SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph

Gray’s allies switch to UVF
‘Spice Boys’ move sparks unease

By David Gordon
13 April 2005

Close allies of ousted UDA leader Jim Gray have switched to the UVF in east Belfast, loyalist sources revealed today.

The individuals were part of the pro-Gray faction dubbed the “Spice Boys” because of their lifestyles and loud clothes.

Forty-seven-year-old Gray was stood down as the UDA’s “brigadier” in east Belfast last month.

He was also kicked out of the organisation, along with a small group of associates.

It’s understood three of them are now joining the UVF.

The move has caused unease in UDA circles in the east of the city.

A meeting of UDA and UVF representatives is believed to have been held yesterday to discuss the situation.

A loyalist source today said: “Three of them are joining the UVF. There is a family connection between the Gray grouping and the UVF in east Belfast.

“There are fears within the UDA that this will inflame things.

“Sooner or later, these Spice Boys will cause more trouble.”

Gray is currently in custody on money laundering charges.

He was arrested outside Loughbrickland in Co Down last week.

Gray is accused of possession of criminal property and concealment of criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

His girlfriend, 34-year- old Sharon Moss, appeared in court yesterday on 16 money laundering charges.

Gray has been named as her co-accused in the case.

Belfast estate agent Philip Johnston has been accused of involvement in money laundering by the same team of PSNI detectives.

He is denying the charges and is due to seek release from prison on bail at the High Court today.

The police investigation into alleged money laundering widened yesterday with 10 premises in Belfast being searched, including the offices of a law firm, estate agent and accountant.

Daily Ireland

Human rights questions at young offenders’ centre

It’s exactly one year since the North’s Human Rights Commission recommended that the Prison Service should abandon its proposal to move women prisoners from Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim to a unit at Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre on the outskirts of Belfast.
The move to Hydebank in June 2004 came after long-awaited access to Maghaberry by researchers for the Human Rights Commission.
The subsequent report by the researchers presented a series of conclusions which were highly critical of the Prison Service.
Speaking to Daily Ireland yesterday, a former female prisoner at Hydebank claimed that it is only a matter of time before a female inmate dies inside the controversial facility.
An informed source has also revealed that within the last fortnight one female prisoner had to be cut down after attempting to commit suicide using her clothing.
The Human Rights Commission has confirmed that within the past month, researchers have once again been denied access to the women’s section at Hydebank.
On Monday, April 4, a Sinn Féin delegation led by the party’s human rights spokesperson Caitríona Ruane spent five hours with women prisoners and senior officials in Hydebank.
And the Human Rights Commission also added its weight to a landmark judicial review over conditions taken by a serving prisoner in Belfast High Court last week.

“Despite the attempt to call it something else, if you have to take your kit off for a full body search, then it’s a strip search”

Widespread and serious concerns are now being expressed about the conditions for women prisoners at Hydebank.
The woman ex-prisoner, who spoke to Daily Ireland yesterday on condition of anonymity, said she believes “it is only a matter of time before a woman is found dead inside Hydebank at her own hands”.
Describing the first few weeks in Hydebank as “chaotic”, the ex-prisoner complained of a constant regime of strip-searching on social, legal and domestic visits.
“Despite the attempt to call it something else, if you have to take your kit off for a full body search, then it’s a strip search,” she said.
“The ratio of strip searching for men is lower, and it seems that a lot of the increase in harassment against women is related to the attitude of different members of staff.
“It all depends what staff are on duty. There are certain staff who make your life unbearable and when your cell is eventually opened you can hear the voices beforehand.
“You may as well curl up and hibernate,” she said.
Other key concerns about the conditions within the women’s section of Hydebank focus on the lack of toilets or wash hand-basins inside cells.
The night-call buzzer system is also occasionally broken down, meaning that women prisoners may not be released to use basic toilet facilities.
Both the Human Right Commission and Sinn Féin also expressed deep-seated concerns about the treatment afforded to women prisoners suffering with psychiatric problems, such as depression or suicidal tendencies.
Prisoners in these conditions are routinely housed in cells directly adjacent to punishment cells – a measure which has been heavily criticised.
The female ex-prisoner also highlighted ongoing “sexual abuse from the male offenders in Hydebank”.
“Despite the fact that there’s no direct association, we would still have had to walk past their windows going to the garden or the chapel, and were transported with them going to court,” she said.
Demanding immediate changes to the prison regime, the ex-prisoner added: “Women need to be in a facility on their own, with in-cell sanitation.
“When I was inside there was no rehabilition despite the fact that I had a drink problem.
“The educational needs for women need to be in place – it’s at best sporadic. They also need to develop proper policies and procedures for how they deal with female prisoners,” the ex-prisoner said.
Speaking to Daily Ireland last night, Linda Moore, a researcher with the Human Rights Commission, confirmed that she was again refused access to Hydebank last month.
“What we’re looking for is a situation where if we have serious concerns about any prisoner, we are able to go in and see for ourselves what the situation is,” Ms Moore said.
Attacking what she described as a “culture of non-disclosure” in state institutions across the North, Ms Moore said: “At this stage, we’re still very concerned about the use of the punishment block for suicidal women, and generally very concerned about how women, vulnerable to self-harm or suicide, are dealt with at the centre.”
Pointing to the Human Rights Commission’s original opposition to Hydebank as a venue for women prisoners, Ms Moore said the organisation’s view is “even stronger now”.
“Everything we said has been true, including the very serious harassment of women by boys when they are transported together and the incredibly inadequate facilities for women with babies.
“What we need is everyone and every agency concerned about this situation brought together to agree what the future is for women’s imprisonment,” Ms Moore said.
Following Sinn Féin’s visit to Hydebank, the party’s human rights spokesperson Caitríona Ruane said she is “appalled” by the conditions.
“We raised a litany of issues that, in our view, breach even basic compliance with the minimal international standards of human rights.
“I also agree with the view that certain members of staff are a cause of serious concern, many of the women are frightened and the nature of medical or psychiatric treatment is very bad,” Ms Ruane said.
“Some of these women are the most vulnerable in society. Many are mothers.
“Some don’t know their families, and some don’t have contact with their families. One woman is currently pregnant.
“It is imperative that a more humane regime is urgently put in place at Hydebank,” Ms Ruane said.
Sinn Féin has since brought its concerns directly to the Human Rights Commission calling for an international human rights rapporteur to be urgently asked to intervene at Hydebank.
The party is also writing formally to the Human Rights Commission and the Secretary of State Paul Murphy.
A Prison Service spokesperson last night admitted that “there is still much work to be done” at Hydebank.
He said that “no prisoner is stripped” during a strip search, and that all searches are “comensurate with risk and broadly at the same level as other like prisons across the UK”.
“Plans are in hand” for a separate hospital unit for females by Spring 2006 and “three safer cells” for vulnerable prisoners are being created away from the punishment cells for summer 2005, the spokesperson said.
He said that separation of remand and sentenced prisoners “might lead to isolation” and is not “practical”.
“Where practicable, male and female prisoners are transported separately.
“There has been only one complaint of verbal abuse since the females were transferred to Hydebank in June 2004.”
Regarding the lack of in-cell sanitation, the spokesperson said: “We have commenced a feasability study and sewer study to explore options and costs of providing integral sanitation.”
He also added that “there have only been two incidences” of the night-call buzzer system not working since June 2004.

Irish Independent

Girlfriend of ex-loyalist boss in court

DEPOSED loyalist paramilitary boss Jim Gray’s girlfriend appeared in court in Belfast yesterday.

Her appearance was part of a widening probe into an alleged money laundering racket.

Sharon Moss (34) was accused of 16 counts involving a total of £11,000 in cash.

The blonde and tanned care worker spoke only to confirm that she understood the charges.

A detective constable from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime branch told Belfast magistrates’ court that Moss, of Torgrange in Holywood, Co Down, could be connected with the alleged offences.

Moss was released on £5,000 of her own bail and two further sureties of £2,500 each.

It is understood one of the conditions of her bail is that she is to have no contact with Gray.

He has been named as her co-accused on the counts.

Although the detective said she had no objections to her being bailed, she added that conditions would have to be attached.

The resident magistrate told Moss she must appear in court again on June 7.

BBC

Three released in dumping probe

Three people arrested in connection with illegal dumping, money laundering and the theft of industrial equipment have been released.

One received bail and the other two have been released pending reports, said police.

Three are still being questioned by police. Six people were arrested on Tuesday as part of a police operation.

They were arrested as part of an investigation into the work of an organised criminal gang.

A total of 18 locations were raided in north Antrim, Fermanagh, Belfast and Derbyshire as part of the operation.

A team from Queen’s University in Belfast assisted the police at the search sites in Fermanagh.

It used specialist ground radar technology designed to locate deeply buried material.

The operation followed an investigation into illegal dumping in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland going back a number of months.

Last November, police investigating illegal dumping in Derrylin recovered stolen goods worth about £200,000.

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BBC

Court grants bail to estate agent

The accused owns six branches of an estate agency

A leading east Belfast estate agent facing money laundering charges has been granted bail.

Lawyers for Philip Johnston, 39, of Kings Road in the east of city made the application at the High Court on Wednesday.

He is accused of four charges of money laundering, which he has denied.

He was released on his own bail of £5,000, plus two sureties of £10,000 each. He was also ordered not to leave the country without police consent.

The court ordered him to sign in at a police station twice weekly.

Mr Johnston owns six branches of an estate agency across Belfast for which police had applied for warrants to search.

BBC

Five petrol bombs thrown at hotel

Smoke travelled to the second, third, fourth and fifth floors

Five petrol bombs have been thrown at a hotel close to the Sandy Row area in Belfast.

It happened at about 0400 BST on Wednesday at the Days Hotel in Hope Street.

Around 150 guests had to be evacuated, but the police said no-one was injured in the incident.

Damage was caused to the front and side of the hotel. The police said a motive for the attack had not yet been established.

Station Officer Harry Dawson said it was a very serious situation.

“There were five petrol bombs in total thrown at Days Hotel, directed to the back of the hotel, convenient to the oil tank and basement area,” he said.

“The fire itself was confined to a basement wall cavity, but the problem there was subsequently smoke travelled to the second, third, fourth and fifth floors.

“It was quite traumatic for the guests whenever it became apparent that it was a petrol bomb attack.”

He said one of the petrol bombs was directed at a fire exit door.