sentire quell lacerante e lamento di liberta’ che viene dal nord.
Vorrei che tutti sentissero quell grido.

Ex RUC man becomes Sinn Fein MLA

2009-11-20T11:06:00.002Z

Coleraine councillor Billy Leonard has been selected by Sinn Fein colleagues to become an assembly member in East Londonderry.

He is succeeding the party's Francie Brolly who is to retire.

Mr Leonard is a former Orangeman, RUC reservist and member of the SDLP.

Following his selection he said it was an honour to be chosen to replace Mr Brolly "and to represent the people of East Derry".

"It is testament to the growth of Sinn Fein in this constituency that we are able to hold this convention tonight and I would thank all the party members who came along and contributed to this convention in such a comradely fashion.

"The north west region is one of the most deprived areas on this island and it is important that we have strong leadership to ensure East Derry is given its fair share," he said.

NO EXTRADITION FOR JOSE IGNACIO DE JUANA CHAOS

2009-11-19T16:06:00.001Z

In 1971, when Iñaki was 15 years old, he was first arrested for protesting during the Burgos Trial, in which 16 alleged members of ETA were sentenced to death for anti-fascist and pro-Basque independence activities.
In January 1987, Iñaki was arrested as an ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna – Basque Homeland and Freedom) member. He was sentenced under a 1973 Francoist law to the maximum amount of time a person can spend in jail.
Iñaki served almost 19 years in prison – the maximum he could serve under the law – including spending more than 17 years in solitary confinement. As the moment of his release approached in 2004, the then Spanish Interior Minister, López Aguilar, said publicly that he wanted the judges to “construct new charges” against Iñaki to “keep him in jail”.
On the basis of these new charges, the prosecutor asked for Iñaki a sentence of 96 years in jail. Iñaki began a hunger strike in protest. This hunger strike finished after 63 days when an agreement was reached with the Spanish government. At trial, the Spanish government broke this deal and Iñaki was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison. The Association of European Democratic Lawyers condemned the sentence as “an exceptional resolution of extraordinary harshness”.He began a second hunger strike, which lasted for 115 days. During the protest, an emaciated Iñaki was force-fed illegally by the authorities while shackled to his hospital bed. He completed his sentence on August 2, 2008, having spent a total of 21 years and seven months in jail, with 17 of these years being spent in isolation.
Days before being released, the new Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba held a meeting with the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT) during which he promised them that he would do “everything he could” to put Iñaki in jail again. After this meeting, knowing that his home had been attacked and having received many threats, Iñaki decided that as soon as he was released he would move to Ireland. Upon his release on August 2, 2008, he flew immediately to Dublin without stopping in the Basque Country.
The Spanish police prepared a report claiming that Iñaki was the author of the statement and that it constitued a call for the continuation of armed struggle. Iñaki says he did not write such a letter and the Spanish police admit they cannot produce it. Three different Spanish police bodies have said there is no such letter.
The Spanish National Court started proceedings against Iñaki and requested his return to Madrid to submit to questioning about the comment.
The Spanish judge then launched a European Arrest Warrant against Iñaki, demanding his extradition for questioning. The Belfast judge agreed that the phrase “Aurrera bolie” may constitute “glorifying terrorism” and said that this offence had a legal equivalent under British anti-terror legislation. Iñaki and his wife want to start a new life in Belfast. He has the right to live freely from persecution and harassment by the Spanish government, which has been forced to resort to this ridiculous charge because it had no legal option but to free him after he served his prison sentence.

Find a bomb in Armagh "designed to kill policeman"

2009-11-19T15:41:00.001Z

Army technical officers made the device safe
A bomb made safe by the Army in Armagh was designed to kill police officers, a senior policeman has said.

The alert began after police received a report late on Wednesday night that a suspicious device had been left in the Friary Road area.

Nearby homes were evacuated and the road was closed. It has since reopened.

District Commander Chief Superintendent Alasdair Robinson said it was "a viable explosive device capable of causing serious injury or indeed death".

He said the initial call by a member of the public helped them pinpoint exactly where the device had been left.

"I have no doubt the aim was to kill police officers engaged in providing a community service to the area," he said.

"The actions of both our local police officers and of the Army technical officers are in stark contrast to that of the reckless criminal terrorists who abandoned this device close to private homes placing the lives of those living in this area at risk."

In July, police in the area came under attack with missiles and paint during another security alert in which a minor explosion occurred.

No exradition for ETA member Arturo Villanueva Arteaga

2009-11-19T15:30:00.001Z

A move to extradite Arturo Villanueva Arteaga has failed
A Belfast judge has thrown out attempts to have a Basque man extradited to face terrorism charges in Spain.
Arturo Villanueva Arteaga was being sought over claims he belonged to a youth group allegedly linked to Eta.
Belfast Recorder Judge Tom Burgess ruled a European Arrest Warrant issued against the 33-year-old was invalid.
He said there was lack of specific details about attendance at meetings, interviews or other evidence that Mr Arteaga was in the Jarrai group.
Although the warrant claimed the wanted man carried out violent and coercive actions from 1994 to 2000, Judge Burgess held there was no reference to dates, locations or targets of any alleged attacks which would allow anyone to link them to him.
“I accept that the time period of the activities of Jarrai are properly set out and that it would be open to the court to decide that the scale of their activity – running into over 6,000 incidents – may be sufficient to allow the requested person to have sufficient particularity as to the activities of the group,” he said.
“But that is not the point on which my decision is made. It is the question of particularity as to his membership of that group which is missing.”
Lawyers for the Spanish authorities have seven days to appeal the ruling.
Mr Arteaga has been living in Northern Ireland for six years and runs a tourism business.
He claimed the ruling showed up flaws in how Spain deals with this type of case.
“The way the Spanish judiciary and Spanish authorities deal with these sort of political cases has been proven (to be) not the right way, and they breach any kind of principles,” he said outside the court.
“Not just myself, but many different lawyers and international bodies, year after year, have been calling attention to the Spanish authorities to improve on matters of human rights and judicial rights for any legal cases relating to the Basque conflict.”
He said he had always worked “politically, peacefully and publicly in defence of Basque youth rights and in defence of Basque national rights”.
The Recorder is also considering a Spanish attempt to extradite convicted Basque terrorist Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos.
The 54-year-old is wanted over claims he glorified terrorism, which carries a two-year jail sentence.
Mr Chaos has already served a jail sentence for his role in up to 25 murders.
The case was heard last week and the judge is to give his decision at a later date.

Marian Price and the police arrasment

2009-11-19T15:27:00.000Z

Statment from the 32csm:

The recently staged political arrest of 32 County Sovereignty Movement National Secretary Marian Price underscores the fact that policing in the Six Counties will always be political. We have long stated that where sovereignty is disputed policing will always take a side in that dispute. The myth that policing in the Six Counties could be detached from the constitutional question by employing the charade of ‘Civic Policing’ has been shattered yet again.

The British Government has repeatedly used policing to curry favour with whichever political mood prevails. On the one hand we had the establishment of the benign District Policing Partnerships as a sop to the constituency of establishment nationalists. And now that we have unionists grappling with the issue of devolving minimalist Policing and Justice ‘powers’ to Stormont we witness the targeting of high profile republican activists for arrest by the RUC/paramilitary police. Coupled with this is the appearance before Crown Courts of Irish Republicans on the most spurious of grounds.

All of this points to where the British Government desires that political policing should lead. We urge all republicans to be vigilant in the times ahead as British efforts to secure its illegal sovereign claim over part of Ireland intensify.

Never ending presence

2009-11-17T23:40:00.001Z

The rats have come out again, with their wee greedy eyes and open months they banquet on the corpse crawling with worms. On what one day was simply freedom of expression, concept or at least tolerate in every country that claimed itself European.

A disgusting show, the umpteenth, awful, revolting: every rat desperate trying to find a scrap of carcass almost decomposing.
Who wants dialogue, debate and growth as an alternative to the bomb and violence has no space, has to be gobbled up by the rats. There are no solutions.
They are not called anymore republicans but dissidents. Dissident means “Someone in a group dissent from the majority” That immediately imply a concept of minority, meaning that the republicanism is dead.
None support their cause; the population see only the last regurgitation of what was the necessity of a free unit Ireland, one nation, and the 32 counties.

It became difficult to continue to believe in a hope when the South of the free and independent republic is not anymore interested, Dublin has risen again ,shaking away the shackles of british oppression it’s now free. The Celtic tiger progresses and is not anymore time to think to the republican dream, Dublin doesn’t want problems, it has forgotten about its brothers from the North, remembering them dimly in the few commemorations only to maintain an outward appearance of consent, never of dissent.
North and South are now two different realities, not anymore under the same sky. No one wants to live in fear, in violence everyone wants only to have a job and see their children free under the South sky. The memory became feeble, the news of bombs are not interesting anymore.

It’s time for turning the political point, show to the guerrilla it’s over, the balaclava, the rifle, are in drawer as a reminder of the past
A new country able to create a new economy, jobs, security.
Not anymore violence but debate and dialogue.

That is scary not the bombs.

The idea that the citizens are ready to work together and grow independently with their own law.
That shred of land that is the North of Ireland, the last bulwark of a colony of an empire that’s finished.

There is not sense anymore in the “catholic” and the “protestant”, are years that they live together, they are people in the same community. The North is so different from the South, and doesn’t seem anymore possible the idea to reunite that sky, two so different realities.

But the North has to accept and submit to the laws of another country, has to feel humiliated and raped every day. It’s not acceptable to only try to demonstrate that could be free.
For the North it is forced to express themselves through violence, dissidents that plan bombs, every reaction calls for another reaction and the fat Britain laughs and wallows in the chaos and so justifies its presence.
A bomb in Derry or Belfast is not the news, the people turn the page slowly, and sigh that nothing is changing.
What about the voice of the people that wants to change?

That frightens them, the idea of cooperation, the idea of future.

Every day a British soldier dies in Afghanistan, a war thousand miles away, in the name of the “western democracy”. London exports the democracy. As the democracy in Ireland.
They subtlety say don’t speak, plan yours bombs, and so they are willing to pay with some life’s, they don’t care, the important is to maintain the chaos, you are not able to guarantee the security in your land, they are the liberator, they are the mighty democracy and so they are the security.
“Your people are only terrorists!” they said.
Be grateful for this never ending presence.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITALIAN VERSION

I topi sono usciti allo scoperto, con i loro occhi avidi hanno banchettato sul cadavere ormai brulicante di vermi di quella che una volta era la semplice liberta' di espressione, concepita o perlomeno tollerata in qualsiasi paese che si dichiara europeo.

Uno spettacolo disgustoso, l'ennesimo, rivoltante: ogni topo cerca disperatamente un brandello di carne da strappare in quella carcassa ormai decomposta...
Chi cerca il dialogo, il confronto, la crescita un'alternativa alle bombe e alla violenza non ha spazio, deve essere divorato lacerato dai topi. Non ci puo' essere soluzione.

Neanche vengono piu' chiamati repubblicani ma dissidenti. Dissidente significa "Chi, in seno a un gruppo, dissente sulla linea della maggioranza." questo implica immediatamente un concetto di minoranza, ovvero il republicanesimo e' morto, nessuno appoggia piu' la causa, la popolazione vede solo un l'ultimo rigurgito di quello che era il bisogno di Irlanda libera e unita, una sola nazione, le 32 contee.

Diventa difficile continuare ad alimentare la speranza quando nemmeno il sud della repubblica libera e indipendente non e' piu' interessata, Dublino e' risorta e' libera
La tigre celtica avanza non e' piu' tempo di pensare al sogno repubblicano, Dublino non vuole problemi dimentica i fratelli del nord, li ricorda pallidamente in qualche commemorazione solo per mantere una facciata di consenso, ma mai di dissenso, Nord e Sud sono diventate ormai due realta' cosi' diverse, non sono piu' sotto un unico cielo, nessuno vuole vivere con la paura, con la violenza, andare a vanti lavorare crescere figli liberi sotto il cielo del Sud.
La memoria si appiattisce, le notizie di bombe non interessano piu'.

E' ormai tempo di una svolta politica, dimostrare che una volta che la guerriglia e' finita, il passamontagna, il basco e la pistola sono in un cassetto a ricordo del passato.
Una nazione nuova capace di sostenersi, di creare un economia, lavoro, sicurezza.
Non piu' violenza ma confronto, dibattito, dialogo.

Questo fa paura. Non le bombe.

L'idea che la popolazione e' pronta a lavorare unita e crescere indipendente, con le sue leggi.
Quel brandello di terra che e' il nord irlanda, l'ultimo baluardo di una colonia e di un impero che non c'e' piu'. Non ha nemmeno piu' senso il cattolico, il protestante, ormai sono anni che vivono insieme, sono persone fanno parte di una sola comunita'.
Il nord e' diverso dal sud, non sembra nemmeno quasi possibile l'idea di riunire quel cielo, due realta' cosi' diverse.

Ma il nord deve continuamente accettare e sottostare alle leggi di un'altra nazione, sentirsi umiliato e violentato ogni giorno. Non e' accettabile che soli provi a dimostrare che puo' essere libero.
Al nord e' concessa solo l'espressione della violenza, dissidenti che mettono bombe, ogni reazione provoca una reazione e la grassa britannia ride e sguazza nella confusione e giustica la sua presenza. Una bomba a Derry o a Belfast non fa notizia, la gente gira lentamente la pagina e sospira che nulla e cambiato.
Ma la voce della gente che vuole cambiare?
Quella fa paura, l'idea di cooperazione, del futuro.

Ogni giorno muore un soldato in Afghanistan, una guerra mille miglia lontana, in nome della "democrazia occidentale".
Londra esporta la sua democrazia. Come la democrazia in Irlanda.

Loro dicono :- nessuno parli, mettete bombe, pagheremo il prezzo di qualche vita, a noi non interessa. L'importante e' il caos, voi non siete in grado di garantire la sicurezza nella vostra terra, noi siamo i liberatori, noi siamo l'occidente democratico quindi siamo la sicurezza. La vostra gente solo terroristi. Ringraziateci.

More arrests over Massereene murders

2009-11-17T10:53:00.002Z

Detectives investigating the murders of two soldiers and the attempted murders of five others at Massereene army base have made two more arrests.

A 39 year old man was detained in South Tyrone and a 55 year old woman was arrested in West Belfast.

The pair are being questioned at Antrim Serious crime suite.

They were detained as part of an ongoing search operation.

Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey were shot dead outside the base in Antrim back in March.

Ard Comhairle Members Detained, Harassed And One Arrested At Airport

2009-11-16T22:33:00.001Z

Ard Comhairle Members Detained, Harassed And One Arrested At Airport. Statement from Danny Mc Brearty, National Chairperson, Republican Network for Unity;

“Earlier today a Republican Network for Unity Ard Comhairle delegation, returning from a series of meetings in Glasgow, was detained at Belfast International Airport arrivals by a group of approximately twenty (20) uniformed and plain clothed RUC/PSNI members.

As one an Ard Comhairle member from Derry was being questioned, the plain clothed RUC/PSNI man menacingly told him that he was well aware of the make up of the individual’s family and of the details and names of his children.

The same plain clothed RUC/PSNI man then inquired if he had any information on those he was travelling with and/or of the RNU in general. Ard Comhairle member Tony (T.C.) Catney was then arrested. As another member of the RNU delegation tried speaking with T.C. in Gaeilge about what was happening, the group of RUC/PSNI surrounding them began laughing and making idiotic noises concerning the Irish language.

Openly handcuffed T.C. was lead through the main Airport terminal by four uniformed armed and two plain clothes RUC/PSNI men.

This arrest is but the latest in a catalogue of measures directed in recent months against the supporters and membership of the Republican Network for Unity. This has ranged from being the targets of continual stop and searches, raids upon our members and supporters homes, through press briefings which have been aimed at smearing individuals, T.C. being one of them.

The Republican Network for Unity resolves to continue to articulate and maintain resolute principled republican political opposition against the charade which is known as the ‘Good Friday Agreement’.

The Republican Network for Unity calls for the immediate release of Tony Catney.” Statement ends.

Extensive search of Maghaberry Prison is underway.

2009-11-12T22:56:00.002Z

From Northern Ireland Prison Service

Date Created - Thursday 12 November 09 @ 09:11

Due to operational reasons it has been necessary to suspend all domestic and legal visits to Maghaberry Prison until further notice.

The Prison Service regrets any inconvenience caused and all visits lost will be re-scheduled. The Prison Service will provide a further update when visits can be resumed.

http://www.niprisonservice.gov.uk/module.cfm/opt/1/area/News/page/news/caid/2/nid/577 CANCELLATION OF MAGHABERRY PRISON VISITS

“SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PRISONS PARAMOUNT” - RODFORD

Date Created - Thursday 12 November 09 @ 10:11

The Prison Service can confirm that an extensive search of Maghaberry Prison is underway. This has been commissioned by the Governor Steve Rodford in line with good management practice here and elsewhere. The search is in the interests of the safety of staff and prisoners and indeed others who may have occasion to visit the prison.

Governor Rodford said;

“Maghaberry is a high security prison. It is normal for searches to be undertaken within the prison and there are occasions when they will, unfortunately, as in this instance, lead to restrictions in the regime offered to prisoners. Every effort is being made to keep disruption to a minimum and I hope to be in a position to return to normal regime levels as soon as is practically possible.

“The safety and security of prisons are of paramount importance and this does require searches, both localised and extensive, to be carried out. I have commissioned such searches in my previous career in England and see this as an integral element of managing a high security prison.”

Omagh bombing 'could be repeated'

2009-11-12T22:44:00.003Z

Norman Baxter said intelligence was not shared with bomb investigators

Another attack like the Omagh bomb could happen because a blind eye is being turned to dissident republicans, a former senior policeman has claimed.

Norman Baxter, who led the investigation into the 1998 atrocity, said the government needed to recognise the danger posed by dissidents.

Mr Baxter made his comments to an MPs' committee investigating intelligence surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing.

He also warned them the border area of NI was again vulnerable to attack.

"We have a blind eye being turned to dissident activity and I have to say that the border is exposed again," he said."It would be remiss of me not to advise this committee that you could be sitting here in 10 years time discussing another atrocity because the government and the authorities have failed to acknowledge what is happening."

'Repeating mistakes'

Mr Baxter, who is also the former head of the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said there was a policy of running down security in Northern Ireland which dated back to the 1990s.He told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee it was inspired by political thinking and he warned that, in light of the dissident threat, the government was repeating the same mistakes now. He said the situation was like the "Emperor's New Clothes" where everyone carried on pretending everything was normal.

Referring to the Omagh bombing, he said the security policy at the time was a failure.

He told MPs that the government and the authorities "took their eye off the ball" before the Real IRA bomb attack on 15 August, which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.

Mr Baxter said that whilst he believed the bombing could not have been prevented, opportunities to intervene in the run up to Omagh were missed.

Dissident republicans were blamed for the 1998 bomb attack in Omagh

He also said intelligence was not made available to the team who were investigating the atrocity.

"I'm not in a position to know what was or was not being conducted by the intelligence community, but if such things as telephone numbers, either on the day or in the period leading up to Omagh, were available within the intelligence community that should have been shared with investigators at a very early stage," he said.

"It is my view that those numbers, or any information, on this gang which was in existence should have been shared with investigators."

Mr Baxter said there had been a string of earlier threats involving the same republican gang which were responsible for carrying out the attack.

"The investigators didn't have access to the intelligence, not to prevent those incidents, but to ensure that the investigators after those incidents would have had an opportunity to have the suspects arrested prior to the Omagh bomb," he said.

The former detective superintendent said the Real IRA team came from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

"These bombers had free reign from the middle of 1997 and the authorities, whoever they were, allowed that to continue," he said. He said there were earlier bombs in Markethill, Moira, Portadown, Armagh, Lisburn and Banbridge where the bombers could have been intercepted."At each one of those terrorist incidents there was a point of intervention which could have disrupted this terror gang," he added."There could have been opportunities to arrest this gang after Lisburn, after bombs in May (1998), July and even after Banbridge.

Dissident threat

"Omagh can't be seen as an individual incident, Omagh was the last in a series of incidents dating into the middle of the 1990s, the middle of 1997, and so there was a long lead-in to the Omagh explosion."Lady Sylvia Hermon, who sits on the committee, said Mr Baxter had made some serious allegations."That seems a very serious criticism of the PSNI and the former chief constable Sir Hugh Orde, who has consistently warned of the threat from dissidents," she said. At the 2007 trial of Sean Hoey, the only man to be charged with the Omagh bombing, the judge criticised the police handling of the investigation headed by Mr Baxter.He said evidence gathering had been completely disorganised and also questioned the validity of statements given by two police officers at the trial. The two police officers were later cleared of any criminal conduct by the Police Ombudsman.

Dissidents could become bigger than PIRA – claim

2009-11-12T22:41:00.003Z

AN angry full time reserve officer last night questioned the decision of Chief Constable Matt Baggott to dispense with their services when he believes dissidents "have the capability to become a bigger and more determined force than the PIRA".

The serving full time reservist, who is in his 40s, said he and his peers now believe their "scalps are being claimed for political gain" against the backdrop of the worsening security situation.

Speaking last night, the officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he knew that at least 300 FTR officers want to remain in their jobs rather than being made redundant. He said they were aghast that they were being cast adrift in spite of the security situation where he and his peers get "threats on a daily basis, messages to leave their homes and massive threats in the areas in which they are patrolling". He said: "On top of that we have seen three people killed in the last year, the partner of an officer who escaped a car bomb and much much more.

"How much more do they have to do and still the Chief Constable comes up with the idea he can do without us."

Earlier this month the Chief Constable confirmed that he will press on with plans to phase out the PSNI's full time reserve within 16 months. At the height of the Troubles there were more than 3,000 members of the reserve, now there are about 440. The DUP had listed retaining the reserve as a confidence building measure necessary for the devolution of policing and justice. However, Mr Baggott has said there was no operational need to keep it. The FTR officer said that, looking back at the history books, when the PIRA started up, "the messages given out by politicians then are much the same as the ones being given out today".

"Then the PIRA turned into one of the most dangerous organisations in the world," he said. "I think the dissidents have the capability of growing into an organisation more dangerous than the PIRA given they have people there to guide them and train them quickly. "There is no Army support now for the police and if this organisation gets its act together - and it is only by good luck they haven't - there are only youngsters in the PSNI with no understanding of how to deal with violence." The police officer said he and his peers always knew the full time reserve had a shelf life.

"I mean you have to understand this has been ongoing for a long time since the fundamental review which was the precursor to the Patten report. We were told that in peacetime there would no longer be any need for the FTR. "Then we had the Patten report which came up with the recommendation that when politics had stabilised and we moved into a peaceful environment we would be phased out, and we accepted that it was going to happen."However, over the last year we have seen the security situation plummet through the floor and still the Chief Constable advises it is possible to do away with 440 officers with vast experience and knowledge – all of this at a time when the Prime Minister holds out an olive branch that he could make the finance available to retain the full time reserve on a year on year basis."

"The youngest in the FTR, in their 30s, will have spent at least 14 years in the service. We are going to be up against youngsters in the job market just coming out of school. "On top of that any future employer has to look at us with the police baggage and whether they want to run the risk of employing us."

Councils plan could 'collapse'

2009-11-12T22:13:00.001Z

There are plans to amalgamate the 26 councils into 11 bigger areas

Plans to streamline Northern Ireland's 26 local councils could be on the verge of collapse, leading to elections next year, a Stormont minister has warned.

In a leaked letter obtained by the BBC, the Environment Minister Edwin Poots warned his Executive colleagues that time is running out to reach agreement. Last March, the Executive agreed to cut the 26 locals councils to 11 in a move seen as proof that the DUP and Sinn Fein could cut a deal on a big issue.

So far the programme has cost £5.5m.

Mr Poots's department is overseeing the shake-up, but in the letter he warned that failure to agree new council boundaries could mean he may not get the necessary legislation through by the end of this year.

It would be an outrageous disservice to our citizens to let all of this work run into the sand at this stage

John Mathews
Nilga

He predicted this could lead to the collapse of the whole local government reform programme which was meant to save the Executive more than £400m over the next 25 years.

'Waste of money'

In his letter, Mr Poots said he had a "strong sense" that the Northern Ireland Office would call local elections next year if he could not provide the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward with an assurance that the Executive would bring forward legislation to implement the new local government boundaries by the end of 2009. He said the timetable for the proposed Local Government (Reorganisation) Bill was "already challenging" and stressed that agreement needed to be reached by the next meeting of the Executive. The minister pointed out that failure to agree on the boundaries would be a waste of time, money and effort which had already been expended on the programme.

Mr Poots has sent a letter of warning to his Executive colleagues

He added that it would also cause "considerable damage" to the reputation of the Executive. The Environment Department refused to comment on correspondence between ministers.

Last month, it emerged that more than £90m has so far been spent on the Review of Public Administration, which also includes reforms to the health and education sectors. Alliance Party leader David Ford said the letter "calls into question the integrity of the whole boundary process". "The whole point of having an impartial Boundary Commissioner is to give the process full credibility and ensure buy-in from all sides," he said.

Fake gun closes Derry City centre

2009-11-10T22:31:00.002Z

An imitation gun sparked a security alert that closed parts of Derry city centre today, police have confirmed.

Army technical officers were at the scene for much of the morning after police were alerted to a suspicious object at Harvey Street.

Waterloo Street and William Street were both closed off to the public.

The alert ended at 2.30 p.m.

A police spokeswoman said the alert was a hoax.

"On making further enquiries, we have established this was an imitation gun – we do not believe it was left there intentionally."

SDLP Councillor John Tierney said the alert caused a "huge degree of disruption and frustration to the residents of the area who had to be evacuated."

He added: "It also caused disruption and frustration to local businesses and shoppers who were making their way into the city centre for the day.

"Those people who were responsible owe the people of the area an explanation as to why they carried out this senseless act."

Sinn Fein councillor Patricia Logue said: "The disruption caused by the hoax device served no purpose other that to disrupt the lives of the local population and tarnish the name of our city.

"It is obvious that the people behind such hoax devices are out of touch with the will of the vast majority of the people of Derry who want to move forward without this type of disruption."

Top republican's assets seized

2009-11-10T22:29:00.001Z

The assets of a south Armagh man, who was accused in the House of Commons of being one of the IRA's most ruthless members, has had his assets seized by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

SOCA has been granted a court order to take control of properties and bank accounts belonging to Sean Gerard Hughes of Aghadavoyle Road, Drumintee.

East Belfast DUP MP and now party leader Peter Robinson used parliamentary privilege in December 2002 to link Hughes to the South Quay bombing at London's Canary Wharf in 1996, which killed two people and brought the previous IRA ceasefire to an end.

Sean Hughes has denied being a member of the IRA Army Council.

The agency claimed the assets came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud.

The assets frozen include eight houses in south Armagh, an apartment in south Belfast, the proceeds of the sale of three other houses in south Armagh and a number of bank accounts.

The agency has also taken control of assets belonging to 10 other people in the south Armagh area, including Mr Hughes wife, Annette.

But Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy has hit out at SOCA and criticised the decision to stage police raids at the south Armagh properties.

"Sean Hughes is a sound republican. He has spent his entire adult life engaged in the struggle for Irish unity and independence," said Mr Murphy.

"He has championed the peace process and the campaign to end political policing. There have been numerous attempts over the years to smear Sean's character."

He added: "The raids today on Sean's home and those of a number of his relatives have caused deep anger in south Armagh. There is no justification for the deliberate targeting of Sean and his family today.

"Sean has been charged with nothing. Neither have any members of his family. It is unacceptable."

Christmas campaign for POWs

2009-11-01T13:54:00.002Z

Message from irishfreedomnews Forum.

This year we after talking to different POW groups we have decided to run a Secret Santa campaign.

We realise that things are tough for the POWs and their families all year round, but when Christmas comes around they get even tougher and the children and families suffer. We can help ease this.

We realise that in this tough ecomonic climate things are tough for everyone but we would like you to take a minute and think of how you can help the POWs and their families. With even a small donation you can help make Christmas a little bit better for the POWs, their children and their families.

Your donations will go into a fund and on the 18th of December 2009 this money will be divided up between all the POW support groups and given to them to then divide among their POWs. It will be a collective Christmas present to all POWs currently held and interned in Ireland from the members and supporters of IrishFreedomNews forum.

Each donator will be issued with a reciept and, if permission is given, their username and amount, along with total donations recieved and total given to each group, will be sent to all other donators when the campaign is finished. All financial dealings will be transparent and liable to disclosure upon request.

Please contact IrishFreedomNews via PM or via email (irishfreedomnews@gmail.com) or contact Admin at irishrepublicannetworknews@gmail.com for details on how you can donate, help or for further information.

Families evacuated after security alert

2009-11-01T13:46:00.002Z

Some residents have had to leave their homes in west Belfast as emergency services attended a security alert on Saturday night.

Army technical officers were called to examine a suspicious object that was discovered on the windowsill of a house at St James' Crescent just after 7.15pm.
Police have confirmed that 30 homes were evacuated.
A number of roads in the area were also closed.

The object was declared a hoax on Sunday morning.

Government trying to buy off DUP: Kelly

2009-11-01T13:39:00.001Z

Republicans produced a letter signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and addressed to DUP leader Peter Robinson offering £20 million to former part-time police officers.
Sinn Fein branded it a bit to “buy off” DUP support; they also said that the letter was sent apparently mistakenly, to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister at Stormont where the mail is accessed by both Sinn Fein and the DUP.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/government-trying-to-buy-off-dup-kelly-14546351.html#ixzz0VcBacqVs

Gaddafi: deal done over IRA victims

2009-10-26T11:35:00.002Z

Victims of IRA terrorism were given fresh hope of compensation from the Libyan government today after Colonel Gaddafi indicated that a deal had been struck with Britain.

In a rare interview, Libya’s leader Muammar al-Gaddafi said that “an agreement or a legal agreement” had been concluded between his country and the British government — boosting hopes of official recognition for Libya’s role in arming the IRA at the height of the Troubles.

Speaking to Sky News in an exchange which was broadcast this morning, Col Gaddafi was asked by reporter Colin Brazier about the delegation of MPs who have been putting Tripoli under pressure to compensate victims of the IRA.

When pressed on whether a deal had actually been struck, the Libyan leader replied: “Yeah, yeah. So it closes the chapters of the past. There will be no chance of any pursuit of legal or previous actions, so that is it.”

Brazier then asked that, with compensation paid to the American victims of the Lockerbie bombing and now that it seemed there was a deal on Northern Ireland, what was Col Gaddafi’s message to the family police officer Yvonne Fletcher who was shot dead outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984.

He replied: “She is not an enemy to us and we are sorry all the time. She was on duty to protect the Libyan Embassy. This problem should be solved — but who did it? It is always like a persistent matter.”

Col Gaddafi supplied arms and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles and campaigners launched a class action for compensation.

The Sky News interview covered a wide range of topics, including the IRA issue, the Barack Obama Nobel Peace Prize (which Gaddafi said was premature, “with some sort of hypocrisy and sycophancy”), the 1984 shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, the Iran weapons of mass destruction and the Israel-Palestine situation.

Oglaigh na heireann has claimed responsibility for the bomb in east Belfast

2009-10-19T19:21:00.002+01:00

Reports to a newspaper have claimed the group, using a recognised codeword, said that it was a mercury tilt-switch-type device designed to cause maximum damage to the passenger side of the vehicle.

This attack is believed to be the first time ONH has used an under-car bomb, suggesting that someone with that expertise may have joined its ranks.

Under-car bombs were widely used during the Troubles by the IRA and INLA, and at a later stage by loyalists.

In its statement, the republican organisation said a serving police officer who works as a dog handler was the intended target.

The 38-year-old woman was pulled from her mangled sports car at 7.30am on Friday and taken to hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

Last night a PSNI spokeswoman said they were aware of the claim made to a newspaper and investigations are continuing.

"This is an active and robust investigation which is ongoing and we urge anyone with information about the incident to contact police immediately," she said.

The attack, in a quiet residential street just half a mile from PSNI headquarters, is said to signal a change of tactic for dissident republicans.

While ONH claimed responsibility for failed bomb attempts in Co Down and south Armagh, its violence in Belfast has to date been confined to paramilitary-style 'punishment' attacks.

After Friday's murder bid, DUP leader and East Belfast MP Peter Robinson said: "Those responsible have nothing to offer and must face the full rigors of the law."

Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "Attempts like this to derail the peace process must not be allowed to succeed."

NIO Security Minister Paul Goggins said the attack was repulsive.

"Mercifully, this woman escaped with minor injuries but those who planted this bomb had murder in mind. They do not care who they kill," he said.

In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission reported that the new republican group, ONH, had been formed, after a split from the CIRA.

At that time the report claimed that ONH was responsible for an assault, several hoax devices and robbery of a post office.

The IMC's 13th report claimed that ONH "has become more dangerously active", citing several pipe bomb attacks and another larger bombing.
These were the first explosive devices ONH had deployed.

The group is believed to have been responsible for an attempted robbery in west Belfast in January, during which a family was held at gunpoint.

In September, it was reported that the group was believed to have been behind the planting of a 600lb bomb close to the Irish border in south Armagh.

A 17-year-old was shot in the legs in a paramilitary-style attack in Derry

2009-10-18T14:42:00.001+01:00

Detectives said five men forced their way into a house at Virginia Court in the Gobnascale area at 10.00 pm last night.
Two of the men confronted the teenager in an upstairs bedroom and shot him twice.
The gang escaped the scene in a waiting car.
---------------------------------------------

Is this republicanism?

Sectarian attack on Rasharkin protestant home

2009-10-18T14:36:00.002+01:00

The home of a protestant family living in Rasharkin has been targeted in a sectarian attack.

Paint was thrown over a car, the rear window of the vehicle was broken and a back window at the property in the Church Road area was also smashed just after 12am on Saturday.

It is understood the family have been singled out before.

Local DUP Councillor John Finlay described the attack as "outlandish".

"The vast majority of people living in Rasharkin whether they are Catholic or Protestant abhor this situation but there is a small element of people who are determined to drive Protestants out of Rasharkin," he said.

He has called for anyone with information to pass it onto police.

Huge 600lb bomb abandoned in co. Tyrone

2009-10-16T01:24:00.002+01:00

Controlled explosion on alert van

The van was abandoned on a bridge in the village of Clady

A controlled explosion has been carried out on a van in the County Tyrone village of Clady, after police were told a 600lb bomb had been left in it.

The vehicle was abandoned on a bridge in the village on Wednesday night with its hazard warning lights on. Two men, aged 28 and 34, were arrested in Derry in connection with the alert and are held at Antrim serious crime suite.

Meanwhile, another alert in Limavady has ended.

An object found outside a house at Meadowvale Park turned out to be innocuous.

Telephone warning

Police received the warning about the Clady bomb by telephone. Locals noticed a van parked on the Urney Road Bridge at about 2100 BST.
The security alert began at around 9pm on Wednesday night when a Grey Renault van was abandoned at the Clady Bridge which crosses the River Finn into Co Donegal.

Independent councillor Gerard Foley was one of the first to come across the van.

"We stood and looked at it for about 10 or 15 minutes and we said, 'there's something not right here'," he said.

"So we cordoned off the street and put cones across the road, and then we phoned the police.

"There is no support in this community for what is happening, (people) don't want this in Clady at all."
Clady security alert
Roads in the Irish Republic leading to Clady have also been closed

Ulster Unionist councillor Derek Hussey said he "unreservedly condemned" the disruption caused by the incident.

"The closure of a cross-border road has caused a great deal of traffic disruption.

"An incident such as this only serves to heighten concerns within the community, particularly in the context of the recent dissident activity across the province," he said.

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said that 14 hours had now passed since the police first received the warning.

"Obviously I would like to see this situation cleared up as quickly as possible.
"The residents don't know what's going on, and they're apprehensive.
"They need to be kept informed as to what's going to happen here.
"Whoever parked the van there or planted the device, if there is a device, really needs to catch themselves on.
"It's a disgrace," he said.

"What is the purpose of it?" Sinn Fein west Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty, asked. "What is the value of it? There's no value that we can see, no purpose. They have no mandate, no agenda that they're explaining to anybody and the whole thing is totally senseless," Mr Doherty added.

"It's very concerning for me, for the entire community that this sort of activity is returning to our street," UUP Councillor Derek Hussey told UTV.

Statement from the INLA Prisoners, Portlaoise Gaol.

2009-10-14T15:37:00.000+01:00

13th October 2009

We, the members of the Tony McClelland Cumann, E4 Landing Portlaoise Gaol, unanimously support the leadership of the Republican Socialist Movement and in doing so fully endorse the ongoing developments presently taking place.

We fully support the leadership of the Irish National Liberation Army and the decision that “The armed struggle is over.”

We look forward with confidence as our movement continues to work towards achieving our ultimate goal of establishing a 32 County Irish Socialist Republic.

Saoirse go deo.

Paul Kelly, Gerard Mackin, Eugene Kelly, Jonathan Keogh, Noel Mooney, Paddy Walls, Owen Claile, Dennis Dwyer, Neil Myles, John McCrossan, Gerard Kelleher, Thomas Kelly, Barry Petticrew, David O’Connor

Sinn Fein accept the Gordon Brown's offer

2009-10-13T18:53:00.001+01:00

SINN Fein have accepted a financial offer from Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the devolution of policing.

Mr Brown submitted in written format to the DUP and Sinn Fein the terms of any prospective deal on Monday.

Both parties have been discussing the matter internally, with Sinn Fein now likely to tell the Prime Minister in person of their decision.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will hold a further with the Prime Minister in Downing Street on Tuesday. Earlier, the PSNI denied a claim by republicans that Chief Constable Matt Baggott had approved the financial package.

They claimed Mr Baggott believed the Prime Minister's offer was a "good package".

However, Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said: "The Chief Constable has not had sight of the details of the settlement for the devolution of policing and justice.

"However we can state that we are encouraged by the progress to date and we look forward to working with the Northern Ireland Policing Board on taking the proposal forward.

"Meanwhile, speaking at a dinner for the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust in Belfast on Monday, Mr Robinson admitted the deal on the table "goes beyond anything on offer previously".

"The issues affect every home in Northern Ireland and I do not exaggerate when I say the difference between an effective and properly funded police service and one starved of resources is, in some cases, the difference between life and death," he said.

"That is why my approach to devolution has been focused on obtaining the best possible settlement from the Treasury."The DUP have maintained the necessary community confidence must be in place before justice powers are devolved to Stormont.

INLA end campaign

2009-10-11T16:31:00.001+01:00

The Irish National Liberation Army have announced an end to its 30-year campaign of republican violence.

The organisation responsible for some of the most infamous attacks of the Troubles used a graveside oration outside Dublin to confirm that its "armed struggle is over".

But there was uncertainty over whether or not the group which killed more than 100 people during the Troubles was prepared to decommission its illegal arsenal of weapons, after the statement read to supporters failed to promise a disposal of arms.

A representative of the Irish Republican Socialist Party Martin McMonagle told the event: "The Republican Socialist Movement has been informed by the INLA that following a process of serious debate, consultation and analysis, it has concluded that the armed struggle is over.

"The objective of a 32 county socialist republic will be best achieved exclusively through political, peaceful means."

He added that the grouping continued to oppose the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 as a platform for achieving Irish unity, but would restrict its opposition to the accord to purely peaceful means.

On the question of decommissioning INLA arms, however, the IRSP spokesman later added that there was no announcement on decommissioning to coincide with the statement.

He said the IRSP believed that INLA violence was at an end, but on the question of decommissioning added: "That would be a matter for the INLA."

Confirmation that the splinter group, responsible for attacks such as the murder of Conservative MP Airey Neave in 1979, is to formally end its campaign comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday violent republicanism has no support among Irish-Americans.

The Secretary of State has left Britain to hold a series of engagements in Dublin, before travelling to Belfast for talks with Stormont political leaders as they broker an historic deal that it is hoped will see republicans and unionists share responsibility for running the region's justice system.

'sinicism'

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has spoken following the news.

"I know there will be sinicism given the histroy of that organistion, perhaps that is understandable but if the actions which are required to follow through on the announcement actually happen then that will be to the good, and it is another step"

Police attacked by 150 strong crowd in Aramgh

2009-10-11T16:27:00.001+01:00

Police attacked by 150 strong crowd

A crowd of around 150 people have attacked police officers in Armagh injuring 10.

The disturbance started on the Friary road at around 2am on Saturday morning.

Officers reciived cuts and bruising to the face, upper body ,backs and legs after they were kicked and punched.

Their injuries are not believed to be serious.

They called for back-up, but reinforcements were also targeted. Litter bins were used to smash the windows of police cars.

Police used CS spray during the trouble. Officers sustained cuts and bruises, but none were seriously hurt.

Four police vehicles had their windows, mirrors, smashed.

Calm was restored to the area at around 3am.

Funeral gunmen 'must be arrested'

2009-10-09T12:12:00.005+01:00

Gunshots fired during the funeral of a dissident republican was a symbol of an "absolute failure of security", a victims' campaigner has said.

Willie Frazer from Families Acting for Innocent Relatives demanded to know why no action was taken.

Mr Frazer said: "The fact that three armed terrorists can be allowed to engage in their criminality in such a public manner must be challenged. "While every family has the right to bury their dead and grieve this cannot be turned into a sick spectacle. "This is clearly a glorification of and indeed an actual act of terrorism. "Therefore we expect that all those especially the individuals who were masked and others in a uniform acting as a guard of honour, be identified, arrested questioned charged and prosecuted for their participation," he said.

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said it was "incumbent on the PSNI to thoroughly investigate these shows of republican paramilitarism and, in particular, the unlawful firing of shots".

(NDA: I think it’s more important investigate WHY and HOW he’s dead in police custody)

Mr Brady, who was serving the final part of a sentence for the murder of a police officer during the Troubles, was found dead in a cell at Strand Road PSNI station in Londonderry on Saturday.

It is understood that the 40-year-old took his own life but his family have expressed concerns about the circumstances of his death and the Police Ombudsman is now investigating.

During Thursday's funeral, John Brady's coffin was draped in a tricolour and a black beret and gloves were placed on top. Several hundred mourners clapped and cheered after four men in balaclavas fired a volley of shots outside his sister's home on the Drumrallagh estate in Strabane.

A police helicopter was flying overhead during the incident. The PSNI said they were aware of the incident and inquiries were ongoing.

From: BBC news

The guard of honour around the coffin of John Brady

2009-10-08T18:57:00.006+01:00

The four masked men are from the three Republican organizations RIRA, CIRA, INLA and PIRA, they gave the last salute to John Brady.

A volley of shots has been fired over the coffin of the republican who died at a PSNI station on Saturday.

2009-10-08T18:27:00.013+01:00

Four men dressed in paramilitary style uniform and black masks flanked John Brady's coffin at his sister's home on the Drumrallagh estate in Strabane.

One man shouted orders in Irish and three fired shots into the air over the coffin, which was draped in a tricolour with a black beret and gloves on top.

The coffin was then taken to Immaculate Conception Church for Requiem Mass.

Several hundred mourners clapped and cheered after the shots were fired and a police helicopter flew overhead. Later, Fr Declan Boland told mourners at Requiem Mass that his family had a right to know exactly how he died. Fr Boland said investigations into his death must be thorough.

It is understood that Brady took his own life at Strand Road PSNI station in Londonderry on Saturday. He was arrested on Friday over an alleged assault. His family said they were concerned over the circumstances of his death, which is now being investigated by the police ombudsman. The 40-year-old was on weekend parole from prison when he was arrested. He was serving the final part of a sentence for the murder of a police officer during the Troubles, to which he pleaded guilty in 1991. RUC Reserve Constable David Black died after an under-car booby-trap bomb exploded near his home on the outskirts of Strabane 20 years ago.

'Revoked'

Brady was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement but his licence was later revoked and he was returned to prison in November 2003. It is understood that, before his latest arrest, he was due for release in a matter of weeks. Last year, Brady was charged with putting a bomb under the car of a former RIR soldier in 2002. However, the charge of attempted murder was dropped over concerns about the reliability of low copy number DNA evidence, which had been criticised during the Omagh bomb trial.

Army braced for imminent attack in Northern Ireland - Bases on high alert over bomb intelligence

2009-10-07T12:27:00.000+01:00

The security forces have been placed on heightened alert after receiving intelligence of a dissident republican plot to attack a Northern Ireland Army base, the Belfast Telegraph has learned.
Security chiefs are concerned that a mortar attack on one of the bases is imminent and have placed all Army personnel on high alert.
It is understood military personnel were briefed about the developments over the weekend. An MoD source told the Belfast Telegraph: “We have all been placed on a high state of alert and have been warned that a mortar attack on any one of the barracks is imminent.”
The MoD declined to discuss the latest threat saying that matters of security in Northern Ireland are a matter for the PSNI. He added: “For obvious reasons we do not discuss operational security.”
The PSNI said: “We do not comment on specific intelligence matters and no inference should be drawn from this.”
The security forces have been on heightened alert since the March murders of two soldiers at Massereene Army barracks in Antrim and PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon.
The dissident republican terror threat remains “severe” and all three dissident terror groups — the Real IRA, Continuity IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann — have intensified their activities in recent weeks.
Oglaigh na hEireann was behind a 600lb bomb attached to a command wire stretching into the Republic which was defused by the Army in south Armagh last month. Security sources said the bomb was one of the most sophisticated to have been assembled by any of the dissident terror groups in recent years.
It is understood they were investigating whether a former veteran Provisional IRA bomb-maker from Belfast had defected to one of the dissident organisations and was helping to improve its bomb-making capability.
The Continuity IRA is believed to be behind two nights of violence on the streets of Lurgan last month when hijacked burning vehicles blocked the Dublin-Belfast rail line. The disturbances followed the jailing of three Continuity IRA men for 15 years in connection with a mortar bomb plot aimed at killing police officers.
In Londonderry the Real IRA left bombs at the homes of relatives of a Catholic PSNI officer. Catholic recruits to the police remain among the prime targets of dissident terror groups. A bomb exploded outside the home of the policeman's parents in the Shantallow area of the city. The dissident terror group then left a second device outside the same PSNI officer's sister's home in the Kylemore Park area of Derry.
No one was injured in the Shantallow blast but a car was damaged. Several families were forced to flee their homes close to the second house targeted in Kylemore Park.
The Real IRA has also been responsible for at least six so-called ‘punishment’ shootings in Derry over the last few months.
In August the Real IRA took over the south Armagh village of Meigh, where armed men wearing masks set up a roadblock to stop traffic. During the incident a PSNI mobile patrol spotted the Real IRA unit but withdrew from the village fearing that their presence would provoke a gun battle.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/army-braced-for-imminent-attack-in-northern-ireland-14523083.html#ixzz0TFTOaJB6

Plinths dedicate to the "glourios memory" of UDA, UVF, and Red Hand Commando

2009-10-06T19:59:00.001+01:00

The Department of Social Development part-funded a "garden of reflection" in Bangor in which loyalist paramilitaries are honoured LOYALIST paramilitary plinths placed in a government-funded County Down memorial garden "should be removed", it has been claimed.
Serious concerns have been raised after it emerged £74,000 of public money was used to create a Garden of Reflection in Bangor's Kilcooley estate.The project, which was funded by the Department of Social Development, with money distributed by the Housing Executive under a neighbourhood renewal project, is linked to the removal of murals and graffiti in the area.However, government officials were angered when three black stones bearing inscriptions dedicated to the "glorious memory" of the UDA, UVF, and Red Hand Commando appeared in the garden without their consent.Green Party MLA Brian Wilson said the plinths must now be removed.He added: "I have often been approached by residents expressing concern that these organisations have tried to impose their will on the people of the estate. "These residents want to move on and not continually be drawn back to the darkest times of the Troubles."North Down Alliance MLA Stephen Farry welcomed what he described as "the belated recognition by the Department of Social Development and the NI Housing Executive that something went wrong with their plans for a community garden".A spokesman for the Housing Executive said it had been agreed the Garden of Reflection would have no paramilitary connotation.He added: "We are clearly very concerned that the full funding conditions have not been met."However, the spokesman said this should not undermine the progress that has been made in the removal of paramilitary murals, insignia and plaques from the estate.All but one of the major paramilitary murals in Kilcooley have been removed in recent months.Speaking to the News Letter, Bangor Pastor Mark Gordon said it was his understanding the garden had been designed to honour those killed in the First and Second World Wars as well as those killed in the Troubles.Pastor Gordon, who led prayers at the garden dedication ceremony, said: "The garden was built for people to come to reflect on the loss of their loved ones and that is the purpose it should serve."One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

Republican die in police custody

2009-10-06T19:54:00.000+01:00

Lorna Brady sister of the late John Brady sheds a tear during the protest outside Strand road PSNI Station. (0709JB03)

Hardline republicans staged a protest outside Derry's Strand Road PSNI station yesterday after the death of prominent Strabane republican John Brady in police custody there at the weekend.
The protest vigil was organised by the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) and was also attended by members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Republican Network for Unity.

Around 100 republicans, many holding black flags, stood in the middle of Stand Road outside the PSNI station carrying posters reading 'Justice for John Brady.' Relatives and friends of Mr. Brady were also in attendance.

At the protest, Willie Gallagher from the IRSP blamed the PSNI for Mr Brady's death.

"The finger of blame is pointing firmly at the police," he told the crowd.

Mr Brady's family have said they do not believe he took his own life.
Speaking from her Strabane home, his sister Lorna told the 'Journal' yesterday: "John would not have done this and if he did I want to know what they did to drive him to do it."

Meanwhile, West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty called for a full investigation into the Strabane republican's death. "This is a tragic loss for the family. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to them," he said.

"There are obviously serious issues of concern about how John Brady died during daylight hours while in police custody. While the full details surrounding his death are unclear it is vital that there is a full and open investigation by the Police Ombudsman," he added.

A post mortem on the body of the 40 year-old was due to be carried out yesterday and he is expected to be buried in Strabane on Thursday.

Lisbon Treaty passed with decisive 67% in favour

2009-10-03T19:09:00.002+01:00

Ireland has passed the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty with an overwhelming majority of 67 per cent in favour as just two of the 43 constituencies voted against it.

The referendum was carried with 67.1 per cent of the electorate voting in favour, reflecting a 20.5 per cent swing to the Yes side since the June 2008 referendum.

In the first Lisbon poll, the No side secured 53.4 per cent of the vote.Yesterday's turnout was 58 per cent with 1,214,268 people voting for the treaty and 594,606 voting against. This was higher than the 53.13 per cent turnout for the first referendom on Lisbon.Dublin South recorded the highest support for the treaty, with 82 per cent of ballots in favour.

This was closely followed by Dún Laoghaire, which had an 81 per cent Yes vote, a 17.7 per cent swing compared to last year.

Across all 12 Dublin consitutencies support for the treaty was 69 per cent, with a turnout of 59.3 per cent.

Tipperary South was first constituency to declare a result today, reporting resounding majority in favour of the treaty just before 1pm. It was quickly followed by Yes majorities across the State as almost all constituencies reported significant swings in favour of the treaty.

The counting, which began at 9.00am, was completed by 4.30pm.

The exceptions to the national trend were Donegal North East and Donegal South West, which rejected the treaty, the latter by a narrow margin of 50.3 per cent against. Donegal South West is the constituency of Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan. Both Donegal constituencies rejected the treaty last year.No campaigners conceded defeat within hours of ballot boxes being opened this morning as the extent of their defeat quickly became apparent.

In the first referendum on Lisbon on June 12th, 2008, the treaty was rejected by 53.4 per cent to 46.6 per cent.In the previous EU referendum on October 19th, 2002, the Nice Treaty was approved by 62.89 per cent to 37.11 per cent. In an earlier referendum on June 7th, 2001, Nice was rejected by 53.87 per cent to 46.13 per cent.

Lisbon Treaty set to be passed by decisive majority

2009-10-03T14:33:00.004+01:00

The Lisbon referendum looks set to be passed by a substantial majority with 20 out of the 22 constituencies that have declared a result supporting the treaty.
Shortly before 1pm Tipperary South became the first constituency to declare a result with a resounding majority in favour of the treaty.
This was quickly followed by Yes majorities in Kildare North, Sigo/North Leitrim, Sligo/Monaghan, Clare, Tipperary North and Waterford.

The only two constituencies to reject the treaty so far are Donegal North East and Donegal South West, the latter by a narrow margin of 50.3 per cent. Both Donegal constituencies rejected the treaty last year.

No campaigners conceded defeat within hours of ballot boxes being opened at 9am as the extent of the move in favour of the treaty became apparent.
Libertas leader Declan Ganley told reporters at the main Dublin counting centre this morning the result was “a very convincing win".

Mr Ganley also accused the Yes campaign of playing on the fears of many voters, particular in connection with jobs and said he would come back next October with the Yes for Jobs posers “and see how we are all doing”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin described today as a good day for Ireland.

"I am delighted for the country. It looks like a convincing win for the Yes side on this occasion." He said the guarantees secured by the Government had played a crucial role.
"We are in a very difficult economic position and this is an essential first step towards economic recovery," Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said.

While the official result will not be released until around 5.30pm informal tallies put the Yes camp ahead with around 60 per cent of the vote.

This compares to the 53 per cent No vote on last year’s referendum.

Anti-Lisbon group Cóir, which also played a prominent role in the No campaign, also conceded early and said voters appeared to have approved the referendum. "It looks like a Yes vote," Richard Greene, spokesman for Cóir.

Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein vice-president and anti-Lisbon campaigner: "This vote does not mean that the Government has a mandate for Nama or the upcoming budget and let them not think that or fall into that false sense of security. People still want change."

Dublin South has recorded the highest support for the treaty so far with 82 per cent of ballots in favour.

This was closely followed by the result from Dun Laoghaire which was also 80 per cent Yes.

ITALIAN VERSION

L’Irlanda ha quasi deciso… 22 delle 20 circoscrizioni sembrerebbero supportare la ratificazione del trattato di Lisbona.

Appena dopo l’una di oggi pomeriggio Tipperary South e’ stata la prima circoscrizione ad ottenere la maggiornaza dei SI. Seguita subito dopo da: Kildare North, Sigo/North Leitrim, Sligo/Monaghan, Clare, Tipperary North e Waterford.

Dublino Sud ha registrato il piu’ alto supporto in favore del trattato (82%) seguito da Dun Laoghaire che si attesta all’80 per il SI.

Il fronte del NO si e’ espresso con una ristretta maggioranza (50.3%) nelle sole DUE circoscrizioni in Donegal North East and Donegal South West,
Il ministro degli esteri irlandese Micheál Martin ha dichiarato che oggi e’ un ottimo giorno per l’Irlanda.
“ sono contento per la nazione, sembrerebbe un convinta vittoria del SI in questa occasione”.
Il ministro delle finanze Brian Lenihan dichiara “siamo in una difficile situazione economica e questo e’ il primo passo verso il recupero”

Mentre I risultati officiali non saranno resi noti fino alle 5.30 pm le proiezioni vedono il SI attestarsi circa al 60% delle preferenze.

L’ultimo referendum ha visto la vittoria del NO per il 53%.

Il gruppo Anti-Lisbona Cóir, che ha giocato un ruolo prominente nella campagna del NO, dichiara che bisogna aspettare la fine dello scrutinio delle schede e il portavoce del gruppo, ," Richard Greene, aggiunge “Sembrerebbe un SI” .

Clinton visit 'within weeks'

2009-10-01T18:47:00.000+01:00

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hopes to visit Northern Ireland "within weeks", it has been confirmed.
Secretary of State Shaun Woodward announced on Thursday that Mrs Clinton will come to the Province with expectations to "help look at the jobs, opportunities and investment that American can bring to Northern Ireland".

Earlier this year, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said that his party would "look forward to positively engaging" with Mrs Clinton if she visited the Province, but warned it would not be appropriate for the former First Lady to pressure unionists into accepting the devolution of policing and justice powers.

"It is vital that Northern Ireland takes every opportunity to build good relations with the Obama administration, particularly with regards to investment and economic opportunity," he said.

"Obviously those planning any visit by Mrs Clinton would have to take great care not to embroil her in the very sensitive issue of the devolution of policing and justice, which will be a matter of intense debate in Northern Ireland this autumn."

The DUP and Sinn Fein are currently at loggerheads over the issue of policing, with First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness embroiled in a public spat on the matter.

Meanwhile, the new US economic envoy to Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly, will have talks with the local parties on Thursday.

Police search three-year-old child

2009-10-01T18:30:00.000+01:00

Children as young as three have been stopped and searched by the PSNI, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
Almost 2,300 under-16s have been stopped by police in the last 12 months — an average of six every day and more than double the previous year’s figures.
That includes 27 who were aged nine and under. The youngest was just three years old, according to figures obtained by this newspaper.
Criminal experts said the huge rise in stop and searches involving children pointed to a change in policy by police, however the PSNI insisted the powers were used “only when necessary”.
The PSNI would not be drawn on its reason for the increase so it is not known if the searches could be related to a rise in dissident activity or a change in the way such figures are recorded.
According to figures released under Freedom of Information, some 2,299 under-16s were stopped and searched by the PSNI during 2008/09. That is more than double the 1,066 stop and searches carried out in the previous 12 months.
The age of criminal responsibility in UK law is 10.
Children’s Commissioner Patricia Lewsley said she intends to write to the new Chief Constable Matt Baggott to ensure that young people were treated appropriately.
“I recognise the potential for concern around the issue of young people being stopped and searched,” she said.
"I will be raising the matter with the Chief Constable, including the need for the PSNI to use child-friendly ways of explaining stop and search procedures to young people.”
Paul O’Connor from the Pat Finucane Centre said the PSNI was in danger of alienating a new generation of people by over-using its powers.
“This simply beggars belief. It doesn’t take a PhD to realise that you are going to alienate an entirely new generation through the rampant use of stop and search powers,” he said.

Stop and search - the law

Police can stop and search someone under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 — more commonly known as PACE.
Officers can stop and search an individual or vehicle in any public place if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they will find stolen or prohibited articles.
Section 44 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000 also allows stop and search if officers have a reasonable suspicion people may be involved in terrorist activity.
During 2008/09 there were in excess of 18,000 stop and searches using PACE legislation in Northern Ireland, and recent figures also show a marked increase in the use of stop and search under the Terrorism Act.
Police used special powers 2,488 times in the last quarter of 2008, 245% up on the same period in 2007.
The Policing Board's Human Rights Committee scrutinises the PSNI’s use of stop and search powers.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/police-search-threeyearold-child-14517575.html#ixzz0ShrAlnHH

Loyalist (?) Bomb scare halts policing meeting

2009-09-30T01:51:00.000+01:00

The building was evacuated while searches were carried out
A bomb warning has led to the cancellation of a District Policing Partnership meeting in County Antrim.
The meeting was due to begin at 1900 GMT on Tuesday at a community centre in the village of Mosside.
No organisation was mentioned in the bomb warning which was received at 1815 GMT. The area was cordoned off and a controlled explosion was carried out.
Moyle DPP chairman Oliver McMullan of Sinn Fein said he believed loyalist paramilitaries were responsible.
"I am very disappointed as I have been looking forward to giving the people of Mosside the opportunity to engage with the DPP at a public meeting for the first time," he said.
"This would have allowed the community to feed their concerns and opinions into the Area Policing Plan, as other local communities have done before.
"We will not be deterred by the actions of those who have no support or mandate and will rearrange the meeting at the earliest opportunity."
Up to 14 homes were evacuated at one stage, and some residents took shelter in a church hall.
District Policing Partnership meetings have been often disrupted in the past. Last week, dissident republicans forced their way into a meeting in a Londonderry hotel, blowing whistles and throwing stink bombs.
The partnerships were set up in 2002 under reforms resulting from the Patten Report.
The partnerships fall under the auspices of the Policing Board, which holds the PSNI as a whole to account.
They are made up of councillors and members of the local community, who work alongside police District Command Units in trying to meet policing needs.

Alert disrupts policing meeting

2009-09-30T01:36:00.001+01:00

A security alert in Co Antrim has forced the cancellation of a district policing partnership meeting.

The security operation was launched following a telephone bomb warning to a local charity claiming a device had been left behind Mosside Community Centre in Ballymoney, where the District Policing Partnership meeting was due to take place.

Around 14 homes were evacuated as a result of the alert, and army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion.
Chair of the DPP, Sinn Fein Councillor Oliver McMullan said he was very "disappointed" at the disruption.

Dissidents are criminals - Baggott

2009-09-29T14:58:00.000+01:00

ULSTER's new chief constable Matt Baggott has vowed to treat dissident republicans as criminals. Speaking in Dublin after his first meeting with his counterpart in the Irish Republic, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, the police chief argued that terrorism and criminality are interlinked.

"I think it's very helpful to see it as a criminal enterprise," he said.

Both senior police officers, in the aftermath of the discovery of a 600lb bomb in south Armagh recently, deemed the dissident threat to be "substantial".

The PSNI are continuing a high visibility operation in response to the ongoing dissident threat.

Meanwhile, Mr Baggott, a week into his new job, is facing his first controversy linked to his role as former head of the Leicestershire Constabulary.

The force have been partly blamed for the death of a mother and her disabled daughter.

Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francesca Hardwick in 2007 after repeatedly asking for help with bullying and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Pilkington is claimed to have made as many as 30 calls to the local police.

UUP Policing Board member Basil McCrea has called on Mr Baggott to apologise.

IRA hunger strikers 'could have been saved'

2009-09-28T17:59:00.003+01:00

The Irish government had a mole inside Northern Ireland's Maze Prison during the IRA hunger strike of 1981, former Irish Prime Minister Dr Garret FitzGerald revealed on Monday.

Dr FitzGerald said he was convinced a deal between the prisoners on hunger strike and the British Government could have been struck to prevent the last six of 10 deaths, but that it was vetoed by the IRA leadership.

The 83-year-old former Taoiseach revealed the behind-the-scenes activity during a brief window of opportunity which could have saved the lives in an interview with the Irish News for a series the Belfast newspaper is publishing about the hunger strike.There has been deep division within republicanism about the hunger strike since the publication of a book, Blanketmen, by former IRA prisoner Richard O'Rawe, in which he suggested the Sinn Fein leadership blocked a deal for political purposes.

Sinn Fein always denied the claim, but Dr FitzGerald said: "O'Rawe's account seems to me to be, within his framework of knowledge, honest and accurate."Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who has admitted having being in the IRA, also revealed for the first time that he was one of the conduits for the offer from the British Government, but he disputes, said the newspaper, that there was a deal on the table acceptable to the prisoners.

He accused Sinn Fein's opponents of trying to portray the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as someone anxious to solve the hunger strike when she was what he called "a ruthless hypocritical enemy".

r FitzGerald, who started the first of his two terms as Irish Prime Minister during the hunger strike, said the IRA prisoners in the Maze were ready to accept a deal if they had been allowed to by Sinn Fein.

"They were keen to accept that. We knew that. We had our sources within the prison."McGuinness disputes deal He declined to elaborate and say whether the mole was a member of the prison staff or a prisoner.When Dr FitzGerald came to power the Catholic Church's Irish Justice and Peace Commission (IJPC) was working towards a possible resolution of the standoff between republicans prisoners in the Maze and the British government over the concession of 'prisoner of war' type status.Dr FitzGerald was briefed on the efforts by the IJPC and told the newspaper he believed at the time they would lead to a solution before the next death.At his request the IJPC was granted a meeting with Northern Ireland Office minister Michael Allison who gave the impression he wanted to be conciliatory.Mr Allison cleared the way for the IJPC to visit the prisoners and afterwards the inmates issued a statement which was also more conciliatory than the messages that had been issued from outside the prison by Sinn Fein.At around the same time Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was contacted by MI6 and a deal parallel to that of the IJPC worked out, said Dr FitzGerald."He was delighted the British were running to him and he did get an additional offer to the IJPC offer. It is my recollection that he got an offer (prisoner access) to the Open University which was not in the IJPC offer," said the former Taoiseach.Eventually the whole deal collapsed and another six men died before an end was brought to the hunger strike.Dr FitzGerald told the newspaper that if it had been left to the IJPC a resolution could have been reached.He said: "If the British had not intervened and brought the IRA back in again a deal could have been done."

Eirígí has no plans to protest at a parade in Antrim

2009-09-28T17:25:00.001+01:00

"Contrary to a number of erroneous media reports éirígí has no plans to protest at the British military parade in Antrim on Saturday October 3rd - a fact which could have been readily established by those responsible for these reports, had they chosen to conduct even the most basic of research."

Uhm......strange strange strange....What's going on?

Eirigi to protest at army tribute to Massereene soldiers

2009-09-28T08:55:00.004+01:00

Republicans last night confirmed that they are set to mount a protest at next Saturday’s parade in Antrim for the colleagues of two soldiers murdered at Massereene army base in March.

High-level security will be in place in the town next weekend as troops from 38 Engineer Regiment march through the town in a half-hour parade to the barracks at midday. Eirigi spokesman Eamann MacManais said: “We have been consistent in our peaceful protests against the army even though the barriers against the protests have been quite forthright and quite stringent. “For example, on the Armed Forces Day the RUC blocked the road at Castle Street and blocked shoppers going into the town as well as peaceful protestors going into the town just for the case of a flag being raised at the City Hall. “We in Eirigi have actively opposed the homecoming parade, which we see as a cover, a way of normalisation of the British Army’s presence in the six counties and their presence in other areas throughout the world. “The British troops still aren’t welcome here in Ireland. There’s 5,000 troops here in the north of Ireland who are not welcome and any attempt to normalise the British army’s presence here or throughout the world is cynical and is being opposed by Eirigi.” Colin Duffy was among the frontline republicans in Eirigi’s protest at the homecoming parade through Belfast city centre last year. Duffy, 41, was charged with the murder of sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, and 21-year-old Patrick Azimkar in what was the deadliest attack in the province in more than a decade. The group said after he was arrested for the murders that he was longer a member. South Antrim MP William McCrea said: “I do believe that soldiers who have served the United Kingdom bravely with great distinction and have gone into the very heart of the world’s troublespot in Afghanistan, that they should be appropriately received by the people of the United Kingdom. “And as their base has been in Antrim, that would certainly be a great honour to the people of Antrim that they came back and were recognised. “I believe it would be important for the soldiers but I also do believe it’s important for the people of Northern Ireland also to show them how we deeply appreciate their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their colleagues before they left to go on service in Afghanistan in the murder of the two soldiers. “And therefore I do think that is a very fitting way, in a quiet and very dignified way, to just express our appreciation to them for their courage and their dilligence to duty.” It is understood that the familes of the two murdered soldiers will be flying to Ulster for the event. Mark Quinsey’s sister Jaime has condemned his killers as ‘cowards’. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Antrim Council have graciously invited members of 38 Regiment to the civic Forum to mark their return following the widespread cross-community outcry after the murders of the young sappers. “The 38 Regiment are part of the Corps of Engineers, who were given the Freedom of the Borough of Antrim in the eighties, so they will move back to barracks for the medal parade, not as a homecoming parade but as exercising as Freemen of the Borough, so this is not a triumphalist parade by any stretch of the imagination.”

Police investigate house gun attack

2009-09-27T13:45:00.001+01:00

Three people are treated for shock after a gun attack on a house in Ballymena, co Antrim.

Several shots were fired at the rear of a house at Orkney Drive in the Ballykeel estate at around 12.15am on Sunday, said police.

Local people said they heard four or five shots fired.

A heavy force of police sealed off the estate and, using the searchlight from a helicopter surrounded a house a short distance away.

No arrests were made.

A PSNI spokeswoman said a motive for the attack had yet to be established and appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Local SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan condemned the shooting and said it was fortunate there had been no deaths.

He said: "There was still a heavy presence at the scene and the police helicopter was used during the night following the attack.

"Lives could have been lost in the incident. One of the results of the troubles is the large quantity of guns available to criminals."

Mr O'Loan said he was unaware of the motivation for the attack, but said there was "no doubt that loyalist paramilitaries are still active in this immediate area, and in the past drugs activity has been a primary motive for such crimes.

He added: "It is fortunate that there was no loss of life in this instance. I encourage anyone with any knowledge to bring it to the police."

From: http://www.u.tv/News/Police-investigate-house-gun-attack/7f1f147f-319c-4f8d-9621-6812416b2cee

British Police arrest republican and harass children.

2009-09-26T21:01:00.002+01:00

British Police arrested a member of the IRPWA who was taking part in a weekly collection for political prisoners outside a local Credit Union in Derry’s Bogside today. He was arrested for a so-called ‘illegal collection’.

Two members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement then travelled to the Creggan to alert his family that their relative had been arrested. There were two children travelling in the car, one these children’s uncle is a serving member of the PSNI, this child was accompanied by his father in the vehicle.

After alerting the family of the arrested man, the car in which the 32csm members and children were travelling in was passed by several units of the Tactical Support Group a special heavily armed unit of the British Police. Therefore British Police knew in advance that children were present in the vehicle. Members of the 32csm then continued to travel out of the Creggan towards Southway were they were met with sirens and flashing lights. The 32csm members refused to stop until they reached Rathkeel Way were they were less isolated. This resulted in a short car chase.

When stopped the British Police approached the car with machine guns and the children were removed by their parents. Local woman approached from a near by local shop to removed the terrified children from the scene, taking them to the safety of the shop and comforted them. The men were then searched under Section 44, spread eagled against a car. As this happen other family members arrived on the scene to collect the children.

A complete and utter disgrace, now bear in mind that the TSG are not accountable to DPP. So much for change in British policing in Ireland.

A statement will follow in local press.

Blogger Burt!

From: http://www.derry32csm.com/

I predict a riot....

2009-09-26T17:53:00.003+01:00

25 September: police controls are increased: stop and search, checkpoint along the roads, request to show the passport in internal fly in UK (in despite of the freedom of circulation of the UE citizens, but justify by the same UE with the special anti-terrorism measures)

Future events...

3 October: Coleraine, loyalist parade. fortunately they changed the route and avoid to pass by the Nationalist area where was murdered Kevin McDaid.

4 October: Rangers VS Celtic

I could only hope that the people the are living there don't use this footbal-pretest for make something horrible like it's happened few months ago...

I hope to be wrong, but there is so much electricity in the air.....

ITALIAN VERSION....

25 settembre: incrementati i controlli della polizia: stop and search più frequenti, checkpoint lungo le strade, addirittura viene richiesto il passaporto nei voli interni in UK (alla faccia dallo tanto sbandierata "libera circolazione dei cittadini e merci" garantita dall' UE, ma in giustificata dalla stessa UE dalla misure speciali antiterrorismo!!!)

Uno sguardo ai prossimi eventi....

3 ottobre: Coleraine: parata lealista tra le vie della città, per fortuna evitano di passare nella zona nazionalista dove è stato ammazzato Kevin McDaid.

4 ottobre: Rangers VS Celtic

Mi rimane solo di sperare nella persone che vivono in quelle zone che non usino come pretesto, l'ennesima partita di calcio per qualcosa di orrendo come è già accaduto pochi mesi fa....

SPERO DI SBAGLIRMI MA L'ARIA E' DECISAMENTE "ELETTRICA"...

'Searches inconvenient but necessary'

2009-09-26T17:25:00.002+01:00

Chief Constable Matt Baggott has said that PSNI have an obligation to protect people and that he hopes the recent searches will be short term.

He was speaking to the BBC's Keiron Tourish on his first public walkabout in Londonderry.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8275780.stm

English passengers forced to show passports when arriving in Scotland

2009-09-26T15:15:00.004+01:00

English passengers arriving at Scottish airports on internal flights are being forced to show their passports, it has been revealed.
Scottish police have confirmed that they are carrying out routine passport checks on passengers when they disembark from a domestic flight under terrorism laws.
The practice came to light when shadow home secretary Chris Grayling was among those ordered to show his passport when he arrived at Glasgow's Prestwick Airport on Wednesday.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling arrived at Glasgow's Prestwick airport and was shocked to be asked to show his passport Mr Grayling condemned the practice and said it would 'heighten concerns about civil liberties'.
He said: 'It is utterly and completely unacceptable for any police force to be doing routine identity checks on passengers travelling within the UK.
'Do we want to end up with border check points at Gretna Green?
'Of course we need security but there has to be a balance.'
Chris Grayling has warned of 'mission creep' by police over their use of terrorism powers Mr Grayling and four of his colleagues were flying to Glasgow to carry out some campaigning when he was asked to produce his passport.
Passengers on domestic flights usually do not have to prove their identity when they land, unlike international passengers who are required to pass through passport control.
Mr Grayling told the Daily Telegraph: 'No powers should be used in this way.
'Acting like this simply undermines the credibility of our security legislation and will heighten concerns about civil liberties.'

The Terrorism Act 2000 gives police forces the power to stop anyone for identification checks, which can include showing a passport.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: 'Police officers, similar to other Border and Law Enforcement Agencies, operate at UK Air and Sea Ports in furtherance of their role of protecting our communities.
'As part of their duties, Police require to establish the identity of persons present at or transiting through a Port and, in recognition of this, legislation is provided for that purpose (Terrorism Act 2000).
'In particular, specific powers are afforded to Police examining officers to require production of a passport, or other recognised identity document bearing a photograph.

'Strathclyde Police endeavour to apply these powers proportionately bearing in mind the threat levels that apply currently, particularly in respect of aviation.'Metropolitan Police, which covers Heathrow and City airports in London, also use the powers on domestic passengers.

A Met spokeswoman said: 'From time to time we to stop people and look at their travel documents. It's not that unusual.'

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1216258/English-passengers-told-passports-arriving-Scotland.html#

Guns found in dissident inquiry

2009-09-25T22:55:00.005+01:00

Patrols and checkpoints across Northern Ireland have increased Guns have been recovered by police investigating dissident republican activity in County Tyrone.
Police recovered two rifles, a shotgun and ammunition in Dungannon on Friday.
Two men and a woman are still being questioned as part of the security operation.
Last Friday, the police launched Operation Descent aimed at disrupting potential dissident activity. It resulted in more patrols and checkpoints across Northern Ireland.

From: BBC news

ITS SHAMEFULL THAT BBC NEWS AND THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH, HAS NOT MENTIONED AT ALL THE DEVICE CLAIMED BY THE "REAL UFF". FREE PRESS?

Campbell calls for prosecution of dissident protestors

2009-09-25T22:41:00.002+01:00

DUP MP for East Londonderry Gregory Campbell has called upon the police to ensure the dissident republican protestors who jostled and assaulted innocent people at a recent DPP meeting in Londonderry are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Speaking today Gregory Campbell MP said:

“This is not the first time we have seen fascist, anti-democratic tactics used by dissident republicans in their attempts to disrupt the workings of the DPP in Londonderry. Such criminal behaviour cannot be allowed to go unchecked. It is entirely wrong that DPP staff and people working at the venue where the event was taking place should have been jostled and assaulted in the way we have witnessed. Prosecutions need to flow from this incident. It is entirely wrong that these republicans believe they can act with impunity in this way without fear of legal repercussions. People right across the community will expect prosecutions to follow this latest protest by the criminals who want to drag our country backwards into violence and bloodshed. It is essential for the smooth working of DPPs and any other lawful bodies that they are allowed to operate free from intimidation.”

From: http://www.dup.org.uk/Articles.asp?ArticleNewsID=1312

Security alert at Ballymena church

2009-09-25T22:30:00.003+01:00

Army officers were called in to deal with a security alert at a church in Ballymena.

A number of properties were evacuated during the alert on Friday morning which was sparked after an object was spotted in the grounds of the church on the Ballymoney Road.

Army technical officers were tasked but the object turned out not to be suspicious.

From: http://www.u.tv/News/Security-alert-at-Ballymena-church/76cb3303-a04f-4466-bea0-a8909c56a637

Other dissident arrested

2009-09-25T15:56:00.002+01:00

Police are questionning another man about dissident republican activity after detaining him in Dungannon on Thursday night.

He is the fourth person to be arrested during the ongoing operation by the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch and is being held at Antrim police station.

A second man and a woman are still in custody.

One other man has been released.

Real UVF claimed Antrim bomb point of view on the newspaper

2009-09-25T13:29:00.004+01:00

Bomb made safe outside Antrim house

A viable explosive device was made safe in Antrim tonight.
The small bomb was discovered outside a house in the Fountain Lane area this morning after a telephone warning.
The caller claimed he was a member of loyalist faction calling itself the Real UVF.
Army Technical Officers were involved in the day long security operation at the house.
Meanwhile, police investigating dissident republican activity tonight arrested a woman in Dungannon.
It follows the arrest of two men in the town on Tuesday.
Detectives have been given further time to quiz one of the men — the other was released unconditionally.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0924/breaking68.htm

'Real UFF' claim Antrim bomb

A SMALL bomb left outside a house in Antrim has been claimed by a loyalist paramilitary grouping. The device, which police described as viable, was discovered outside a house in the Fountain Lane area of the town yesterday morning following a telephone warning.

The caller claimed he was a member of a dissident loyalist group called the 'Real UVF'.
Houses in the area had to be evacuated as Army Technical Officers were involved in a day long security operation to make the area safe.
Meanwhile, a security alert in Craigavon yesterday turned out to be an "elaborate hoax".
A suspicious object was discovered lying on the kerb along the Monbrief Road around 10am and the area was closed down until 7pm as Army Technical Officers examined the object.
However, it was found to be an elaborate hoax which may have been there for some time.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Real-UFF-claim-Antrim-bomb.5678844.jp

British army defuses bomb outside a catholic house in Antrim

2009-09-25T12:13:00.002+01:00

9/25/2009, 12:39 a.m. PDT The Associated Press

(AP) — BELFAST, Northern Ireland - British army experts have defused a small bomb left outside a house in a Catholic section of the Northern Ireland town of Antrim. An anti-Catholic extremist group claimed responsibility.

Thursday's security operation in Antrim, west of Belfast, followed a telephone warning from a caller claiming to represent the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Police say they suspect that the bomb planter was a member of the Ulster Defense Association, the major outlawed Protestant paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. The UDA is supposed to be observing a cease-fire but its members sometimes use cover names, most commonly "Ulster Freedom Fighters," when claiming acts of violence.

Trucker leaves hijackers standing

2009-09-25T12:10:00.001+01:00

Two masked men have tried to hijack a lorry in Londonderry.

The men, who police have said may have been armed, tried to stop the vehicle on the Lecky Road at about 0245 BST on Friday.

The driver managed to speed off as the hijackers were trying to get into the vehicle. He was shaken but unhurt.

SDLP assembly member Mary Bradley said it was "worrying" that "this type of criminality was becoming all too common in today's society".

"I'm glad to hear the driver of the lorry escaped uninjured and I hope his mental trauma does not cause him long-term effects," she said.

"The parallels of those involved in this incident could not be more diverse - on one hand a hard-working lorry driver working through the night to earn a living, and on the other, faceless thugs who attempt to hi-jack his lorry."

Derry …..Londonderry…. but why not Doire?

2009-09-24T18:53:00.004+01:00

In the past few weeks the Derry city council has proposed to change the name of the city in Derry.
As aspect a lot of critics are come from the city's Protestant community felt by in the wake of a move which is seen as “an assault on its British identity.”

They probably forget that the city was born with the Irish name of Doire.

Yesterday BBC (thanks to 5demands!) reported that the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) said it "strongly advises" the council not to proceed with its proposal in the current circumstances. Today the Londonderry Sentinel titled (I said quite proudly): it’s doomed!
In the report sent to The Sentinel, the Commission highlighted that the council's aims were to create a single, clear identity for the city, "while respecting the views of all sections of the community".
But it said the objectives included "reflecting the wishes of the vast majority of citizens" but "make no provision for taking into account the views of those who are not part of the majority".
It said policy making should not simply be about reflecting the views of the majority, as this had the potential to convert the EQIA into a "quasi referendum which runs contrary to the spirit of the legislation".
Its report noted: "While overall 53% of those surveyed found the proposed name change acceptable this aggregate figure masks community differences, whereby it is mostly Catholics/ nationalists who support the change...while only 6% of Protestants do so. Around half of Protestants (52%) find the proposal unacceptable".
The Commission also said the council identified that the name change was a "potent source of Protestant alienation", adding: "In our view the council has paid insufficient attention to possible alternatives in light of the significant adverse impacts identified."

Sinn Fein councillor Kevin Campbell, whose party first proposed the official name-change, said the Equality Commission should not have made their recommendation while the process was still ongoing.

The Sinn Fein-driven bid to change the city's name by petitioning the Queen's Privy Council will be discussed again by Derry City Council in November after submissions have been analysed.

ITALIAN VERSION:

In queste settimane il Derry city council ha riproposto la questione di cambiare il nome alla citta’.
Ovviamente sono seguite critiche a non finire dalla controparte unionista che si sentirebbe, a suo dire, un “assalto alla loro identita’ Britannica”

Dimenticando che la citta’ e’ nata con il nome irlandese di Doire.

Ieri BBCnews riporta la notizia (grazie 5demands!) che la Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) suggerisce caldamente che in questo momento e’ preferibile non prendere nessuna decisione in merito. Oggi il Londonderry Sentil titola (direi con una punta di orgoglio) che l’intera faccenda it’s doomed! (destinata a fallire).
Nel report inviato al The Sentinel, la commissione sottolinea che il council dovrebbe essere animato da uno spirito per creare un singolo, chiaro identita’ per la citta’, “rispettando ogni membro della comunita’.
Gli obiettivi inclusi “riflettono le speranze di una vasta maggioranza di cittadini” ma “non tengono conto delle visioni di chi non fa parte di quella maggioranza”
La commissione commenta cosi’ l’analisi presentata dal council: “un generale 53% degli intervistati e’ favorevole al cambiamento del nome, questo dato generale maschera le differenze tra le comunita’, e sarebbe piuttosto associabile alla comunita’ nazionalista/ cattolica favorevole al cambiamento, mentre solo il 6% dei protestanti e’ d’accordo al cambiamente. Mentre circa la meta’ dei protestanti (52%) trova la proposta del tutto inaccettabile.”
La commissione inoltre dichiara che il cambiamento del nome e’ una “fonte di alienazione per la comunita’ protestante” aggiungendo che secondo loro “ il council non ha posto attenzione alle possibili conseguenze negative che potrebbero emergere dalla decisione”.
Kevin Campbell, (membro del Sinn Fein che ha proposto in primis di cambiare nome alla citta’) dichiara che la commissione non dovrebbe fare raccomandazioni mentre il processo decisionale e’ ancora in corso.
La decisione, con queste premesse, viene quindi rianviata a novembre quando il council si riunira’ nuovamente e SF discutera’ se presentare la proposta al Queen's Privy Council.

Houses being raided now in Derry

2009-09-24T15:04:00.003+01:00

Breaking news: Messagge from the irishrepublican.net forum said

Raids ongoing in Westland street/marlborough terrace in the bog and Creggan.
http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39200

My only comment is.....Well, after what happened at the DPP meeting (that suppose to be a "public" meeting that's means open to everybody) they (SF and all the company) are raging....

PSNI release republican arrested tuesday

2009-09-24T11:50:00.005+01:00

A man arrested in County Tyrone on Tuesday has been released "unconditionally".
He was one of two men arrested during searches in Dungannon.
Police said the operation was in connection with dissident republican activity.
The second man, who is 33, remains in custody and police have been granted more time to question him.
On Friday, the PSNI launched Operation Descent aimed at disrupting potential dissident republican activity. The police said it would result in more police patrols and checkpoints.
New Chief Constable Matt Baggott took over the reins of the PSNI on Tuesday.
It is understood senior police officers feared dissident republicans would attempt to mark his arrival with an attack.

Families press government over Saville delay

2009-09-24T11:35:00.003+01:00

The families of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday have reacted with anger at a new delay in the publication of the findings into events on the day.

Lord Saville's report will not now be ready until next March, more than six years after the marathon probe ended into the January 1972 shootings in Londonderry.

Downing Street had been expected to take delivery of the £200m report later this year, but it is understood that printing difficulties are behind this latest delay.
Relatives will now seek a meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward in a bid to have the report's new publication date brought forward to avoid the run-up to an announcement for next year`s General Election.
They intend to press the British Government for the report to be out in well advance of March 22.
Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick was among the Bloody Sunday victims, said the families were hugely disappointed.
'Grave concern'
He said: "We will be making our sense of disappointment known to Lord Saville and Shaun Woodward within the next 48 hours, asking them to re-consider the day and bring it forward by a number of weeks.
"March 22 means Parliament will be moving towards the Easter recess and possibly the imminent announcement of an election.
That will inevitably mean yet another delay because the government of the day will want to have a close look at the findings, before the report is finally released to the families. We are gravely concerned about that."
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said he was profoundly shocked by news of the fresh delay.
He added: "I am concerned at the impact on the families of those who lost loved ones and those who were injured. "I am equally concerned at the increased anxiety that soldiers serving on the day will suffer."

Security alert in Antrim

2009-09-24T11:26:00.002+01:00

Police are investigating claims that several explosive devices have been left in Antrim.

Army technical oficers are examining a suspicious object in Fountain Lane, which has been closed off.

A number of residents have been evacuated from their homes.

Meanwhile, officers say, after investigation, claims that bombs had been left at St Comgall's and St Joseph's in the town were false.The claims have caused traffic disruption in the town on Thursday morning.

A voice from DERRY 32CSM: point of view on the DPP meeting:

2009-09-23T21:39:00.005+01:00

FROM: http://www.derry32csm.com/

Today republicans united behind the IRFU banner to force another British DPP meeting to be abandoned; these meetings are a pathetic attempt by the British Police and their supporters to present an image of a normal civic Police service. The reality on the ground for republicans and nationalists is a lot different. Irish people are still being beating and abused by these British uniformed thugs. Children are wetting themselves on the sight of members of the British Crown Forces who are heavily armed with machine guns and armoured cars. Today’s rescheduled meeting followed the successful abandonment of the original meeting in July.
Elisha McLaughlin was intent of forcing this meeting to happen today. Elisha, aided by RUC Jon Burrows put in place a set of countermeasures to try and disrupt Republicans Protesters.

1. The venue was moved at short notice from the City Hotel to a Hotel on the outskirts of the city.

2. The room was flooded with bussed in members of Provisional Sinn Fein who arrived over an hour early. Over 90% of the attendence was members of PSF. Bear in mind that the last meeting was only attended by around 25-30 people. Where did they all come from?

3. Garvan O` Doherty the owner of the Hotel was then told by Sinn Fein, not to let anymore people in due to ‘health and safety’ reasons as the small room was packed to capacity with member’s of PSF. This included Republicans and members of the British DPP.

4. Members of the PSNI (British Police) were dressed in Hotel security uniform and guarded the entrance to the function room in which the meeting was taken place.

5. The meeting was arranged for 11:30am, however, Sinn Fein and the PSNI decided to start the meeting half an hour early. As a result they locked out members of the British DPP meeting which included the DUP, UUP, SDLP and some independents.

6. As protester pushed the door to gain access to the ‘Public Meeting’ senior members of the Provisional Movement backed up senior British Police officers tried unsuccessfully to hold the door shut.

7. The meeting ended at 11:20am ten minutes befored it was to begin, PSF have said that meeting was concluded. However, members of the British DPP differ in this opinion.

This meeting was orchestrated by Sinn Fein and the British Police, working hand in hand to disparately make sure that a foreign oppressive British Police force has a free reign in Irish communities.

British Policing can never be accepted in Ireland no matter what guise it hides behind. British Policing headed of by Mi5 which controls the TSG (special British Police units) can never be held to account, as they are only accountable to Mi5 and not to the so called ‘policing boards’.

The aim and objectives of the Republican Movement has always been to remove British Policing in Ireland, not to make it accountable.
These meetings will be continually disrupted for as long as Britain remains in Ireland.

Blogger Burt!

Dissidents behind car pipe bomb

2009-09-23T13:39:00.001+01:00

Dissident republicans are being blamed for a pipe bomb attack on a car in Londonderry.

The device, which failed to explode, was thrown into a car in Hatmore Park on Monday night.

The police have said they are still working to establish a motive, but they suspect dissidents republicans were involved.

Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said the incident was "absolutely disgraceful".

"Everybody knows that except for a very tiny number of people the day of the bomb and the bullet are over, the war is over.

"We do have people who harbour the notion that they can destabilise our institutions and plunge us all back into the bad old days and return tens of thousands of British soldiers to the streets.

"They're going to fail, and they're going to fail miserably," he said.

The vehicle belonged to the girlfriend of the householder's son.

The man, who did not want to be identified, said he had absolutely no idea why the car was attacked.

"I looked out and saw a flash, and I knew somebody had thrown something," he said.

"I looked out, and saw the smoke.

"I went and got an extinguisher but it wasn't on fire, it was just smoke damaged.

"CID came up then and told me it was a pipe bomb."

The police said they have yet to establish a motive for the attack.

SDLP councillor Mark H Durkan condemned the attack and said it seemed "some organisation" must have been responsible.

"I have spoken to the police who have confirmed that a pipe bomb has been used which would lead me to believe that there was some organisation behind it," he said.

"There can be no justification for this sort of meaningless attack on someone's property.

"The family I have spoken to are traumatised that something like this has happened outside their house - they have lived in the area for 25 years. This has just confused them and disturbed them."

From BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8270189.stm

Republicans have interrupted the meeting of District Policing Partnership in Derry.

2009-09-23T13:32:00.005+01:00

Up to 50 dissident republicans have disrupted a meeting of the District Policing Partnership in Derry.

The meeting was under way at Da Vinci's Hotel when protestors manhandled hotel staff and forced their way in. Independent DPP member Linda Watson said it was "an absolute disgrace", and those responsible should be "ashamed". DPP chairperson and Sinn Fein councillor Elisha McLaughlin said the body would not be intimidated out of doing their work. "I will not be deterred, and in fact it has given me more and more encouragement. "I saw the large volume of people who had to be turned away today, who wanted to go in to hold the PSNI to account in relation to the specific things the protesters are protesting about," she said. The protestors blew horns and chanted anti-police slogans. There were also arguments between some of the protesters and those attending the meeting. A DPP meeting in Derry in July was called off after it was disrupted by a similar protest.

From BBC news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8270584.stm

On the derry 32csm other detail about the protest:

IRFU is an umbrella group consisting of the 32csm, RNU, IRSP and independant Republicans.

The Irish Republican Forum for Unity will hold a protest at a planned DPP meeting on at 10:30pm Wednesday the 23rd September at Da Vinci's Hotel.

This meeting is a pathetic attempt by the British Police and their supporters to present an image of a normal civic Police service. The reality on the ground for republicans and nationalists is a lot different. We have a vicious campaign of harassment and violence directed at the families of republicans, particularly woman and children. In the past few weeks one terrified woman was dragged from her car and a gun placed at her head. During recent house raids by British Police a number of children were left traumatised, in one instance a four-year-old girl had to be removed from the ill after she was recuperating from an operation. This coupled the increased military activity of the British Police; the continued use of plastic bullets and CS gas exposes the argument of accepting the British Police as some kind of civic police service, more and more ridiculous by the day.

Anyone interested in attending the protest is asked to gather at Da Vinci’s Hotel at 10:30am.

STATEMENT ENDS

'Climate of fear' in Coleraine - Dallat

2009-09-23T13:25:00.002+01:00

More people may die in Coleraine if sectarianism which saw Kevin McDaid beaten to death by a loyalist mob is not tackled, the Assembly has heard.

Young people are cocooned in their homes during school holidays too afraid to visit the town centre and there is a climate of fear, John Dallat said. Catholic father-of-four Mr McDaid, 49, was set upon close to his home in May.

SDLP MLA Mr Dallat said sectarian groups chanting bigoted slogans had divided parts of Coleraine.

"The toleration of sectarianism which manifests itself in all its evil forms should be brought to an end and above all there must be a realisation that no section of the community should have to run the gauntlet of sectarianism irrespective of who is causing it," he said.

He added a community art project near the scene of the killing had annoyed some as it had a picture of a fisherman. Mr McDaid took young people from both communities fishing.

The MLA led an adjournment debate on sectarianism in Coleraine on Tuesday night and said the situation had worsened since the death.

He warned the OFMDFM to heed the worst fears in the area.

'Symbol of fear'

"I advise them to ignore at their perils the predictions that others may die if this issue is not addressed and those responsible for acts of sectarianism and bigotry are not dealt with," he added.

He said in the weeks and months since Mr McDaid's killing there was expectation that there would be engagement and dialogue but that hasn't happened at the pace it needs to.

"Indeed the problem has got worse with children and young people cocooned in their homes during the school holidays, too afraid to go to the town centre where sectarian elements have gathered on a regular basis, equipped with their mobile phones to alert their cronies should others appear that they regard as 'the enemy'," he added.

"The Coleraine Bridge, which should unite people, has become a symbol of fear with sectarian groups gathering on a regular basis to chant bigoted slogans towards that area of the town where Kevin McDaid lost his life."

He added those slogans were clearly heard and hurt members of the McDaid family, who have been subjected to death threats.

From Utv: http://u.tv/News/Climate-of-fear-in-Coleraine-Dallat/0d849b40-4bdd-4c9e-907e-4d27feb9005c

Other two arrest in Ardboe area

2009-09-23T13:19:00.004+01:00

Breaking News from http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/:

" The police searches actually took place in the Ardboe area , Two men from the same family have been arrested and are currently being held at Antrim interrogation centre. "

Two arrested in dissident operation

2009-09-23T08:55:00.001+01:00

Two men has been arrested in Co Tyrone on Tuesday by police cracking down on suspected dissident republicans.

Officers carried out a number of searches in Dungannon amid fears of an attack being mounted to coincide with the PSNI new chief constable's arrival in Belfast.

There were traffic delays in several areas as police mounted roadblocks as part of tightened security.

Operation Descent, which was launched on Friday, has resulted in more high visibility patrols and checkpoints across Northern Ireland.

Clinton is on the way for the Northern Ireland

2009-09-23T08:50:00.001+01:00

Following hot on the heels of Hillary Clinton’s appointment of a special economic envoy to Northern Ireland, it has been reported the US Secretary of State will visit Northern Ireland in mid-October.

According to an Irish-American website in New York, Secretary Clinton intends to visit Belfast as part of a two-day sprint that will also include stops in Dublin and London.

Discussions during the Belfast and Dublin legs of the visit will reportedly focus on the recent surge in dissident republican violence.

Ten days ago, Secretary Clinton appointed Tipperary-born businessman Declan Kelly as the new US economic envoy to Northern Ireland. It is believed that Mr Kelly, who visited Belfast last week, will accompany Mrs Clinton.

The State Department declined to confirm or deny whether Secretary Clinton will be making the trip.

Mr Kelly will meet with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness this week in New York, where the pair will be attending the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. On Wednesday afternoon there will be a special one-hour session set aside to discuss Northern Ireland.

On Thursday, Kelly will host the two first ministers at a breakfast meeting with top New York area business leaders in midtown Manhattan.

More devices discovered in 6 counties

2009-09-22T19:06:00.000+01:00

- Armoy in north Antrim: today a device was found a few hundred yards from Lavin Orange Hall. The DUP's John Finlay has blamed dissident republicans and says the device on the Drones Road was capable of killing innocent passers-by.
The device follows two attacks on Orange Halls in the Ballymoney area at the weekend. Both halls were attacked with a tractor.

- South Belfast, an alert was called off on Tuesday close to Annadale Embankment. A suspicious object had been reported, but police say nothing untoward was found.

- Derry: A bomb was thrown into a parked car. The rear window of a Mini parked at Hatmore Park was smashed and the object thrown in at about 2200 BST on Monday. The device failed to fully detonate, and has been taken away for examination. The PSNI said they have yet to establish a motive for the incident

From: http://u.tv/News/Suspicious-devices-found-in-alerts/d5ed37ef-45d3-4c85-a620-289388cacb76
And http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8269476.stm

Good bye Londonderry?

2009-09-22T09:37:00.003+01:00

A PUSH to have the name of the city officially changed from Londonderry to Derry is politically driven and an attempt by the Nationalist-controlled Council to send a message that the city is not part of the United Kingdom.

This is the view of the Ulster Unionist Party's Foyle Association, which has submitted an elaborate and detailed response to Derry City Council's resolution to apply to the Privy Council to have the name changed.
The clock is now ticking towards Friday's deadline for responses to the Equality Impact Assessment Consultation (EQIA) on the name change, after which any complaints or concerns from the Protestant community will fall on deaf ears.
Consequently, the Foyle UUP Office in Bonds Street will be open between 1pm and 5pm today and tomorrow to facilitate people who want to complete their own letter of response to Derry City Council addressing the issue of the name change.
Local UUP Councillor Mary Hamilton will be presenting her party's response to Council officers at the Derry City Council building on Strand Road on Friday.
The UUP response itself focuses on what it views as a series of flawed arguments on which the proposed name change is based.
The application to the Privy Council to have the name of the city changed from Londonderry to Derry is, the party says, fundamentally flawed and confused.
In one section the draft policy states that the "vast majority" of people in the city view the name of Londonderry as an imposition.
"How precisely does 53 per cent constitute a vast majority?" the UUP ask. "The fact that 32 per cent have no strong view would suggest that the name of the city is not a pressing issue as Council wishes to suggest in pursuing its Resolution."
"In other words 86 per cent either take the view that Londonderry is acceptable or else they take the view that they have no strong view one way or another. Limited evidence that a vast majority feels that it has a name imposed on it," it adds.
The document also pours scorn on the argument for changing the name for "branding" purposes. This it portrays as a "red herring" disguising a baldly political agenda.
"Global commercial firms like Kellogg's or Coca-Cola seem to have no difficulty in marketing different products and names. The Council would have to employ the same marketing and promotion methods whatever the name," it argues.
"The importance of a brand is what it represents and not just a name. Marketing and promotion of the city should be about the business, commercial, tourist and cultural opportunities it represents.
"What Council wants to pursue is a political identity as opposed to a business or commercial identity. Intent is clearly focused on using the name change to send a message that the city is not really part of the UK," the party declare.
Similarly historical arguments for the name change contained in the draft policy consultation are viewed as out-dated and obsolete.
The UUP response reads: "The historical interpretation offered here is problematic. When Londonderry was built little of the monastic settlement remained and certainly was not developed as this interpretation suggests.
"This is akin to arguing that New York should be called New Amsterdam. The figures quoted later in the document do not support the contention regarding the majority."
In conclusion the Foyle Association have submitted a strong argument that changing the name of the city in the current climate will have a negative impact on relations in the city and that it contravenes the Council's Good Relations Policy.
The party considers Council's proposed actions will be viewed by the unionist community as further evidence that Council does not adhere to an inclusive policy when addressing the heritage, culture and political views of the unionist minority.
It believes the proposed name change will undermine attempts to nurture the commitment of all communities to address the future development of Londonderry as a shared city. Young people will be particularly demoralised.
As the document states: "The whole point of the Belfast and St Andrew's Agreements was to encourage our community to work together. The willingness of Derry City Council to promote a city with the name of Londonderry would be a positive signal of our desire and ability to do so."

From: http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/Proposed-name-change-policy-politically.5635697.jp

Bloody Sunday report due at end of the year

2009-09-22T09:17:00.002+01:00

The Saville Inquiry report into the Bloody Sunday killings in Northern Ireland is expected in December, it was revealed last night.

Over four years after hearings closed, authoritative sources close to the investigation confirmed the report should be presented to the Government by Christmas.

The inquiry was established in 1998 by the then prime minister Tony Blair to re-examine the events of January 30 1972, when British soldiers shot dead 14 people attending a civil rights march in Londonderry.

Costing nearly £200m, it was the most expensive inquiry in British legal history and lasted for five years, with the first witness heard in November 2000 and the last in January 2005.

The tribunal was chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate, alongside two other judges from Australia and Canada.

There were 2,500 witness statements, of whom 922 were called to give direct evidence.

There were also 160 volumes of evidence, containing an estimated 20-30 million words, plus 121 audio tapes and 110 videotapes.

The three days of Lurgan..

2009-09-21T20:47:00.004+01:00

Thursday

12pm Three Lurgan men involved in a dissident republican plot to kill police officers with a mortar bomb were each jailed for 15 years.

6pm Trouble flares in the Kilwilkie, Drumbeg and Meadowbank estates. Five vehicles are hijacked and set alight. Two were placed on railway lines causing disruption to train services. Also reports of masked gunmen in the area.

Friday

Police investigating the disturbances find a replica firearm in the Kilwilkie area.

6.30pm Rioters take to the streets for a second night in a row. Two vehicles are hijacked. One is placed on railway tracks near Lake Street and set alight causing disruption to rail services.

7.30pm Police launch Operation Dissent — targeting dissident republican activity.

Saturday

Morning Police patrols and checkpoints are mounted province-wide. Violence erupts in Lurgan and Craigavon.

9.40pm In Craigavon up to six masked men forced a man out of his car at the Drumbeg roundabout before stealing it. 10pm In Lurgan hijackers told a woman they placed a device on her lorry and forced her to drive to a police station. Upon examination by police nothing was found.

Police searches target dissidents

2009-09-21T20:24:00.005+01:00

Derry Journal Published Date: 18 September 2009

The PSNI searched a number of homes belonging to known republicans in several areas of the city yesterday.

Searches were carried out in the Creggan, Cornshell Fields, and Bishop Street areas of the city during the afternoon.
It is believed the searches were directed against members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM). Documents given to individuals whose houses were searched stated that the police were looking for blood-stained clothing, balaclavas and footwear among other items.

One of the search operations was carried out at the home of Paul Hutcheon, a member of the 32CSM, and his partner Caitríona Duffy, in Cornshell Fields.

The previous week, Ms Duffy claimed a rifle was put to her head while she and her partner were being searched by the PSNI. She said the incident left her traumatised and that she has been taking medication ever since.

Her mother, Donna Duffy, contacted the 'Journal' yesterday and said she had not been allowed to see her daughter while the house was being searched. "I tried to get into the house but the police stopped me and told me the place was being searched under the terrorism act and that no-one was allowed into the house.

"My daughter is on heavy medication and was at the doctor the other day and he increased the strength of it because she is so bad. I think it is terrible that I was not allowed in to see her. This will only make things worse," he said.

Danny McBrearty Jnr, whose home in Oakland was searched, claimed a PSNI officer threatened to shoot him during the operation. "The cop whispered in my ear and told me he was going to put a bullet in my head. I asked him to repeat it and he wouldn't. I repeated it and he said he didn't say anything," he claimed.

Kelly Ramsey, whose home in Cromore Gardens was searched said her child "went hysterical" when PSNI officers wearing masks came into the house. "The child is just out of hospital last week after having her tonsils out and when the cops came in she went hysterical and her throat started to bleed again. They also brought sniffer dogs in and allowed them to climb over mine and my the children's beds.

"I would like to challenge Elisha McLaughlin as chair of the DPP to come out and say what she thinks about searches like this," she said.
Commenting on the searches, a PSNI spokesperson said; "Police are carrying out a number of operations on the city side today in relation to serious crime. A number of items have been taken away for examination.

What 32csm said on the blog:

"British Police (PSNI) carried out a number of raids on the homes of Republicans in Derry City this morning. At one of these raids a child who was just out of hospital after going through an operation last week, had to be taken from the house by a relative in tears. The four-year-old girl was terrorised by the nature of these heavily armed thugs, wearing boiler suits and masks over their faces. At another raid British Police climbed in through a bedroom window to gain access to the house. When the occupier of the house returned to his home to oversee the raid he was told that he would "get a bullet in the head" by one of these armed thugs. One of the homes raided was that of a woman who was dragged from her car last week by heavily armed HMSU (special unit) bully squad and had a gun placed to her head whilst laying on the ground. There is clear evidence that their exists a campaign of harassment against republicans and members of their family in this city."

Orange order claimed: the police are not doing enough

2009-09-21T20:04:00.004+01:00

Three halls were attacked at the weekend.

Six bottles of paint were smashed against the front of Clifton Street Hall in north Belfast.

It is believed a tractor was used to damage halls in Rasharkin and Ballymoney on Friday night.

“The police are not treating these attacks seriously enough, they are not devoting enough resources to them.”

-Take that seriously...!!!

“In the past few years we’ve had just over 300 halls that have been subject to arson attacks,” said Drew Nelson. “For all of those attacks, I think there have only been six convictions.” Damage Police are investigating a possible link between the attacks on the County Antrim Orange halls. The door at Tullaghans Orange Hall on Bravallan Road in Ballymoney was forced opened. Drums and furniture inside the building were also damaged in the incident which was reported at 1710 BST on Saturday. Police said it may be linked to another attack in which a tractor was used to knock down a wall outside Granagh Independent Orange Hall in Rasharkin. The front door of the building on Mullan Road was also damaged in that incident which was discovered on Saturday morning.

My only comment : what can they expected?? stop the marching season stop the fight? Too easy!

A Weekend in Derry....the quite before storm?

2009-09-21T16:21:00.002+01:00

I’m sorry for didn’t post nothing this week end but I was in Derry.

The atmosphere was so calm and quite.
In all Bogside I didn’t see a policeman.
Last night a bunch of teenager was enjoying himself put stuff in the middle of the road for don’t permit the access of the cars.
Market trolley and some wood stuff was pile on the middle of the roadway in front of the Free Derry monument.
I didn’t see any garda.

Last night we decided to have a look on the Fountain.
On the bridge two police vans were parking in the middle of the roadway and were stopping all the cars from the Bogside.
Under the bridge other two policemen with guns and all stuff were patrol the area.

When we arrived at the protestant area we find another bunch of drunk guys wearing Celtic top. They were shouting to the few people that were in the street.

Nobody made nothing.

This morning the police were still on the bridge.
Someone said that they were arrived Friday and the were stopping cars because someone call for “bomb alarm”.

Seems to me the so called quit before the storm…?

ITALIAN VERSION....

Mi scuso per non aver postato nulla questo week end ma mi trovavo in Derry.
L’aria era quella di una calma piatta.
In tutto il Bogside non c’era l’ombra di un poliziotto.
Ieri sera un gruppo di ragazzini si divertiva a accumulare roba in mezzo alla strada per non far passare le machine, hanno accumulato carrelli della spesa, e qualche pancale di legno.
Li’ in mezzo alla carreggiata in fronte al monumento Free Derry.
Neanche l’ombra di una guardia.

Poi, sempre ieri sera, facciamo un giro al Fountaine Estate.
Sul ponte che college la citta’ due camionette della polizia ferme a controllare ogni macchina che proveniva dal Bogside.
Sotto il ponte due poliziotti armati a pattugliare la zona.

Arrivati al quartiere protestante abbiamo incontrato altri ragazzi ubriachi con magliette del Celtic che urlavano in mezzo alla strada.

Nessuno ha mosso un dito.

Questa mattina la polizia era ancora li’.
Ci hanno detto che e’ da venerdi’ che fermano tutte le macchine perche’ qualcuno ha telefonato per un “allarme bomba”.

Proprio la calma prima della tempesta?

About the three RIRA attack in Derry

2009-09-16T19:11:00.002+01:00

These attacks were a direct response to an incident which happened last week. A female member of a Republican family was knelled on the ground in the mud and a Machine gun was place to her head by the RUC/PSNI. Her partner was beaten in front of her by members of the TSG bully squads.
The car bomb was a direct response to this incident. The RIRA has sent a clear and decisive message to British Police officers who target republican families.

32csm Derry website