SAOIRSE32

cryptome.org

15 February 2005

Press Association story, ref : Andersonstown News. The person named in police statement is Joe Haughey, MI5 and RUC Special Branch informer.

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POLICE ACCUSED OF IGNORING SPY’S ASSASSINATION FEARS

By Alan Erwin, PA

‘Kevin Fulton’

An IRA spy who fears for his life after his identity was exposed today accused police of ignoring pleas to investigate a picture theft.

The ex-British agent, known as Kevin Fulton, believes he is being set up for assassination following the publication of his photograph in a Belfast-based newspaper.

Fulton, who worked undercover for an ultra-secret military intelligence wing at the height of Northern Ireland’s dirty war, has been on the run from the Provisionals for a decade.

His appearance has always been kept secret, but last year a full facial picture was splashed under the heading ‘Fulton Exposed’. Even though he made a statement to police in December, the former mole alleged they have done nothing since.

He claimed: “Human intelligence sources, or informants, set me up to be murdered.

“But the newspaper hasn’t even been interviewed to ask where they got the photograph or to retrieve my stolen property.

“Are they protecting an informant.”

Fulton, who now lives in England, claimed the photo was taken from a north Belfast flat where he used to live by one of two Provos who used the address to plan terrorist attacks without his knowledge.

He told police he had to quit the address in 1994 after being questioned about an assassination attempt on a senior RUC officer. He fled without his belongings, claiming the two republicans as the only keyholders who could have obtained the photo.

The ex-soldier, who worked as an agent with the controversial Force Research Unit, issued one of the terror warnings that led to Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s damning verdict on the Omagh bomb inquiry.

He is locked in a lengthy legal battle with the Government over demands for a personal security package.

In his statement, given first to detectives in London, he added: “My picture was published at a time when public enquiries into collusion between the IRA and Garda were being conducted.

“This has resulted in my seriously fearing for my life as it has identified me as being a key witness to these enquiries.

“My name had been mentioned all over the internet and throughout many newspapers, but up to this point it was just a name.

“The fact that a stolen photograph of myself has been published by this newspaper has not only put my life in danger, but it is also a fundamental breach of my basic right to life.”

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman would not confirm whether anyone has been interviewed.

She said only: “The matter is currently under investigation.”

Sinn Féin

Gerry Adams Madrid remarks being [mis]represented

Published: 16 February, 2005

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP speaking from Madrid this evening has said:

Remarks I made today in Madrid in respect of the Northern Bank robbery have been misrepresented. I made it clear that the IRA has said it wasn‚t involved and that I believe it’s disclaimer.’

“Any other interpretation of my remarks is mischievous and misleading.” ENDS

The Irish News Online

16/02/2005 21:05:04

Man held in McCartney murder probe

A man was being questioned tonight in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney in a Belfast pub brawl.

A police spokesman confirmed that detectives investigating the murder of the 33-year-old were questioning a suspect.

Mr McCartney, from the Mountpottinger Road area of east Belfast was battered and stabbed to death after a bar fight which was witnessed by more than 100 people.

His family claim the IRA have intimidated witnesses to prevent police identifying the killers. A top IRA man is one of the chief suspects linked to the murder of Mr McCartney.

The IRA has denied involvement in what it described as “a brutal killing”.

Unison.ie / Irish Independent

British authorities criticised for failing to cooperate with Barron Report

19:24 Wednesday February 16th 2005

The Oireachtas sub-commitee on Justice has once again criticised the British authorities for not cooperating with the second Barron Report.

In this case Mr Justice Henry Barron looked at the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973 which claimed three lives but also looked at other atrocities at the time.

The committee has recommended the establishment of a victim’s charter, a full public inquiry, a civil suit against the British government and the creating of a truth and reconciliation process just like was witnessed in South Africa.

IOL

McDowell gives gardaí new powers in bill
16/02/2005 - 07:16:07

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has formally introduced legislation giving sweeping new powers to the gardaí.

Introducing the Criminal Justice Bill in the Dáil yesterday, Mr McDowell said it was designed to redress the balance of rights in society, which, he claimed, had “shifted too far in favour of the accused”.

The Bill provides for increased detention periods, gives gardaí the right to take body samples without permission and allows chief superintendents to sign search warrants in exceptional circumstances.

It also allows witness statements to be used in court even if the person who gave the statement has retracted it or has refused to testify.

The Human Rights Commission has expressed concern about the increased detention periods and the provision allowing chief superintendents to sign search warrants.

BreakingNews.ie

IRA speak out against ‘brutal’ McCartney killing

16/02/2005 - 18:09:37

The IRA tonight washed their hands of the republicans suspected of a Belfast pub brawl murder.

In a statement tonight, the IRA said it was not involved in what it described as a brutal killing.

But significantly, they added: “Those who were involved must take responsibility for their own actions which run contrary to republican ideals.”

A top IRA man is one of the chief suspects linked to the murder of Robert McCartney, aged 33. He was battered and stabbed to death on January 30 after a bar fight broke out in front of up to 100 people.

With his family claiming witnesses have been frightened into silence, frustrated detectives have struggled to get the evidence needed to charge any suspects.

The republican leadership has been under intense pressure to help identify the killers, and after relatives today met the US Consul in Belfast, Dean Pittman, they were forced to act as part of a damage limitation exercise.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, whose party still refuses to recognise the Northern Ireland Police Service, has resisted recommending co-operation with the force.

Instead he has urged anyone with information to alert a solicitor or the family.

But Mr Pittman pressed for more to reassure those who may be too scared to come forward. He said: “Recent statements from political leaders are a welcome first step. But political leaders hold a public trust and should, to the best of the ability, help guarantee the safety of those who co-operate with the police.”

As the furore over the attack deepened, the IRA spoke out against any attempt to gag witnesses.

The statement added: “We wish to extend our sympathy to the McCartney family for the loss of Robert and for the grief that they are suffering.

“The IRA was not involved in the brutal killing of Robert McCartney. It has been reported that people are being intimidated or prevented from assisting the McCartney family in their search for truth and justice.

“We wish to make it absolutely clear that no-one should hinder or impede the McCartney family in their search for truth and justice. Anyone who can help the family in this should do so.”

BBC

IRA denies role in Belfast murder

The IRA has claimed it was not involved in the killing of Robert McCartney.

Mr McCartney, 33, was stabbed after a pub fight in Belfast two weeks ago. His family said republicans were pressuring witnesses not to talk to the police.

However, in an statement issued to a Belfast journalist, the IRA said no-one should hinder his family “in their search for truth and justice”.

The statement also urged those involved in the murder to take responsibility for their actions.

Mr McCartney’s family has called upon Sinn Fein to use its influence to make sure his killers “have nowhere to hide”.

Earlier on Wednesday Sinn Fein Justice spokesman Gerry Kelly said his party is doing “all it can” to help the family.

Mr Kelly, who stopped short of urging people to go to the police, said he accepted the family’s belief that some witnesses in the case had been intimidated.

After meeting with Consul General Dean Pittman on Wednesday, the family welcomed “belated comments” by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams urging people to give information about the killing.

The murder victim’s sister Claire McCartney said: “We are in full agreement that those involved did not ‘act like republicans or on behalf of republicans’.

“However, the call for those with information to go to a solicitor, priest or ourselves raises questions such as what would this achieve? Would this bring Robert’s murderers to justice? Would this secure convictions?

“We call upon Sinn Fein to bring all its influence to bear on those who have the power to ensure that these individuals are left with nowhere to hide.

“We are aware of Sinn Fein’s policy on the police, but Sinn Fein, as other political parties, are capable of not being seen to take a certain course of action.

“These individuals must face justice if we are to move on from Robert’s death. The community needs to feel safe and free also from these psychopaths.”

In a statement issued after the talks, Mr Pittman said: “Political leaders hold a public trust and should, to the best of their ability, help guarantee the safety of those who cooperate with the police.”

BBC

Adams ‘might be wrong’ on robbery

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has said he “might be wrong” in his belief the IRA was not involved in a £26.5m Northern Bank robbery in Belfast.

However, he insisted Sinn Fein had nothing to do with the raid at the bank’s headquarters on 20 December.

Mr Adams made the comments in an interview for a Spanish radio station, during a three-day visit to Spain.

The police and the body monitoring paramilitary activity have blamed the raid on the IRA. The IRA has denied it.

Mr Adams is currently in Spain promoting his book Hope and History.

He is also holding discussions with politicians during his visits to Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao.

During a lengthy interview for the Madrid radio station, Cardenasur, the Sinn Fein president was again questioned about allegations that the IRA carried out the Northern Bank raid.

Mr Adams replied that “no-one except the bank robbers” knew who had robbed the bank.

He pointed out that the IRA had said it was not involved. He said he believed them adding: “Maybe I’m wrong, but I believe them.”

He assured Spanish listeners that Sinn Fein was not involved and pointed to the Chief Constable Hugh Orde’s recent comment that he had no idea whether Sinn Fein people had prior knowledge.

Mr Adams acknowledged that the allegations about the raid had added to the “bad political atmosphere”, but expressed hope that there could be forward movement after the forthcoming general election.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said the Northern Ireland Assembly should be recalled to set in motion the system for excluding Sinn Fein from government.

Mr Trimble, who has written to the prime minister, said it should be announced when the Northern Ireland secretary makes a Commons statement next week.

Paul Murphy is set to give his response to a report which said some Sinn Fein leaders sanctioned the Northern Bank raid.

The Independent Monitoring Commission report said the party should bear its share of the blame for a series of robberies and that it should face financial sanctions.

The commission said it would have recommended Sinn Fein’s exclusion from office if the assembly was still sitting.

Mr Murphy said he would consider the commission’s recommendations and planned to make a further statement in the House of Commons next week.

Daily Ireland

The good old days

by Danny Morrison

If you are under 18 - in fact, if you are under 28 or 38 - I would prefer if you discontinued reading now. This sympathy notice has got nothing to do with you and is strictly for elderly people of my generation who remember the good old days.
In the good old days there were no iPods, video phones, alcopops, Playstations, pierced noses or bellybuttons. One’s hair was licked and stuck down, not gelled and stood up. Men’s hands were calloused. Any woman worth her melt had varicose veins. Only the insurance man and priest owned a car. Everybody went to confession, Mass and Communion at least once a week, and only in England did people win the pools, get divorced or strangled. (Only one lie has been told about the good, old days and that is that we all loved the Twelfth.)
Yes, and there was no such thing as a couch potato. In the days before remote controls one had to physically rise from the chair or settee, cross the linoleum, approach the radiogramme and switch on a knob. You had time to clear out the ashes, light the fire, eat a fry and smoke two Park Drives before the set warmed up. Then you could manually tune in your favourite radio station from a choice of four, or in the case of your TV switch a knob for your choice of BBC or UTV which you could watch until closedown at 10.30.
Life was so simple. Fair enough, after every gusty night you had to send one of the male offspring that you sired up into the cobwebbed and sooty glory-hole to take verbal instructions via granny in her favourite chair, Ma in the hall and you on the landing, on which direction the aerial should be turned for optimum reception.
Those were the days when you could tell honest Protestant homes not just by their flagpoles but by their firm, proud and secure aerials on the outside and their licences in the sideboard ready to be produced for inspection. But you knew which areas wanted a united Ireland because sentinels kept guard for the detection van and in their sleeked homes the cunning natives always kept the TV volume at low. Not one outside aerial was to be seen, but each telltale home had a son who resembled a chimney sweep.
Folks, I am feeling nostalgic because last week we parted with an old but working TV and bought a TV which needs a 40-button remote that could have landed the Huygens probe on Titan, were I able to use it. There was nothing wrong with the old television, but when, for my birthday, my brother bought me a CD/DVD player (whose remote has 39 buttons) I discovered that we needed a new TV with two SCART sockets if we were to be able to continue watching the video. The new TV is great but we can no longer record programmes and, ironically, might have to buy a new video – if they are still making them.
Our coffee table now looks like NASA control. There are remotes for the radio, the TV, the cable box, the CD/DVD, the video, as well as a remote handset for the house telephone and a mobile phone connected to a charger. With help from Age Concern we got them all tuned in.
It’s very simple, really. You need one remote, let’s call it A, to switch on the TV; another, B, to surf channels; go back to A to work the teletext, but use B to view the cable guide. For some reason we can no longer switch through the channels by using the video remote, C, but have to use A to activate C. We were told that C would be overridden if we pressed D, the remote for the CD/DVD, and vice versa, but they have been tuned to different ‘EXT’ channels and so to access D you have to go back to A and press a button which deactivates B.
The CD/DVD came with a book slightly smaller than ‘War and Peace’. I have been reading it for a month now in bed each night and thought I had the plot worked out. The player has a facility called ‘Locking the disc tray (Child Lock)’ and explains that this is ‘to prevent children from opening it’ whereas, in practice, it penalises adults. ‘Analyse This’ has been locked in it since we got it. The booklet does explain that to remove the disk you can unlock the tray when it is in ‘standby mode’. So I went to the index to find out what ‘standby mode’ was and there between ‘Speakers’ and ‘Subtitles’ it was not.
The new television is the only thing that works though the screen which has a habit of shrinking and enlarging depending on its mood. We don’t use our DVD player, nor, since we got the TV, the video which can now only play with blue waves undulating across the scene, making one seasick.
We spoke to the salesman in the television shop. “Ah! You have heterodyne interference,” he explained with aplomb. Is there anything we can do, we asked in desperation.
He smiled. “No problem! What you need is a new remote which will cure everything…”

Daily Ireland

Combat self-harm call

A leading consultant psychiatrist will today call for a co-ordinated approach to combat the alarming numbers of people who self-harm in the North of Ireland.
Dr Maria O’Kane will speak in Belfast to a delegation of 150 representatives from voluntary, community, statutory organisations, churches, and the education sector who hope to put in place a self-harm action plan by this evening.
Each year, approximately 1,000 people attend the Accident and Emergency Department in the Mater Hospital in Belfast with injuries resulting from deliberate self-harm. Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between self-harming behaviour and suicide.
However, the Zest counselling support service in Derry is testament to the impact that counselling can have in terms of preventing suicide amongst those who self-harm.
The centre helps up to 500 people who self-harm each year, but since it was founded in 1996, they have received no reports of suicide amongst those who have completed counselling treatment.
Project manager at the centre, Noella McConnellogue, has a past history of trauma and self-harm in her own life.
She says that the North of Ireland has a dire need for more services like Zest: “Hundreds of people here are crying out for help,” she told Daily Ireland yesterday.
“But it’s an issue that people are frightened of. Our consultation group of young people say that they need people to stop looking at the scars and start seeing the emotion and hurt that is causing it. If we deal with the underlying issue, there’s a very strong chance that the sufferer won’t take their life.”
Ms McConnellogue, who suffered severe trauma as a teenager when her father was killed in an explosion, explained that self-harm is sometimes associated with alcohol or drug abuse: “In these cases, people tend to think that if the person simply stops drinking or using drugs, they would stop harming themselves. But that’s not the solution. We need to address the underlying issues.”
Medical evidence has shown that of those who die by suicide, a high number will have had a previous suicide or self-harm attempt. The North’s suicide rate is considerably higher than Britain, with 19 people in every 100,000 taking their own lives. Between July and September of last year, 31 people died through suicide in the North.
However, statistics are lower than in the South, where suicide accounts for almost a third of all deaths in the 15-to 24-year-old age group.
Figures released for the South show that in real terms more people in the 15-24 age group are taking their own lives than are killed in road accidents.
Pat McCartan, North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust Chairman, said that the scale of the response to today’s conference, which has been organised by the trust in association with the Mater Hospital, is indicative of the concern and need in the community for support and services.
“Self-harm and suicidal behaviours are complex behaviours with multiple causes and require a co-ordinated range of support and treatment services,” said Ms McCartan.
“We want to use the day to begin to develop an action plan which will provide support to those engaged in self-injury and their families and carers. This conference will kick-start that process.

Daily Ireland

Government buildings taken over in protest

**photo on site

Republican protesters blockaded key government buildings in Belfast and Derry yesterday.
The co-ordinated protests began at 11am and were billed as the latest stage in Sinn Féin’s strategy of “democratic resistance”.
They came in the wake of last week’s Independent Monitoring Commission report, which blamed the IRA for the Northern Bank heist and recommended sanctions against Sinn Féin.
Derry assembly member Raymond McCartney hinted that more protests could follow. The monitoring commission last week claimed that members of the Sinn Féin leadership had been involved in “sanctioning” the bank robbery in Belfast.
The body also alleged that senior unnamed Sinn Féin members were also leading IRA members.
It blamed these people for overseeing a range of robberies over the last year.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams angrily rejected the commission’s report as “rubbish” and challenged Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to have him arrested if the allegations were true.
Yesterday, more than 100 republican activists occupied the foyers and front entrances of Windsor House and Bedford House in Belfast city centre.
Doors were chained and padlocked, and workers prevented from entering or leaving the buildings.
The protesters carried placards and banners saying “143,000 voters are not wrong — we will not be criminalised”.
Eight members of the PSNI watched the protests from a distance.
Similar protests took place in Derry, involving dozens of republicans.
Work was brought to a standstill at Orchard House in Derry city centre and the main tax office at Duncreggan Road as placard-bearing protesters once again padlocked themselves into the buildings
Speaking outside Orchard House, Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney said there is deepening frustration among republicans and he hinted that more protests are likely to follow.
Mr McCartney said he had been contacted by the protest organisers shortly after 11am.
“We have come here to the Northwest Development Office to protest at this IMC report,” he said.
“The workers here have been told that this peaceful protest will last for 45 minutes.
“This is another example of the continuing frustration of people who no longer feel that it is enough to protest passively.
“There is a degree of inconvenience but this is part of a series of events to show solidarity with Sinn Féin representatives and the party as a whole.”
The PSNI went to the scene at Duncreggan Road but took no action, watching the protest from a short distance. All the protests ended without incident afer 45 minutes.

Daily Ireland

DUP man vows to lead Orangemen through Cork

Orangemen will take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Cork led by DUP hardliner Nelson McCausland, Daily Ireland can reveal.
The North Belfast MLA confirmed his Orange Lodge would be taking up the Cork invitation just hours after he joined with his unionist colleagues on Belfast City Council to refuse funding for a planned St Patrick’s Day carnival in Belfast.
And, despite his opposition to funding for the Belfast carnival, Cllr McCausland admitted his Cross of St Patrick Orange Lodge would be asking Belfast City Hall to pay for its Cork visit.
According to its mission statement, the Cross of St Patrick’s Orange Lodge believes the heritage of St Patrick has been “hijacked by Roman Catholicism and republicanism”.
A former head of the Lord’s Day Observance Society and one-time advocate of an Independent Six County state, Cllr McCausland served as an independent and as a UPP councillor in Belfast before joining the DUP.
“It is true that my lodge will be going to Cork on March 17,” the DUP MLA told Daily Ireland. “I don’t know if we will be parading with a band but I do know we will not be flying any flags. The only thing the Orangemen will be carrying is a bannerette bearing the Cross of St Patrick.”
At Belfast City Council’s monthly meeting on Monday evening, unionist representatives on Belfast City Council united with the Alliance Party to block support for the annual St Patrick’s Day party in Belfast city centre. The mainly nationalist event — which has been consistently opposed by unionists — attracts over 20,000 people each year into the heart of the city.
The decision to invite the Orange Order to march through Cork City on St Patrick’s Day has split Cork City Council with one politician threatening a boycott.
Sinn Féin’s two Cork City councillors, Annette Spilllane and Jonathan O’Brien, have said they will be raising objections to the Orange Order visit at Monday night’s meeting of the local council.
Independent councillor Con O’Connell described the invite as ‘insulting’.
“This is an insult to Irish nationalism and Catholicism,” said Mr O’Connell. “The Orangemen will be marching past the national monument that commemorates hundreds of Corkmen who died fighting the British and loyalists from 1798 up until the 1920s. Having the Orange Order parade by the monument is an insult to the memory of all those patriots. I am not at all happy and will boycott the St Patrick’s Day Carnival if the Orange Order takes part.”
However, Fianna Fáil Mayor of Cork Seán Martin says the Orange Order invitation is part of his efforts to embrace all the cultures of Ireland.
“I can understand people having concerns but this is a genuine attempt to make St Patrick’s Day in Cork — the European Capital of Culture — embracing and all-inclusive. The Orange Order will probably parade alongside other minority groups such as the Chinese community.”
A spokesman for the Orange Order said it was due to make an official announcement on the invite to travel to Cork for St Patrick’s Day later today.

BreakingNews.ie

Adams suggests Irish role in Basque peace process

16/02/2005 - 16:29:32

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams suggested today an Irish priest should mediate in the Spanish government’s conflict with Basque terrorists.

In Madrid, he said he believes there is an opportunity in Spain to launch a peace process.

Adams is in Spain for a three days to launch a translated version of his political memoirs, Ireland’s Long Road to Peace.

He said that, for Spain to end its conflict with Eta, a mediator was needed and suggested Northern Irish priest Alex Reid, who also worked for peace in Ireland in the early 1980s.

Adams was to travel north to meet Basque regional president, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, and Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the outlawed radical Basque party Batasuna, considered to be the political wing of terror group Eta.

The Spanish government denies that it is talking with Eta saying the armed group must first declare a ceasefire and give up its weapon caches as a sign of good faith.

Eta has been blamed for more than 800 deaths since the late 1960s in its campaign for an independent Basque homeland in land straddling northern Spain and south-west France.

Its latest attack on February 9, a car bomb injured at least 43 people near Madrid’s convention centre just hours before King Juan Carlos and Mexican President Vicente Fox were to inaugurate a major art fair.

Belfast Telegraph

Bomb alert at city’s tourist office
Traffic disrupted in series of incidents

By Michael McHugh
16 February 2005

Newry City Hall was today evacuated after a suspicious package was found at the building’s tourist office.

It was later declared a hoax and the building was reopened. Staff had been evacuated from Newry’s City Hall and Sean Hollywood Arts Centre after police found the suspicious package.

An earlier security operation in the city was also declared a hoax.

And in a separate incident in Lurgan, a bomb investigation ended shortly after 10am and was also declared a hoax.

Traffic was disrupted in both Lurgan and Newry during the morning rush hour and caused major roads to be sealed off.

Commenting on the Newry City Hall operation a PSNI spokeswoman said: “A suspicious package was found at a tourist office. The building was evacuated.”

A spokeswoman for Newry and Mourne District Council said: “A suspicious parcel was discovered by staff in Newry City Hall this morning when opening the post.

“The matter has now been passed for investigation to the appropriate authorities.”

The first suspicious object was discovered near the Abbey Road and Water Street areas of Newry at around 8.45am.

Following a controlled explosion it was found to be a hoax.

SDLP councillor John McArdle said the incident was reminiscent to the dark days of the Troubles.

“I think it’s an absolute disgrace. They want us to return to the 30 years during which we suffered in this area,” he said.

“Whoever is carrying this out should be ashamed of themselves.”

Traffic diversions have been set up at Kildare Street and Sugar Island in the city. News of the alert came at around 8am and Army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene at the junction of Lake Street and Antrim Road.

Traffic on roads surrounding the Old Soye’s Mill part of the town was affected. There has been no indication of any paramilitary involvement. Construction workers at the Forest Glade Developments site were unable to go to work as traffic was diverted around the police cordon.

IOL

McCartney murder mystery deepens

16/02/2005 - 07:27:29

The CCTV footage mystery surrounding a Belfast pub brawl murder deepened today after it emerged that cameras were not operating when the killers struck.

Detectives probing the alleged IRA gang stabbing of Robert McCartney, 33, have seized up to 30 security tapes from a city centre bar where trouble first flared.

A slot machine was also removed as part of the inquiry.

Even though the victim, a forklift driver, was battered and knifed after he left Magennis’s bar, it had been suspected that crucial film was seized by republicans in a cover-up operation.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has refused to say whether the CCTV images were available.

A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed today: “One of the lines of inquiry we are following at the moment is that there was a tape in the machine.”

But sources close to the investigation disclosed that equipment used to monitor the premises was not recording when the deadly row flared on January 30.

The latest twist came as Mr McCartney’s family prepared to meet the US Consul General in Belfast, Dean Pittman.

They want President George Bush’s government to intervene as they seek to force the killers to be brought to justice.

The McCartney’s believe the gang who murdered the father of two has been protected, and witnesses intimidated.

Although police have questioned seven men, including a top IRA man, no-one has yet been charged.

As the family’s campaign has intensified, so has the political pressure on Sinn Féin.

With SDLP leader Mark Durkan pledging to raise the case with Mr Bush’s Northern Ireland aide during a transatlantic trip this week, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern warned the attack had more serious consequences than December’s Northern Bank heist, also blamed on the IRA.

Republicans have now come out heavily against the murderers, claiming they would have no part in hiding the killers and that the family deserved to see them captured.

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said: “I don’t care who was involved in this horrible killing.

“Had I been anywhere near where this terrible killing took place, I would immediately have gone to the family and made a statement of what happened there.

“Let me be clear, there will be no cover up. Sinn Féin people will not be involved in covering up this action.”

The McCartneys, who met Mr Kelly yesterday, now believe Sinn Féin is sincere.

But one of the victim’s sister, Paula McCartney, said: “We need to be more convinced they will be handed over.

“It’s not in Sinn Féin’s interests to cover this up and they seem just as eager as us to get the people who did this.”

IOL

Shots fired at holiday home of Justice Minister

16/02/2005 - 09:10:26

An incident in which a shot was fired at the holiday home of Justice Minister Michael McDowell was condemned as “scandalous” by the Opposition today.

Gardaí are investigating after a window in the house near Rooskey, Co Roscommon, was discovered broken and a spent cartridge was found nearby.

Officers would not confirm that Mr McDowell’s house had been targeted. However, builders working on the home made the discovery and alerted gardaí who sealed off the premises.

Labour’s justice spokesman Joe Costello today described the attack as “scandalous” and “unprecedented”.

“The minister is quite a controversial figure but to threaten his safety and his privacy is a very serious matter.

“It’s not just an attack on Mr McDowell as a minister but as a father and a husband and a householder,” Mr Costello added.

“Whether it is a prank or something more sinister, it is very worrying.”

Gardaí and the Department of Justice refused to comment on new security arrangements around the controversial home.

It was the subject of a legal battle after Roscommon County Council refused to extend planning permission for the development. In January the High Court allowed the minister a further three months to carry out building works.

The workers found the broken window at the house today. However, the incident is believed to have taken place last weekend.

Construction work on the house is understood to have restarted.

BBC

Call to Sinn Fein over killers

Robert McCartney, 33, was murdered in Belfast city centre

Sinn Fein must use all its influence to make sure the killers of Robert McCartney “have nowhere to hide”, his family has said.

Mr McCartney, 33, was murdered in Belfast two weeks ago.

His family has said republicans were pressuring witnesses not to talk about the murder.

However, they welcomed “belated comments” by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams appealing for people to give information on the killing.

The McCartney family was speaking before a meeting with the US consul general in Belfast.

The murder victim’s sister Claire McCartney said: “We are in full agreement that those involved did not ‘act like republicans or on behalf of republicans’.

“However, the call for those with information to go to a solicitor, priest or ourselves raises questions such as what would this achieve? Would this bring Robert’s murderers to justice? Would this secure convictions?

“We call upon Sinn Fein to bring all its influence to bear on those who have the power to ensure that these individuals are left with nowhere to hide.

“We are aware of Sinn Fein’s policy on the police, but Sinn Fein, as other political parties, are capable of not being seen to take a certain course of action.

“These individuals must face justice if we are to move on from Robert’s death.The community needs to feel safe and free also from these psychopaths.”

Lines of inquiry

Mr Adams joined appeals for people to give information about the killing.

He says if people do not feel comfortable talking to the police they should pass on information to the family or a solicitor.

However, SDLP MLA Alban Maginness, a barrister, said it was nonsense for Sinn Fein to suggest this as lawyers were bound by confidentiality.

“They are trying to evade or to avoid telling police what actually happened and they want people to really enter into this quasi legal charade,” he said.

The police have said almost 500 lines of inquiry were being followed by detectives investigating the murder.

They also said a large quantity of CCTV pictures were being examined.

However, detectives have refused to comment on claims that a tape was missing from the bar where the fight took place.

The murder weapon has not yet been found.

United States consul general Dean Pittman is meeting members of Mr McCartney’s family on Wednesday.

RTE News

Jacinta, Fancisco & Lucia in 1917

Last of Fatima children laid to rest

15 February 2005 23:24

The last of three children who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917 was buried today.

Lucia dos Santos was buried after a procession marked by tears, flowers and handkerchiefs.

Thousands of mourners packed the streets of Coimbra in Portugal, 150 kilometres north of Lisbon, as the Carmelite nun’s hearse passed.

Sister Lucia, who as a child described visions which the Catholic Church later said foretold the attempt to kill Pope John Paul in 1981, died on Sunday aged 97.