SAOIRSE32

Guardian

Jon Dennis
Saturday July 23, 2005

The scene outside Stockwell tube station in London after a man was shot dead by police. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

The man shot dead in Stockwell tube station yesterday was not connected to the attempted bombings of London on July 21, police said tonight.

Police said the shooting was a “tragedy” and they expressed “regret”.

In a statement, the Metropolitan police said: “We believe we now know the identity of the man shot at Stockwell underground station by police on Friday July 22 2005, although he is still subject to formal identification.

“We are now satisfied that he was not connected with the incidents of Thursday July 21 2005.

“For somebody to lose their life in such circumstances is a tragedy and one that the Metropolitan Police Service regrets.

“The man emerged from a block of flats in the Stockwell area that were under police surveillance as part of the investigation into the incidents on Thursday July 21.

“He was then followed by surveillance officers to the underground station. His clothing and behaviour added to their suspicions.”

Scotland Yard said the circumstances of the man’s death were being investigated by the Met’s directorate of professional standards, and will be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The fatal shooting at Stockwell happened at 10am yesterday when armed plain clothes police officers shot a man as he tried to board a train at the underground station.

The Asian man then bolted down an escalator and tried to get on a train before he was, according to witnesses, shot five times in the head by an officer with an automatic pistol.

Train passenger Mark Whitby said: “As the man got on the train I looked at his face. He looked from left to right, but he basically looked like a cornered rabbit, like a cornered fox. He looked absolutely petrified.

“He sort of tripped but they were hotly pursuing him and couldn’t have been more than two or three feet behind him at this time.

“They unloaded five shots into him. I saw it. He’s dead, five shots, he’s dead.”

The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, claimed yesterday that the shooting was “directly linked” to anti-terror operations.

‘No one should rush to judgment’

The Muslim Council of Britain tonight “expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the innocent man”.

“While we accept that the police are under tremendous pressure to apprehend the criminals who are attempting to cause carnage on the streets of London, it is absolutely vital that utmost care is taken to ensure that innocent people are not killed due to over-zealousness,” said Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the council’s secretary-general.

The council said it had “received numerous calls from distressed British Muslims” since yesterday’s shooting.

The human rights organisation Liberty said no one should “rush to judgment”

Liberty’s director Shami Chakrabarti said: “Our hearts go out to the family of the dead man and to the officers involved in this tragic incident … These are knife-edge split second decisions made in moments of grave danger. We have a massive shared interest in the protection of innocent lives.”

Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers in the capital, said: “It would be unwise to speculate on all the circumstances until we know what happened. Police officers in these circumstances are expected to make split second decisions that have lifelong consequences.”

Downing Street confirmed that Tony Blair had been informed of the latest development but made no further comment.

“The prime minister is kept updated with every development in relation to this investigation,” a No 10 spokeswoman said.

The Home Office did not want to comment on the shooting. “It’s an operational matter for the police,” said a spokeswoman.

Second man arrested in hunt for bombers

Meanwhile two men were tonight being questioned by police investigating Thursday’s attempted bomb attacks on London’s transport network.

Both men were arrested in raids on addresses in Stockwell, south London, near the tube station where the man was shot dead by police yesterday.

The first was arrested at about 4.30pm yesterday and the other at around midnight.

Both men are being held at London’s high-security Paddington Green police station.

Public response to CCTV images

The arrests came after police released closed-circuit TV pictures of four men suspected of trying to detonate the London bombs.

Police were today sifting through fresh information gathered from phone calls and emails they have received since police released CCTV images of the four bomb suspects. Almost 500 calls have been made to the anti-terrorist hotline and more than 80 emails have been received via the Met’s website.

Assistant commissioner Andy Hayman said today: “The responsible attitude shown the public in providing us with information, and the volume of calls we have received and the quality of information, is extremely encouraging.”

But he added: “We are still keen to hear from as many people as possible who have information about these suspects. Do you know them? Do you recognise them? Have you seen them anywhere, either on the day of the attacks, or before or since?

“I would remind everyone that these men should not be approached - if you see them, please call 999. Any other information can be given to the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800-789 321.

“Tell us what you know, and let us take responsibility for deciding if it is relevant. I would urge the public to store this number in their mobile phones and if you see or hear anything you think is suspicious, please use it.”

The first man was arrested after armed police stormed on to a Stockwell housing estate at about 4.30pm yesterday.

Police refused to comment on reports that he was one of the men captured in the CCTV pictures.

The man was thought to be the son-in-law of a woman living at the address raided by police. Neighbours said the family were Muslims, originally from Ethiopia.

The arrested man’s wife and young son were also led away by police, according to residents living in the same block of flats.

The arrest was part of a fast-moving day in the bid to trace the four men, who police believe were responsible for rucksack bombs found on underground trains at Oval, Warren Street and Shepherd’s Bush stations and on a No 26 bus in Shoreditch on Thursday.

The capital was on a state of alert and parts of the transport system were brought to a halt by security scares throughout the day.

Armed police also raided an address in Portnall Road, West Kilburn, west London, which they believe may have been connected to one of the bombers.

Witnesses reported seeing a robot sent into the garden before officers fired six shots into the windows and basement of the house from a building across the street and used CS gas.

Inter Milan cancel tour of England

Italian football giants Inter Milan today cancelled a planned tour of England, citing safety fears. The Serie A team were due to visit Leicester on Monday night before three further friendlies against Crystal Palace, Norwich and Portsmouth within the next week.

A statement on Inter’s official website said: “Football has taken a step back because of increasing serious events which touch the sensitivity of everyone. For this reason, and given the situation, the club has decided to cancel the team’s tour of England.” [More on Inter Milan’s decision]

RTE

23 July 2005 15:10

Following a bomb alert, the Portadown to Newry Line has been closed and trains cancelled.

Enterprise services from Portadown to Dundalk have been cancelled and there are now bus transfers in operation for passengers. On arrival in to Dundalk trains will operate as normal to Dublin.

Extra Translink services for the matches at Croke Park have been completely cancelled. Affected passengers will be refunded on Monday.

AA Roadwatch has warned of heavy volumes on the roads south as a result of the cancellations.

Traffic is extremely heavy on the Dundalk inner relief road onto the M1 and on the M1 southbound from the N32 slip road back to the Airport Roundabout.

BreakingNews.ie

23/07/2005 - 13:30:16

Noel Dempsey, the Natural Resources Minister, has accused the company behind the controversial gas pipeline in Co Mayo of breaching the consents given to it to carry out work at the site in Ballinaboy.

A letter sent to the chairman of Shell Ireland today, on behalf of Noel Dempsey, says that works, including the welding of parts of the pipeline, represent what he calls “a departure from the terms’”issued to the company.

Shell has been preparing to build a €300m gas terminal at Ballinaboy.

The letter follows a visit to the site by officials from the Department this week.

Mr Dempsey says the breaches are “very serious” and has called on Shell to respond immediately.

Daily Ireland

By Ciarán Barnes
c.barnes@dailyireland.com

Parents of children whose schools have been affected by education cuts held a protest outside the offices of the Belfast and Education Library Board (BELB) yesterday.
The demonstration came after further criticism was levelled at the board for axing 28 youth worker jobs across the city.
The debt-ridden education and library board, which overspent by £5.7 million (€8.1 million) last year, has closed libraries and made many teachers, patrol crossing staff and classroom assistants redundant.
As part of a contingency plan to cope with its overspend the BELB announced in March that its budget for the forthcoming year would be slashed by £7 million (€10 million).
Around 50 people took part in the protest which coincided with the first meeting of the BELB’s new board.
Theresa Calvert, the mother of a pupil at St Mary’s Star of the Sea school, explained how the cuts affected her child’s school.
She said: “We are losing three teachers and as a consequence the special needs teacher is now being moved to fill one of the gaps.
“So now there will be no cover for the kids with special needs.”
Patricia Reid, the parent of a pupil at Vere Foster primary school, also took part in the demonstration.
She said: “Our school is losing three teachers, a supervisor and the school canteen is being closed.
“On top of this, classes are to be amalgamated.
“None of this is good for our children’s education and I am protesting to ensure a good education for my child”.
Sinn Féin education spokesman Michael Ferguson joined the parents on their protest.
His party refused to take their seats on the new BELB board following notification of the education cutbacks.
Mr Ferguson said: “Sinn Féin’s Board members will not be policing an inadequate budget set by the British government which is having an adverse impact on education services.
“We are calling upon the other elected and non-elected members of the board not to support the scheduled cuts and to oppose any attempt to introduce further cuts.
“The government needs to get real and provide a real budget that supports education and learning.”
Suicide prevention groups have also warned that the education cutbacks, particularly involving teachers and youth workers, could put children’s lives in danger.

Daily Ireland

By Ciarán Barnes
c.barnes@dailyireland.com

click to view - UVF mural from CAIN

Loyalists and supporters of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) are to hold a massive march around Belfast city centre at the end of the month.
Details of the demonstration involving 3,000 loyalists and 60 bands emerged on the same day that the UVF was blamed for carrying out a Wednesday evening gun attack on the lower Newtownards Road in east Belfast.
A man in his 30s escaped injury when bullets came through the bathroom window of his house.
Next week’s loyalist parade, on July 30, will be the second major UVF-linked march in the city this month.
The day after the last similar sized parade along the Shankill Road on July 10, the UVF murdered 20-year-old Craig McCausland.
Loyalists have expressed fears that there could be more violence between the UVF and LVF after the upcoming march.
In a bid to prevent any further killings Ulster Unionist Party leader Reg Empey has pleaded for intermediaries to come forward to bring an end to the feud.
The Chairman of the Loyalist Commission, Rev Mervyn Gibson, who brokered an end to previous loyalist feuds, has already met with representatives of both the UVF and LVF.
He said at this stage a compromise between the organisations cannot be reached.
“I’ve spoke to both organisations and asked them to show restraint and to work to achieve a compromise,” said Rev Gibson.
“At this stage I think this is a long way off.”
The latest feud between the UVF and LVF was sparked by the July 1 UVF murder of LVF associate Jameson Lockhart.
The UVF murdered west Belfast father of one Craig McCausland ten days later on the same night the LVF shot and seriously injured 21-year-old David Hanley in north Belfast. Neither man had paramilitary connections.
Last Monday the UVF fired shots into a house on the Victoria Road in east Belfast’s Sydenham area.
Following the recent UVF violence secretary of state Peter Hain suspended the Assembly allowances of its political wing, the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP).
The move led PUP leader David Ervine to accuse the British government of attempting to push his party out of politics.

Belfast Telegraph

Pet shop’s plea to thieves over stolen cockatoo

By Lisa Smyth
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
23 July 2005

THE heartbroken owner of a £1,000 cockatoo stolen from a Limavady pet shop last night appealed for the thieves to return the “larger-than-life” bird.

All that remains of Joey is a feather left behind when he was stolen - along with two rockpebblers worth £120 each - during a burglary at The Pet Shop on Thursday night.

Proprietor Val Greenwood said she’s been distraught since her beloved pet was taken and has appealed for his safe return.

The talkative cockatoo has been a firm favourite in the shop since he arrived 13 years ago.

Assistant manageress Laura Smith explained: “Joey could say all sorts - he would ask you how you were doing and he would even say ‘give us a kiss’.

“Adults and children love him - people would even come in just to see him when they didn’t have anything to buy.

“We are all distraught - we have had him so long and we are really worried about what sort of condition he is in.

“It looks as though the thieves tried to put him in a cage but he wouldn’t fit. There is a big black bin we keep cat food in and it has been taken, so I assume they just shoved him in there.

“He is bound to be really upset. I doubt very much he will talk as he is so upset. He’d a collar on to stop him picking at his feathers. If the thieves remove that he could hurt himself.

“And we are worried in case they hurt him as the only person he wouldn’t bite the fingers off is Val - I feed him and clean his cage every morning and he even snaps at me, so we are terrified they might get angry with him.”

She added Joey was a “larger-than-life” character and everyone was desperate to have him returned, or at the very least know that he is safe and being looked after.

The shop has appealed to other pet shops across the province to remain vigilant and contact police if they are approached in relation to buying either a cockatoo or rockpebblers.

If you can help police with their inquiries, telephone 028 77 766797.

Irish Independent

23 July 2005

THREE senior Sinn Fein figures, including party president Gerry Adams, have stepped down from their posts on the IRA’s ruling army council.

The ground-breaking decision means that all links between the leadership of the political and military wings of the Provisional movement have been severed.

And it paves the way for major changes in the Provisional structures to be announced in an IRA statement, now expected to be delivered in the second half of next week.

It is believed that the internal IRA debate about its future, which has been going on for over three months, has now effectively ended and that the final details of the statement are being worked on.

It was learned last night that Mr Adams, Sinn Fein’s chief peace negotiator Martin McGuinness and Dail deputy and convicted gun-runner Martin Ferris have all resigned from the seven-man IRA army council.

Their posts have been filled by two men from Belfast and one from Tyrone, all of whom are closely aligned to the Adams-McGuinness group pushing the movement onto a purely political path.

The changes in personnel are also seen as part of the “sanitisation” process within Sinn Fein as the party prepares to present itself as a democratic body that is ready to play a full part in political developments north and south of the Border.

None of the new appointees is a member of Sinn Fein but all are regarded within the Provisionals as militarists with proven records.

One of them is a hunger striker from Belfast and he has been on the IRA’s headquarters staff with responsibility for the “engineering” department.

The second is also from Belfast and had criminal convictions in the past for possession of explosives, while the third is regarded as the IRA commander in the Tyrone region.

The make-up of the rest of the army council remains unchanged and South Armagh hardliner Tom “Slab” Murphy continues as the organisation’s chief of staff, a post he has held since an IRA executive meeting in Falcarragh, Co Donegal, in October 1997 - a summit which resulted in the resignation of Michael McKevitt and the subsequent formation of the dissident Real IRA.

Speculation about radical personnel moves within the IRA have been rife since Mr Adams started a series of internal discussions at all levels of the Provisional movement with his suggestion that it should abandon all paramilitarism and concentrate exclusively on the political path forward.

Intelligence sources last night confirmed that the changes had taken place and described them as the biggest shake-up at the top in the past eight years.

With no overlapping at leadership level, Sinn Fein figures can now argue that the two wings of the movement cannot be accused of being “joined at the hip”, although the new army council members are regarded as totally loyal to Adams-McGuinness - where the real Provisional power base remains.

The appointments also mean that seven militarists will be seen as approving the change of direction to be announced in the imminent statement from the IRA rather than coming from a council dominated by Sinn Fein figures.

In the wake of the London bombings, and with an increasingly hostile climate both here and in Britain towards terrorist violence, the Provisional movement is understood to have decided that this is the right time to move into a new mode.

Since Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern had an hour-long meeting in Drumcondra eight days ago with Mr Adams, things have moved quickly.

It is known that contacts between the Government and Sinn Fein have been continuing in the background on a daily basis as hopes have again arisen of a positive statement.

Final acts of decommissioning by the movement would be a key part of the expected statement, which has been delayed partly because of difficulties around the Twelfth of July Orange parades and by the return to jail by Northern Secretary Peter Hain of Shankill bomber Sean Kelly.

It is understood most of the IRA stockpile of weaponry is now located at a couple of arms dumps and could be disposed of quickly.

Former Canadian General, John de Chastelain, who heads the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning, is known to be in Ireland at the moment.

His word would be necessary for the independent verification of arms disposal, as with earlier acts of decommissioning by the IRA.

An IRA statement declaring an end to paramilitarism and criminality could also help pave the way for the restoration of the Northern institutions, although the DUP would be unlikely to engage in talks with Sinn Fein until early next year at the earliest.

Dr Ian Paisley and other senior Unionists have expressed scepticism about whether the IRA statement would go so far as to call a final halt to all paramilitary operations.

And it would wait for assurances from the International Monitoring Commission over a period of several months that all IRA paramilitary activity, recruitment and surveillance had completely stopped before going into talks.

Tom Brady and Gene McKenna

IOL

23/07/2005 - 09:52:43

Supporters of the jailed Mayo men known as the “Rossport Five” are taking their campaign to the streets of the capital today.

The five were jailed for contempt-of-court after refusing to back-down in their protest action against oil-giant Shell’s construction of a high pressure gas pipeline through their lands.

All five are now entering their fourth week behind bars at Cloverhill Prison where they are likely to remain for the foreseeable future unless they purge their contempt

Protest organiser Eoin O’Broin said that their supporters remain as determined as ever: “There is a growing momentum behind this campaign to get the five men released and also to have the whole refining process moved out to sea in shallow water, where it really should have been in the first place.”

BBC’

A petrol bomb attack on a Catholic church in north Belfast is being treated as sectarian, police have said.

Two devices were thrown at Holy Cross Church and monastery at about 0200 BST on Saturday. One caused damage to the roof at the back of the building.

A third petrol bomb was thrown when the police and fire crews arrived. Stones were also thrown at the police.

Parish priest Father Aidan Troy said he was thankful that no-one was injured in the petrol bombings.

“The damage was at the rear and there wasn’t a huge amount of damage done,” he said.

“Obviously there was a certain amount of water damage because of the need to extinguish a little fire that had started, but thank goodness the damage is of a limited nature.

“We’ll have it assessed in more professional detail later today.”