SAOIRSE32

Newshound

(Irish News)

A veteran Derry IRA man who was vocal in his criticism of the Sinn Féin leadership has accused republicans of colluding with the state to silence him.

Mickey Donnelly, one of the original ‘hooded men’ who successfully sued the British government on torture charges, claims a gang who beat him and his family in 1998 were assisted by police.

Mr Donnelly’s allegations follow last week’s conviction of 38-year-old Hugh Sheerin from Marlborough Road in Derry for his part in the assault.

Sheerin was given a three-year suspended sentence at Belfast Crown Court after being found guilty of hijacking a taxi, detaining a person against his will, causing grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon and five counts of assault.

No-one else has been convicted of any charges relating to the assault on Mr Donnelly, in which he suffered a broken leg, fractured hand and serious head and body injuries.

He said the gang burst into his home and used a CS spray on his wife and assaulted his daughters, one of whom was only 11.

At the time he accused a Provisional IRA punishment gang of carrying out the attack.

But in a letter to The Irish News Mr Donnelly went further and accused the RUC – and latterly the PSNI – of colluding with republicans to “cover up of the actions of the Provisional IRA’s armed gangs”.

He alleged that the police knew of the attack on his home beforehand, that they “facilitated” the perpetrators and “hampered” the investigation into the assault.

Mr Donnelly said he was beaten up because of his opposition to the Good Friday Agreement.

In his detailed allegations, the Derry republican said that on the night of the attack he was stopped at a police checkpoint minutes from his home.

“The patrol’s only question to me was whether I was returning directly home,” he said.

“I refused to answer this question and was threatened with arrest. After persistent repetition of this one question I was only let go after I answered in the affirmative.”

He said that five minutes later a gang of six armed men entered his home and assaulted him and his family.

Mr Donnelly alleged that police officers arrived at the house moments later – even though the incident had not been reported.

He listed a further series of allegations which include the police’s failure to take forensic evidence from the getaway car, losing vital clues and failing to interview suspects.

The former Long Kesh internee alleged charges were only brought against Sheerin after the assault was raised with the Police Ombudsman’s office.

Mr Donnelly claimed that Sheerin pleaded guilty to the charges in order to prevent damaging revelations for Sinn Féin and the PSNI.

“We can only ask who are they protecting and why?,” he said.

“Why has no action been taken against the other members of the gang?”

A Sinn Féin spokesman last night (Sunday) dismissed Mr Donnelly’s allegations, adding that Hugh Sheerin had not been charged with IRA membership.

A police spokesperson said that if Mr Donnelly was not satisfied with the police investigation then he should contact the Police Ombudsman’s office.

Mr Donnelly did not direct any of his criticism at the judge in the case who handed down a suspended sentence to Sheerin.

In his judgement Judge Weatherup cited a number of reason for the suspended sentence including the time which had lapsed since the events, Sheerin’s “stable family relationship, dependent children, mature years, ill health” and the absence of a paramilitary background.

The judge also took into account his guilty plea and accepted the police opinion that he had had “a periphery role” in the attack.

Sheerin’s employment history also had merit as did his “settled family circumstances” and “good background”.

The judge said Sheerin was “regarded as a quietly spoken, articulate, thoughtful individual” who a Probation Service report declared to be “of low risk to the public and low likelihood of reoffending”.

Sheerin’s record was at least 13 to 15 years old and “concerns a number of minor motoring indiscretions relating to R plates, driving licences and one incidence of careless driving”, he added.

June 28, 2005
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This article appeared first in the June 27, 2005 edition of the Irish News.

Irish Examiner

28 June 2005
By Donal Hickey

THE daughter of Kerry North Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris is set to become Kerry mayor as part of a deal with Fianna Fáil.

Student Toireasa Ferris, 25, is expected to be elected to the chair at tomorrow’s annual meeting of the 27-member Kerry County Council, in Tralee, with a large group of republican supporters in the public gallery.

Following last year’s local elections, Fianna Fail’s Ned O’Sullivan won the mayorship in what was described as a “technical arrangement” between 11 FF councillors, two SF councillors and the two Healy-Rae brothers who go under the banner of Independent FF.

The deal gave a comfortable majority to FF, whose members will have the mayoralty for three of the five years of the council’s term. One of the Healy-Raes is due to occupy the chair in the fourth year.

Ms Ferris had been co-opted onto her father’s county council seat prior to last year’s elections.

A graduate in law and European studies, she is in the final stages of a master’s degree in human rights and criminal justice at Queen’s University, Belfast.

The last time Sinn Féin held the chair was in 1970/’71 when the incumbent was the late Cllr Redmond O’Sullivan, from Killarney.

With the election of Martin Ferris to the Dáil, in 2002, Sinn Féin has gained a firm foothold in the Kerry North constituency, where it has five elected councillors.

Belfast Telegraph

By Marie Foy
27 June 2005

A new service for homeless people was unveiled by Extern in Belfast today.

The Multi-disciplinary Homeless Support Team is the first of its kind in the UK.

Liz Cuddy, Extern’s chief executive, said: “Extern believes that the development of this new team will make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable homeless people in Belfast.

“We look forward to working with our colleagues within statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that a comprehensive service is delivered to those who need it most.”

The interagency project is funded by the Housing Executive, Eastern Health and Social Services Board, North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.

The new Homeless Support Team is staffed by social workers and nurses who will work with homeless people with multiple needs across a range of disciplines.

The role of the team is to work closely with the relevant statutory and voluntary agencies, to assess and support homeless people with multiple needs.

The team also has a floating support role to give homeless people on-going support.

BreakingNews.ie

28/06/2005 - 17:59:04

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today that he may bring the British government to the European Court of Human Rights over the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

The Taoiseach said he was consulting the Attorney General on a case for discovery of British security documents relating to the bombings.

The Justice for Forgotten Group has welcomed the announcement.

Belfast Telegraph

By Jonathan McCambridge
28 June 2005

Traditional identity parades of criminal suspects in Northern Ireland are set to be replaced in many cases with ‘virtual’ parades using a video system, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.

The PSNI plan to introduce the controversial Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording (Viper) system before 2006.

It is believed the new video system will speed up the justice process and prove less traumatic for victims who will not have to come face-to-face with their attacker.

However, there has been some criticism of the Viper system in the rest of the UK where some ex-offenders have claimed it could lead to miscarriages of justice.

Northern Ireland currently has one identification parade suite - at Donegall Pass police station in Belfast.

However, a recent report by the Independent Commissioner for Detained Terrorist Suspects said the suite was “quite unable to cope with a large number of suspects”.

The Viper system uses a national database of volunteers’ images to compile a video line-up. The system uses clips of possible face types with film of a suspect in the same circumstances.

It will mean victims will no longer feel worried by the physical presence of their attacker at the station.

Instead they will be able to view the line-up at home or in hospital.

The Viper system was introduced in England and Wales by the then Home Secretary David Blunkett in 2001.

Traditional ID parades are expensive and often take days to organise. Often they have to be cancelled because of a lack of appropriate participants.

However, Viper can put together an ID parade in 30 minutes.

Security Minister Shaun Woodward said: “The PSNI plans to introduce the Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording ystem in Northern Ireland later this year.

“Its introduction in Northern Ireland will benefit all those involved in the criminal justice system, including the Police Service, the prosecution service, the legal profession, suspects and witnesses.”

However, some ex-offenders’ charities in England have criticised the Viper arrangements because the suspects cannot move about, turn around or walk up and down the room.

Sinn Féin

Published: 28 June, 2005

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP said that remarks today by direct rule Minister Shaun Woodward have damaged confidence in his ability to deal with the very serious issue of the suicide:

“Shaun Woodward met with families bereaved by suicide and community activists last week. He heard from them their experience of suicide. He claimed he was in listening mode. However, based on his remarks today, he clearly wasn’t listening to those he met last week.

“In his remarks today, he sought to abdicate responsibility for the failure of the Department of Health. And what greater failure could there be than having more people, especially young people, die in the whole of Ireland as a result of suicide than in most other countries in Europe.”

“Undoubtedly the conflict in all it forms has had an impact on suicide. However, the evidence shows that social deprivation, unemployment, the lack of community resources, the under-funding of mental health services, and above all, the failure to develop a strategic approach to suicide prevention are in fact the greater cause of the higher than average levels of suicide particularly amongst our young people.

“Whilst Shaun Woodward holds the position of British direct ruler with responsibility for Health, he is responsible for the unforgivable failure of his Department to develop, fund and implement a suicide prevention strategy. Sinn Fein, together with families bereaved through suicide, and communities across the six counties will hold him accountable for rectifying that failure. No more excuses Mr Woodward - we want delivery of the strategies, policies and resources this serious issue requires.” ENDS

Sinn Féin

Published: 28 June, 2005

Sinn Féin Assembly Member, Raymond McCartney has called for the immediate suspension of the PSNI personnel who were seen on the UTV Insight programme physically assaulting members of the public. Mr McCartney has written to Nuala O’Loan’s office seeking an urgent meeting to address the issues relating to this incident.

Commenting on the TV images Mr McCartney said:

“Like most people I was enraged to once more see the footage of a vicious assault by a members of the PSNI on a number of young Derry people. This is further compounded by the fact that these same personnel remain on duty. Sinn Féin has requested a meeting with the Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan and we will use the meeting to raise a number of crucial questions.”

Mr McCartney went on to outline the questions he has raised in the letter which Sinn Féin has sent to Mrs O’Loan.

· “Did the Ombudsman seek the immediate suspension of the personnel involved?

· If not, then why not?

· If suspensions were asked for - then why was the request ignored?

Mr McCartney also stated that he will be drawing to the attention of Mrs O’Loan the report that her office commissioned on the use of batons by the PSNI.

Mr McCartney concluded:

Those who claim that the PSNI are now being held to account have serious questions to answer in relation to this incident. It appears to me that there is only one course of action possible and that is the immediate suspension of these personnel and their prosecution for assault and battery.” ENDS

Daily Ireland

A major Irish-language summer school will take place in Belfast next month.
A history of the Ulster Unionist Party, Islamic food and fiddle lessons will be among the ingredients of the McCracken Summer School which is now in its sixth year.
In addition to sustained local support, it has gained an international reputation attracting students from throughout the world.
It will run from Monday, July 25, through to Friday, July 29, and the majority of classes and events will be held at the 174 Trust, Duncairn Avenue, off the Antrim Road.
In addition to intensive Irish language classes for all levels and age groups, the school’s organisers have put together a varied programme of events.
While many of the events have an Irish theme there will be a distinct multi-cultural flavour on Wednesday, July 27. The diverse cultures that now make up Irish society will be celebrated with a particular emphasis on their cuisine.
Representatives of the Chinese, Indian and Latin American communities, as well as members of the Islamic Women’s Group, will be taking part.
As well as food prepared by the guests, the group Latino America Unida will be performing music and dance.
Alex Kane, who is a member of the Ulster Unionist Council, will deliver a lecture to mark the UUP’s centenary on Tuesday, July 25. Political commentator, historian and author Brian Feeney will join him for the lecture and talk on the history of Sinn Féin, which was also formed 100 years ago.
The McCracken Summer School organisers have provided a series of classes and events aimed at younger people.
Alongside an intensive Irish language course for adults, an intensive course for teenagers will be hosted at St Patrick’s College, Antrim Road.
Children will be able to take part in art workshops through Irish (for five to 11-year-olds) as well as story telling and Samba music sessions.
A range of events, which include drama, literature, music, dance and open discussion, will take place each evening throughout the week with something for all the family.
An exhibition of bog oak timber carved by Eamonn Maguire will run throughout the week.
Mr Maguire’s carvings have been presented to former US president Bill Clinton and Belfast-born music legend, Van Morrison.
Traditional Irish music will be a recurrent theme throughout the week, with workshops, and fiddle and tin whistle classes being held.
There will also be set dancing classes, lunchtime seisiuns and on Sunday, July 31 the summer school will be brought to a close with a céilí and supper at Belfast Castle. Dr Art Hughes, chairman of The McCracken Cultural Society, said it was a wide-ranging programme.
“The summer school is aimed at people from all backgrounds, creeds and abilities,” he said.
“It is there for young and old and we cordially invite people to come along to as much of the school as they can. No school can function without the participation of the students who bring it all to life.”
For more details or to reserve a place for one of the events, contact Maighréad Ní Chonghaile at 028 9074 9688.

Sinn Féin

Published: 28 June, 2005

Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness has welcomed the approval of a visa waiver for Sinn Féin representative to the U.S. Rita O’Hare.

Mr. McGuinness said:

“There was concern at the recent refusal of a visa waiver for Rita O’Hare. She has been traveling to the US for some years to ensure the continuing strong US support for the peace process. In the time ahead, all those elements of American support — the White House Administration, Congress and Senate and Irish America will continue to have a strong and crucial role to play. We would like to thank those in the US who supported the issuing of this visa.”ENDS

Note: Unfortunately a family bereavement has prevented Ms O’Hare from traveling to the US this week as planned, to meet with Congressional members and others in Washington DC and New York.

RTE

28 June 2005 15:22

The Ombudsman for Children has said she is frustrated that her office is unable to help some of the most vulnerable children because of restrictions in the 2002 Ombudsman for Children Act.

Emily Logan said the office is prevented from helping children in certain places of detention and is excluded from dealing with matters concerning the Garda and the law relating to asylum and citizenship.

She was speaking at the launch of the office’s first annual report.
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The office will submit a detailed report to the Oireachtas in April next year in the hope of extending its powers.

Ms Logan described her first year in the role as ‘challenging and frustrating’.

The report says the Ombudsman for Children’s Office received 177 complaints in its first 12 months and 85% of those within remit were dealt with successfully.

Almost 52% of complaints related to education; 16% to health and the remainder to issues of child protection, social welfare entitlements and asylum and immigration.

Indymedia Ireland

Na Fianna Eireann talk about recent attack on NYC radio program

Posted by Patrick

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BreakingNews.ie

28/06/2005 - 12:20:39

A Dundalk man was charged with membership of an illegal organisation at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Seamus McMahon (aged 36), of Ashbrook, Dundalk, Co Louth, was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on October 7 last year.

Detective Inspector Jim Sheridan, Dundalk, gave evidence of arresting McMahon at his home at 7.58am today under the Offences Against the State Act.

The detective inspector said he believed that McMahon was a member of an unlawful organisation when he arrested him.

The court remanded McMahon in custody until Friday, when a bail application is expected to be made.

BreakingNews.ie

28/06/2005 - 14:14:58

A Dublin man facing a charge of membership of an illegal organisation was freed on bail by the Special Criminal Court today.

Vincent Kelly (aged 20) of Empress Place, Ballybough, Dublin, was charged earlier this month with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on June 7.

Today, the court granted Kelly bail on his own bond of €100, an independent surety of €13,000 and a cash lodgement of €5,000.

The court also ordered Kelly to surrender his passport to gardaí, to sign on daily at Store Street Garda Station in Dublin, to abide by a curfew between 11pm and 7am and not to associate with anyone convicted of a scheduled offence.

Kelly was remanded on bail until October 4 next.

BBC

Admission to post-primary schools is being examined

Grammar school support groups said their reply to proposals for change in NI’s education system received a “frosty response” from government.

They handed over more than 7,000 documents at the Department of Education’s NI headquarters at Rathgael House, Bangor.

The government has decided that there should be no more academic selection of pupils for grammar schools.

The consultation was on how popular schools should select pupils.

Protesters said there should have been consultation about academic selection.

Instead, the decision was left to the education minister.

However, given that there was consultation on how popular schools should choose between pupils, the grammar school lobby took the opportunity to make its opposition clear.

Disputes

But they said that the presentation of a trolley load of boxes containing all their responses at the education board’s headquarters on Tuesday, did not go smoothly.

There were disputes about how many delegates would get into the department to deliver the documents and who would officially receive them.

Parent Claire Bain who was present as the responses were being handed over, said: “We moved our children back to NI because of the education system here.

“We know that the results are so much better over in Northern Ireland. Therefore my children are now at the school I was at.”

The protesters said that the consultation had been “veiled in secrecy” and that the government did not want to hear opposition.

Tim Mc Quoid from Concerned Parents for Education said he hoped that the government would taken note of the wishes of parents who took the time to join in the consultation.

“It seems that the department are not really interested in meeting us,” he said.

“There is more access to Downing Street than to the Department of Education today.”

A spokesperson for the department said this was an important consultation. However the department has rejected requests to extend the time limit.

Education Minister Angela Smith said she would consider the responses and would meet the organisations involved before coming to a decision.

After 2008, grammar schools will no longer be able to choose pupils on the basis of their academic performance with the end of the transfer test.

In January, the Department of Education published a list of options for what should happen when the 11-plus transfer test ends.

The department said the intelligence of a pupil would not be permitted as a factor. The decision to abolish the 11-plus transfer test and academic selection in Northern Ireland was announced in January 2004.

The announcement was made following consideration of the Costello Group’s report, a government-appointed working body, set up to suggest alternatives to the transfer tests.

Daily Ireland

By Connla Young
c.young@dailyireland.com

A pivotal figure in the peace process has said that political parties in Ireland currently pose a greater threat to peace than the IRA.
Belfast-based Fr Alex Reid, who was instrumental in negotiating the first IRA ceasefire, made the comments during a visit to NUI Galway to receive an honorary doctorate.
The respected cleric voiced his worry that fierce rivalry between political parties in the South in the lead up to the next general election could have a detrimental impact on the Good Friday Agreement at a time when the fragile process required new impetus.
The clergyman also warned that both the Irish and British governments needed to show leadership and renewed commitment if the prospect of fresh IRA campaign was to be avoided.
“If the British government does not reaffirm its commitment to equality through the Belfast agreement, and if the Irish government does not play its part by keeping a focus on the peace process, rather than on the perceived threat posed by Sinn Féin, we are facing a very risky situation.
“Language used by political representatives is very important and that’s why an insistence on IRA disbandment is non-productive. If the IRA disbands you run the risk of creating splits, many more Real IRAs. If its members are asked to stand down, that’s a different, more positive approach.”
The peace campaigner accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of playing into the DUP’s hands by criticising the Sinn Féin for party political reasons.
“Both governments have to be more authoritative, because if a situation develops where there is s still a refusal by unionists to agree to anything, and the IRA returns to the streets, you will will have a far more violent situation than before.
“This will illicit a violent loyalist response, which in turn will produce national defence committees and then the situation is out of control.”
The Catholic priest also spoke of the fear currently faced by unionists.
“Unionists are one of the this island’s greatest assets and I firmly believe that future economic success on this island depends on their expertise and commitment. However, currently they are like a frightened people, emerging from the barricades and facing a forest full of uncertain noise and not knowing which way to turn.”