SAOIRSE32

BBC

A burnt out hijacked bus is one of many wrecked vehicles

A mob of around 700 people have taken to the streets of Belfast in a new wave of loyalist rioting, police said.

Petrol bombs and missiles were thrown at security lines on Albertbridge Road in the east of the city.

One police officer has been reported injured. A blast bomb also exploded outside New Barnsley Police Station in west Belfast, causing minor damage.

The trouble follows the worst rioting in years on Saturday - sparked by the re-routing of an Orange Order march.

The Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde has ordered a major investigation into what happened.

Later on Sunday, gangs reportedly set fire to a hijacked car and a van in south Belfast, while more vehicles were seized in the north.

According to reports, two men hijacked a bus on the Belfast Road in Bangor then drove it to Clandeboye Road where they stole personal belongings from the passengers, then ordered them off the bus.

They then drove it to Green Road, at the Breezemount estate, Conlig and set it alight.

Police in the area are under attack from petrol bombs and other missiles.

Nearly 100 masked men have also attacked police with petrol bombs on Ardoyne Road, in the city’s north.

The new wave of violence broke out after police raided homes in search of the perpetrators of Saturday’s riots, which resulted in 32 police officers being injured.

Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, Sir Hugh Orde, has described it as the Province’s worst rioting in years.

He blamed loyalist paramilitaries of orchestrating the violence and trying to kill police officers.

Saturday’s riots began when a controversial Orange Order march was re-routed away from a mainly Catholic area.

The Chief Constable has appointed one of his top detectives to lead a major investigation into the violence.

Saturday’s rioters in Belfast intended to kill police and it was lucky “we have no dead police officers”, Sir Hugh said.

A man, 48, and a 16-year-old have been charged with riotous assembly and resisting arrest over the disturbances.

They are due to appear before in Belfast magistrates on Monday.

Irish Examiner

11/09/2005 - 10:46:38 PM

A 700-strong mob took to the streets of Belfast tonight in a new wave of loyalist rioting, according to the PSNI.

Loyalist petrol bombers hurled devices at security lines drawn on the Albertbridge Road in the east of the city. One police officer was injured in the violence.

A blast bomb also exploded at the gates of New Barnsley Police Station in west Belfast, causing minor damage.

Gangs set fire to a hijacked car and van in south Belfast, while more vehicles were seized at Ballysillan in the north of the city.

Nearly 100 masked men attacked police with petrol bombs on the nearby Ardoyne Road, and motorists were urged to avoid the Westlink motorway route through the city.

Fresh trouble flared after police raided homes as part of their hunt for the terror thugs who unleashed ferocious rioting in Belfast and surrounding towns on Saturday.

Chief Constable Hugh Orde has appointed one of his top detectives to lead a major investigation into the violence that followed a controversially re-routed Orange Order march in west Belfast.

He said: “We are very lucky we do not have dead officers.

“They were shot at by paramilitary groups from the loyalist side.

“What I saw was a very professional response to one of the most dangerous riot situations in the history of policing in the United Kingdom.

“It is unique to Northern Ireland for officers to come under live fire in what was a public order situation.”

A 48-year-old man and a youth aged 16 are due in court tomorrow morning as the first charges were brought over the original disorder that led to 32 police officers being injured.

Mr Orde will also brief Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain on the rioting which he described as one of the most dangerous for any police force in UK history.

Loyalist paramilitary gunmen fired at least 50 shots at security lines during 12 hours of mayhem on Saturday.

Police and soldiers discharged 430 baton rounds and used water canons in a bid to drive back rioters. They also returned live fire.

Seven guns were seized and a bomb making factory was discovered in the Highfield estate, north Belfast.

One man was critically injured after being caught in an explosion while another member of the public was wounded in the gunfire.

More than 2,000 police officers and soldiers were needed to deal with the mayhem as it spread overnight into surrounding towns and villages in Co Antrim.

Cars, lorries and buses were being hijacked and set alight so regularly that roads were closed and motorists urged to stay at home.

As detectives began studying masses of CCTV footage in a bid to identify the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force paramilitaries behind much of the chaos, Sir Hugh called his men and women heroes who could have been killed.

Despite making several arrests, police also have suspected gunmen captured on film.

After clashes in north, west and east Belfast, loyalists in the towns of Ballymena, Antrim, Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballyclare and Glengormley then either blocked roads or petrol bombed police.

Arsonists destroyed a branch of the Northern Bank in Cloughfern, Newtownabbey, although the safe survived intact.

Gangs of youths also gathered in the village of Ahoghill, Co Antrim, which has been blighted by several weeks of sectarian attacks, to burn out cars, attack homes and pelt police with fireworks.

The disorder forced the cancellation of Mass at Harryville Catholic church in Ballymena, which has been plagued by sectarian hatred in the past.

Mr Hain condemned those involved and challenged Orangemen and unionist politicians to be equally critical.

“This rioting and attacks on the police and army are totally unacceptable,” he said. “Attempted murder cannot in any way be justified. There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law.”

Violence flared after the tense Whiterock march in west Belfast which was forced away from its traditional route away from objecting Catholic homes.

Orangemen were livid at the decision by the ruling Parades Commission, but the Chief Constable blamed the loyal order for provoking the disorder by appealing for supporters to take to the streets in protest.

Pledging to release footage that would prove their involvement, he said: “I saw members of the Orange Order attacking my officers. I saw them standing next to men wearing masks, organising the violence.

“We did not call anyone onto the streets of Belfast yesterday, and those that did must bear substantial responsibility for the disorder that became inevitable with the catalyst of a disputed march.

“In addition to the Orange Order, who I hold substantially responsible for the organisation of the parade that went wrong, we are also clear that UDA and UVF factions were out there taking advantage of that situation.”

Two men hi-jacked a bus full of passengers in Bangor, Co Down, tonight, police said.

The vehicle was driven from the Belfast Road to the Clandeboye Road where those on board had personal belongings stolen from them before being ordered off.

The bus was driven on to the Green Road, Conlig, where it blocked the road and was set alight.

Police said officers in the area came under attack from a crowd throwing petrol bombs and other missiles.

Meanwhile, a stretch of the Westlink in Belfast was closed as the trouble intensified.

Irelandclick.com

The Housing Executive has failed to reduce the housing waiting list in North Belfast and has come under the influence of unionist politicians intent on keeping the “Orange Line” despite unionist communities having long left these derelict areas.
That is the findings of a report commissioned by the St Patrick’s and St Joseph’s Housing Committee that criticises the failure of the Housing Executive to deal with the crisis in housing for the nationalist community in North Belfast.
The report entitled “Waiting for Equality: The North Belfast Waiting List” says demographic trends have long indicated a growing Catholic population and a declining Protestant community.
But it claims the true reasons why, despite a Housing Executive strategy, the nationalist waiting list has increased from 73 per cent in 2000 when the North Belfast Strategy started to 83 per cent in 2004 is unionist pressure.
It found only 22 per cent of housing units promised for nationalist areas have been delivered since the start of the strategy and many houses built in Protestant areas have negligible demand.
In 2000 nationalists made up 40 per cent of the North Belfast population but accounted for three-quarters of the housing waiting list.
But since then, the study has found that the waiting list had increased by 10 per cent with the number of Catholics on the list increasing.
The report said a “unionist agenda” was influencing the decisions of the Housing Executive.
“The unionist majority has narrowed in recent years and consequently unionist organisations have moved to stabilise their electoral base,” said the report.
“Furthermore unionist paramilitaries have used violence and intimidation to restrict nationalist growth. Meeting the Catholic demand for housing threatens the unionist electoral advantage.
“Our stance is that the housing stress and chronic shortages are getting worse. The Housing Executive’s position on this issue is fundamentally flawed.
“We demand a new approach that is not influenced by sectarian or political sensitivities.”
But the Housing Executive’s Maurice Johnston insisted the strategy was working and that waiting lists had risen across the North of Ireland.
“This is a strategy based solely on housing need and is addressing the housing problems faced by both communities in North Belfast,” he said.

Journalist:: Staff Reporter

Sunday Life

Too scared to go to work

By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005

A STAR witness in a loyalist murder trial has claimed his safety has been “compromised” by Tesco.

Outraged Kenny McCullough - due to give evidence against UDA boss William ‘Mo’ Courtney, who is charged with his brother, Alan’s killing - hit out at his employers after he was told not to park his car at the Ballygomartin Road store’s loading bay.

The area is the only part of the store’s car park covered by CCTV.

Mr McCullough had been parking his vehicle in the loading bay since Alan’s murder, in 2003, after being granted special permission.

But with only three weeks to go before Courtney appears in the dock, the Shankill man was told last Friday that he must park his car elsewhere.

Mr McCullough has refused to return to work until the decision has been reversed.

He told Sunday Life: “I can’t believe the company has told me this just three weeks before I am to give evidence in court.

“I feel a bit more comfortable parking here because there is a camera. I’m the only person in the store who has a death-threat hanging over them.

“They were happy for me to park here for such a long time, but now they have changed their minds.”

A Tesco spokeswoman told Sunday Life: “Tesco takes very seriously issues of security for staff and will always try to accommodate specific needs where appropriate.”

But the company declined to comment on Mr McCullough’s car parking arrangements.

This latest development comes after we revealed earlier this year that a mystery woman received a £10,000 bribe to withdraw statements linking top UDA men to the murder.

Alan ‘Bucky’ McCullough was taken from his mother’s north Belfast home.

He was later shot, and his body buried in a shallow grave on the outskirts of Belfast.

Sunday Life

11 September 2005

A CATHOLIC man remains in a critical condition in hospital, after a vicious attack by a 10-strong mob in east Belfast, early yesterday.

The 29-year-old suffered a cracked skull, damage to his eardrum, severe bruising and lacerations, when he was kicked and beaten unconscious.

Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey said he believed the attack was sectarian.

The victim and two friends were returning from a function in Belfast city-centre at around 2am, when a small group began attacking them with bottles on the Albertbridge Road.

Within minutes, the crowd had grown and the three friends ran towards Short Strand, but one of them was caught by the mob.

Alex Maskey, who visited the young man’s family yesterday, said they would be keeping a vigil at his hospital bedside.

“The hospital is saying he is in a critical but comfortable condition, but he’s so heavily sedated that they don’t know the full extent of his injuries,” he added.

Mr Maskey insisted the attack was fuelled by sectarianism and linked to heightened tensions over controversial loyalist parades.

“By all accounts, this brutal attack was carried out on an inoffensive, hard-working and quiet young man,” he said.

“Short Strand residents are now asking the question, ‘who’s next?’.

“The Orange Order and unionist politicians cannot distance themselves from such attacks and the tensions which flow from contentious parades.”

preynolds@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005

BBC photo

A WEBSITE was launched yesterday in a bid to raise awareness about the murder of innocent loyalist feud victim Craig McCausland.

The 20-year-old’s heartbroken family hope the site - www.justiceforcraig.com - will prompt people to provide crucial information about the killing.

The dad-of-one, whom police have confirmed had no links to any paramilitary group, was murdered by a UVF gang in July.

Police believe he may have been targeted in a case of mistaken identity.

The north Belfast man was the second of four people murdered by the UVF during its feud with the LVF.

A number of messages have already been sent to the website by people offering their support.

They include one from a man who claims to be a former UVF prisoner, who has expressed his disgust at the killing.

The site also provides details on the murder of Craig’s mother, Lorraine, who was beaten to death by a UDA mob in 1987.

This latest development comes after Craig’s family, who met with Belfast city councillors last week, vowed to step up their quest for justice over the coming months.

Craig’s devastated cousin, Nichola McIlvenney, pleaded with people to support the campaign.

She said: “We will not give up until Craig’s killers are brought before the courts and we hope the website can help us in this fight.”

Sunday Life

By John McGurk
11 September 2005

THERE were shocking scenes greeting residents of a leafy Co Antrim village - boiler-suited men removing mounds of alleged asbestos from near their front doors.

And now angry Drumbo residents are asking why they weren’t told this was going to happen, after the drama unfolded at Dow’s Road last week.

A five-man team, dressed in white boiler suits and wearing breathing masks spent two days, painstakingly removing apparent asbestos chippings from the grounds of a new housing development.

Local people claim that they have been left in the dark about the alleged presence of the mineral, which can cause cancer and lung diseases.

Dow’s Road businessman, Arthur Glenn, alleged that action was only taken to get rid of the suspect stone chippings - after HE had commissioned an independent scientific report.

Mr Glenn said that the health alert was raised after suspect rock chippings were discovered, scattered along the road.

The source was later traced to the site of a controversial new building development - where workmen removed the chippings from mounds of landfill earlier this week.

Claimed Mr Glenn: “The report which I commissioned identified this material as being asbestos. I then sent the report to Lisburn City Council and the planning department. It was only then that anything seemed to get done.

“From a health and safety point of view, when industrial waste is being recovered, surely we should have been informed.”

Alliance Party councillor, Betty Campbell said that she would not comment on the alleged asbestos controversy “as there are legal proceedings at the minute”.

A DoE spokeswoman confirmed its environment and heritage service was investigating the incident, but added that it was “unable to comment further at this stage”.

A Court Service spokesman told Sunday Life that developers, David and Sydney Glenn (no relation to Arthur Glenn) are due to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court on September 22, charged with illegal dumping at the Dow’s Road site.

Plant hire contractor, Mark Samuel is also due to appear before the same court, on the same charge, on October 27.

Sunday Life

By Sunday Life reporter
11 September 2005

UVF bosses in Scotland have been ordered to attend a special meeting later this month - fuelling speculation that the terror group’s tartan wing will be stood down.

Loyalist sources revealed the meeting is to be held in the Airdrie area, where the group is strong.

It is understood the main topic for discussion will be the future of the UVF in Scotland.

Glasgow sources said there had been increasing dissent within the UVF in Scotland recently over the terror group’s lack of direction and long-term strategy.

Divisions had also appeared over the Belfast leadership’s ongoing bid to wipe out the rival LVF gang.

“It’s literally crunch time for the UVF in Scotland,” said the well-placed source.

“No one knows what is going to happen. But rumour is rife that a decision has been made to stand down the Scottish units to take the heat off the UVF in Belfast.”

However, the sources said any decision to stand down the UVF’s Scottish units would meet fierce opposition.

They said Scotland had always been a lucrative source of finance for the UVF’s prisoner and welfare funds.

“Over the years, strong links have been established between units here and those in mid-Ulster and the Shankill,” the source said.

“Standing down rank-and-file UVF men in Scotland simply to take the heat off a few senior men in Belfast won’t go down well in those areas. It will be viewed as betrayal.”

Later this month, members of the Scottish UVF will travel to Portadown to take part in a memorial parade to honour murdered mid-Ulster commander Richard Jameson.

Last night a UVF source in mid-Ulster confirmed they would oppose any moves to disband the paramilitary group’s units in Scotland

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005

THE Co Down village celebrating local hero David Healy’s winning goal against England has been rocked by a row between two loyalist heavyweights.

For a feud has erupted in Killyleagh between a senior member of the Red Hand Commando and north Belfast UDA boss Andre ‘The Egyptian’ Shoukri.

Loyalist sources claim Shoukri clashed with convicted bomber Malcolm Healy, during a visit to Killyleagh, last weekend.

The pair were involved in a heated row after Shoukri accused Healy and three pals of causing £2,000 worth of damage to an associate’s car.

It is believed the vehicle was damaged in revenge after a pal of Malcolm Healy’s was attacked by Shoukri’s associate, who recently moved into the village.

The top UDA man and his henchmen visited Healy’s home last Saturday, ordering him and his gang to each hand over £500.

They told the bomber they would be returning for the cash, but the RHC terrorist opted to hand over the cash there and then.

Healy, who was jailed for his part in the bombing of the Anchor Inn in Killyleagh in 1975, is believed to be the RHC’s leader in the village.

Irene Nicholson, a 37-year-old Protestant, died in the blast.

Malcolm Healy is regarded as one of Co Down’s top loyalists.

Both the UDA and RHC are understood to have investigated the incident, which is the talk of the Co Down village.

Shoukri has been keeping a low profile in his north Belfast stomping ground, but has been making regular visits to Killyleagh.

Said a source: “Shoukri wasn’t afraid to go to Healy’s door and ask for the money for the car after he was approached by his relative.

“He told Malcolm Healy he would be back, but Healy had the money in the house and handed it over without any hesitation.

“Shoukri then went to see the other boys and they handed over the cash straight away.

“Healy is a top loyalist down here and a lot of people are unhappy about Shoukri throwing his weight around.

“Shoukri’s associate has recently moved to the area and the last thing local people need are gangs of UDA men running about.”

A spokesman for the UDA-linked Ulster Political Research Group said: “It’s not like Andre to call to people’s doors and I don’t know anything about this.”

Sunday Life

By Ciaran McGuigan
11 September 2005

COPS carried out a secret sweep of Windsor Park looking for a dissident republican bomb DURING last Wednesday’s World Cup match.

Sunday Life has learned that police were alerted to reports of a bomb planted in Windsor at around 8.15pm - HALF-AN-HOUR after the match kicked off.

Police with sniffer dogs were present in the stadium during the match, and carried out an extra search for explosives.

The 14,000 fans who were packed into Windsor Park were unaware of the bomb threat.

A police spokesman said: “We did receive reports of an anonymous bomb call on the night of the match.

“But a search was carried out and nothing was found.”

He added: “We had made a full search of the area before we let any people in (to the stadium).

“And they made further checks and nothing was found.”

The spokesman added that a media organisation had alerted them to the bomb threat, and that a codeword had been used.

Sunday Life

By Sunday Life reporter
11 September 2005

UPWARDS of 300 IRA members may be allowed to retain their weapons for personal protection - even after complete decommissioning.

The keep-your-guns deal was hammered out with London and Dublin months before the Provisionals announced an end to their armed campaign in July.

At the time of the “historic” statement, the IRA’s Army Council declared that all volunteers had been ordered to dump arms with immediate effect.

But according to sources, the agreement reached would allow more senior members to carry personal weapons for protection against dissident groups violently opposed to decommissioning.

The numbers involved may, however, come as a shock to both governments and is likely to spark outrage among unionists.

For the list is not just restricted to those who guard leading Sinn Fein politicians like Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, or to those who hold the rank of officer commanding.

A senior republican source told Sunday Life: “The IRA is a very structured organisation and it would be impossible to put an accurate figure on the numbers permitted to retain guns.

“The deal on disarmament would have foundered if such a key arrangement was not in place.”

Both governments have always insisted that any issue relating to arms is a matter for General John de Chastelain and his decommissioning team.

But one NIO source did admit: “There is and remains a genuine concern about dissidents and a few personal protection weapons would be seen by most as a small price to pay for the dismantling of the IRA’s war machine.”

Speculation continues to grow that complete IRA decommissioning will take place within weeks, paving the way for fresh political talks on devolution.

slnews@belfasttelelgraph.co.uk

Sunday Life

11 September 2005

ULSTER’S top cop last night blamed the Orange Order for widespread rioting.

Sir Hugh Orde hit out as his officers attempted to restore order at flashpoints across Belfast.

He said: “The Orange Order called people onto the streets and I hold them totally responsible for the events that have taken place since then.

“I’ve seen members of the Orange Order engaging with masked men - the people throwing petrol bombs.

“I’ve seen members of the Orange Order in their sashes attacking my officers - some of them with sticks.

“My officers have come under sustained attack; they’ve been attacked with missiles, petrol bombs, blast bombs, pipe bombs and they’ve been shot at.”

At least four police officers were in hospital last night being treated for injuries.

The Chief Constable said his officers, whom he hailed as “heroes”, were forced to return live fire after being shot at.

The Army also shot live rounds during fierce rioting on the West Circular Road and Springfield Parade.

“Because the attacks, one member of the public has been hit by a bullet fired, we believe, by loyalists,” said Orde.

“Another man is critically ill in hospital injured by a blast bomb thrown by loyalists.

“We’ve fired impact rounds [plastic bullets] and we’ve used our water cannon and while all this was going on, the march went on, splitting my resources because the march comprehensively broke the Parades Commission’s determination.

“At 3.05pm, the Orange Order rang us to further abdicate any responsibility.

“I was watching the parade from the control room at 3.05pm - the parade was totally organised and it split into a number of routes in breach of the determination. It was not under the control of anyone else.

“My officers had to deal with a series of split marches.”

Sir Hugh praised the efforts of North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds and the UUP’s Fred Cobain, who attempted to hold loyalist supporters back.

The Chief Constable believes the violence was completely organised, saying “petrol and blast bombs and bullets do not just appear by accident”.

“We have miles of video footage that supports everything I have said.”

Sunday Life

**Here is an attempt to sanitise and stilt what happened as much as possible.

By Stephen Breen & Sinead McCavana
11 September 2005

THIS shocking image reveals how mayhem erupted on the streets of Belfast yesterday afternoon.

Police and troops came under fire from a barrage of blast and petrol bombs, and sustained automatic gunfire in the west of the city.

Loyalists went on the rampage following the re-routed Whiterock Orange parade in west Belfast, which was banned from passing nationalist homes on the Springfield Road.

The West Circular Road was turned into a war zone.

Two Army Land Rovers were destroyed by petrol bombs, and an Army Saracen was set ablaze during the worst of the afternoon’s violence.

Troops were forced to use a digger to remove the burnt out Land Rovers from the middle of the road.

A police water cannon was then deployed in a bid to disperse loyalist rioters.

At least six police officers were injured during the disturbances - reminiscent of the darkest days of the Troubles.

Trouble flared shortly after the Whiterock Orangemen - re-routed by the Parades Commission away from Workman Avenue/Springfield Road - made their way through the old Mackies factory.

Around the same time, bottles were thrown over the peace wall at Workman Avenue as loyalists, who were jeered by nationalists, attempted to smash their way through the heavily-fortified security gate.

Shortly after, Orangemen who had just marched through the old Mackies site, staged a sit-down protest on part of the Springfield Road to prevent Army Land Rovers from reaching their besieged colleagues on the West Circular Road.

Police kept a short distance from the bandsmen to taunts of “are you fenians in disguise?”

As the bandsmen moved up towards the West Circular Road, there was a tense stand off as cops in riot gear faced loyalists.

BreakingNews.ie

**Careful, Dermot–you just might prove how true Mary McAleese’s comments were when she likened loyalists to Nazis in the way they promote sectarian hatred in their young from the get-go.

11/09/2005 - 14:18:23

A new generation in the North is being blooded in sectarian hatred, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today.

In the aftermath of the worst loyalist rioting for several years, Mr Ahern claimed the mayhem was deliberately orchestrated to intimidate nationalists who now feared for the future.

He strongly urged people with influence to unequivocally condemn the violence and work towards building bridges between communities.

Mr Ahern, who visited Belfast last week, said the SDLP and Sinn Féin had been concerned about potential violence after the Orange Order’s Whiterock March was re-routed away from a nationalist area by the Parades Commission.

“It’s an extremely worrying turn of events,” he said today.

“What happened last night was a huge effort to intimidate nationalist communities, who fear very much for the future.

“What we really don’t need at this moment in time is more incitement.”

Tensions remained high across Northern Ireland after the violence, which erupted in west Belfast and then spread to the north and east of the city as well as to Ballymena, Antrim, Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballyclare, Glengormley and Ahoghill.

Paramilitary gunmen opened fire on police and soldiers and cars were being hijacked and set alight so regularly that roads were closed and motorists urged to stay at home.

Mr Ahern, who said he will be fully briefed on the rioting by his officials tomorrow, said evidence that children as young as five years old getting involved in violence did not augur well for the future.

“Children and teenagers are becoming brutalised by involving themselves in these riots. A new generation is being blooded in sectarian hatred.

“A new generation is being spawned by this type of incitement,” he told RTÉ Radio.

He said it was a positive development that some parents of children involved in violence were bringing them to be spoken to by the PSNI.

Mr Ahern said he had no doubt that the riots were an orchestrated event.

He said that PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde’s comments that the Orange Order must shoulder substantial blame for the violence should be heeded.

“He has an incredible impartiality and for him to say something like this, somebody who was on the ground, what he says has to be taken seriously.

The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said he was very distressed to hear of the rioting and urged community leaders to restore calm.

“I was very distressed and certainly worried to hear of these developments.

“I hope that common sense and reason can prevail.

“The safety of people and the security of their property is being severely threatened.”

Dr Brady, the Primate of All-Ireland, added: “I hope that calm will be restored to these communities by community leaders engaging in constructive talks.”

BreakingNews.ie

11/09/2005 - 16:40:03

Colombia is ready to formally request the extradition of the three Irishmen convicted of training FARC rebels, according to the DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson.

Mr Donaldson has just returned from the country, where he met security chiefs, the Colombian vice-president and victims of the FARC rebels.

He said that Colombia’s vice-president, Carlos Santos, confirmed that his country will be serving papers on the Irish authorities within days.