SAOIRSE32

BBC

The UVF has been linked to four murders in recent months

The government is expected to announce that it no longer legally recognises the Ulster Volunteer Force’s ceasefire.

It is expected to announce its decision to “specify” the loyalist organisation on Wednesday.

The government has been considering a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission on the UVF’s feud with the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine said the move by the government was “hardly unexpected”.

He described it as “tragic” and said it would mean there would be more ground to cover once the UVF was restored to the political process.

The four-strong commission forwarded its report on the loyalist feud to Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and the Irish government last week.

The UVF has been linked to four recent murders and has also been blamed for orchestrating violence across Northern Ireland following the Orange Order’s Whiterock parade in north Belfast on Saturday.

The PUP is linked to the UVF and Red Hand Commando.

In July, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said he intended to withhold the PUP’s assembly allowances for another year.

The decision followed the latest report from the Independent Monitoring Commission, which said the UVF and Red Hand Commando remained active, violent and involved in organised crime.

The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.

It is a crucial element in the two governments’ plans for restoring devolution, which was suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at the Northern Ireland Office.

Irish Independent

THE principal of Harryville primary school in Co Antrim last night spoke of her anger at those who left three pipe bombs close to classrooms, saying: “The children could have died if they had gone off.”

Lesley Meikle told of her relief that none of the 140 evacuated pupils at the school in Ballymena was hurt and said the school would reopen again today.

A number of homes were also evacuated. Police confirmed an army explosives team had defused three viable pipe bombs found at Casement Street.

A police spokesman said they believe the devices were left in the area for use in street disorder which had occurred in the Harryville area in recent nights involving loyalists.

The spokesman said there was nothing to suggest that the pipe bombs were deliberately targeted at the school. But police chief, Inspector Mark Dennison, said leaving the devices so close to the school was “totally irresponsible”.

Earlier, as the bomb alert unfolded, several schoolchildren burst into tears when they heard sirens and saw the army bomb squad coming to the area a short time after they were evacuated.

She said: “They thought they were going to be hurt and that somebody was coming to get them,” said Mrs Meikle who just minutes earlier had evacuated the 140 pupils to a nearby park by disguising the alert as a fire drill.

She said: “I didn’t tell the staff or anybody what it was, I just did it as a normal fire procedure. I sounded the bells and we told them it was a normal fire drill but we were not going to the playground where we normally meet, because that is where the devices were.

“And instead we said we were going to the park because it is a lovely day.”

Meanwhile, two Protestant mothers whose homes were damaged by Catholic petrol bombersin an interface area of Derry’s Waterside at the weekend, said yesterday that they feared for the safety of their children, writes George Jackson. The attacks took place on Bann Drive, in the Protestant Irish Street Estate, which borders the Catholic Top Of The Hill Estate.

Sectarian incidents have been on the increase in the interface area, and last week youths tried to force their way into the home of a Protestant couple.

Nevin Farrell

Irish Independent

13 September 2005

Caleb Finnegan (22 months) was left with severe head injuries after loyalists tried to hijack his mother’s car in Belfast and threw a rock through the window hitting him in the head.

Blame: finger pointed at UVF thugs - and unionist politicians

NORTHERN Secretary Peter Hain is moving towards a declaration that the UVF ceasefire no longer exists.

He was pondering the decision last night as loyalist hardliners returned to the streets of Belfast for a third night of confrontation with police and troops.

The terrorist group is being blamed for mobilising many of the rioters. But indirect blame fell on the wider unionist leadership.

President Bush’s envoy Mitchell Reiss said unionist leaders had “abdicated responsibility” and PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde blamed Orange Order leaders for much of the trouble which followed the re-routing of an Orange parade away from a nationalist area.

“I think all of us are pretty disappointed with the abdication of responsibility by many unionist political leaders,” Mr Reiss said. “No political party, and certainly no responsible political leadership, deserves to serve in a government unless it co-operates and supports fully and unconditionally the police, and calls on its supporters to do so.”

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams accused DUP leader Ian Paisley and Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey of giving “wrong and negative leadership”. He said they could not wash their hands of what happened.

The continuing clashes are threatening to destabilise plans for significant political progress in the short term after the Provisional IRA completes the process of decommissioning.

Last night republican sources said the IRA remained on course to honour its pledge to eliminate its arms and explosives arsenal in front of General John de Chastelain and two churchmen. But political leaders were nervous that the peace moves could be stalled by the fallout from the escalating loyalist violence.

After studying police video footage of the weekend rioting and attacks on the police and soldiers, Mr Hain said the British government would announce its verdict on the status of the UVF ceasefire within days.

He signalled strongly that his government would declare that it no longer regarded the ceasefire as being operational.

This view has been reinforced by the findings of the International Monitoring Commission, whose report last week to the Irish and British governments made it clear that the UVF was responsible for four murders during its feud with the LVF faction.

Mr Hain said he was horrified by what he had viewed and added: “The evidence I have seen is absolutely clear cut. As a result, I am now going through, and have been over the past week, a process in which I will be making an announcement in the next few days.”

The role played by the UDA in the violence was also under the spotlight as police closely studied the footage to unearth evidence to support criminal charges against some of the thugs.

The British government has been reluctant up to now to move against the main loyalist paramilitary organisations as officials pinned their hopes on a theory that the violence would be short lived and the factions persuaded to concentrate on political progress. But last night as Belfast was brought to a halt by a well organised series of blockades on routes out of the city, it was left with no option.

Areas blockaded included the Broadway roundabout in west Belfast, causing traffic chaos on the M1 motorway.

A 22-month-old boy, Caleb Finnegan, became the youngest victim of the trouble. His skull was fractured when loyalists smashed the window of his mother’s car which they were attempting to hijack.

PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde blamed Orange Order leaders for much of the trouble and offered to show them a video of their members removing their collarettes and throwing rocks at the police. But the Order dismissed his remarks as inflammatory.

Mr Paisley defended his predictions that the re-routing of the parade “could be the spark which kindles a fire there would be no putting out”.

“My words have been proved to be right,” he said.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern discussed the violence with Mitchell Reiss.

Earlier the Taoiseach and Tanaiste Mary Harney both stressed there could be absolutely no justification for any violence.

Tom Brady and
Dominic Cunningham

RTE

13 September 2005 20:01

Homeward bound commuters leaving Belfast faced fresh disruption by protests this evening on main routes out of the city.

The loyalist protests, all reported by police to be peaceful, were more limited than yesterday evening.

Earlier, in a statement, the UDA in north Belfast urged its members in the area to avoid any confrontation. The UDA said it was now up to political leaders to push for more concessions for loyalists.
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Over 30 police officers were injured and 63 arrests were made in recent street disturbances across the North.

The PSNI has said that ten officers were injured in last night’s violence. Police officers were attacked with petrol bombs and firework-type devices in the Cambrai Street and Crumlin Road areas.

A number of cars were set alight and a pipe bomb was dealt with by British army experts.

The British government has been considering the status of the UDA and UVF ceasefires after a weekend of loyalist violence in and around Belfast.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain is expected to confirm tomorrow that the British government no longer recognises the UVF ceasefire.

The leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the UVF, said the move was ‘hardly unexpected’. David Ervine said the decision was nevertheless ‘tragic’.

Following criticism from Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde and others, the Orange Order is preparing to issue a response to how it reacted to the violence.

Earlier, the Minister for Justice said true republicans must do more to reach out to the unionist community in Northern Ireland.

Speaking in Dublin, Michael McDowell said the recent violence in and around Belfast would not bring down the Good Friday Agreement.

He said a new vision of Ireland must recognise and respect the orange panel in the Irish Tricolour.

Belfast Telegraph

63 arrests made after three nights of violence

By Jonathan McCambridge, Crime Correspondent
jmccambridge@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
13 September 2005

PRESSURE grew on the Orange Order today to make an immediate public condemnation of violence throughout Northern Ireland following a third night of sustained rioting.

Police have revealed they have now made 63 arrests following another night of loyalist violence in which officers again came under attack from petrol and blast bombs and fireworks, and main roads were blocked.

Ten officers were hurt in last night’s violence, including one who was knocked unconscious.

Although not as serious as previous evenings there was unrest across Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Newtownards, Bangor and Ballymena.

Police have also sounded concerns about a “jungle drums” phenomenon which has led to traffic chaos in Belfast as thousands attempt to get out of the city over fears of violence.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “Last night we saw continued violence in parts of Belfast and outside the city. Police came under attack from petrol and blast bombs.

“Today I am again appealing for calm and for common sense to prevail. No-one wants to see their local community suffer from serious damage caused with continued nights of violence.

“Those with influence in these communities must step forward and exercise that influence. People causing the disturbances are hurting their own communities.”

There was anger after Belfast’s most senior Orangeman, Dawson Bailie, refused to condemn the violence during a television interview.

He said: “I’m not condemning anything at all at this moment in time . . . the people in my eyes to blame is the Secretary of State, the Chief Constable and the Parades Commission.”

There has been speculation that the Orange Order will hold a Press conference but a spokeswoman said she did not know when that would take place.

She added: “Because of the situation with serious rioting we do not want to inflame anything. We have been gathering evidence, talking to people - marshals and householders who were on the ground and writing it all up.

“When we have got the whole picture there will be something, we are not going to jump in until then.”

However, Alliance Party leader, David Ford, backed the Chief Constable’s assertion that responsibility for the violence lay with the Orange Order which encouraged people to come onto the streets for Saturday’s parade.

He said: “The refusal of Dawson Bailie to condemn the violence today is further evidence that he knew precisely what he was calling for when he invited people onto the streets.”

The Orange Order has also not commented on any potential disciplinary action to be taken against any of its members.

In previous years, during violence at Drumcree, the Order stated that disciplinary proceedings against its members are held in private.

Meanwhile, police are concerned about traffic chaos in Belfast after callers - claiming to be PSNI officers - phoned businesses in Belfast telling them to close early because of fears of violence yesterday.

A massive clean up effort was launched again this morning by Roads Service staff to remove debris from routes before rush hour.

Sinn Féin

Published: 13 September, 2005

North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA, Philip McGuigan, has described as bizarre the comments of Michael McDowell criticising republicans in the wake of three days of loyalist violence. **See following article

“Today’s comments from McDowell are the most blatant example of his obsessive anti-republicanism. After three days of orchestrated loyalist violence, much of it directed at isolated nationalist and republican communities, the Irish justice minister attempts to place the responsibility for this on republicans.

“Republicans and nationalist will find his analysis of loyalist attacks very removed from the reality of their lives. Mr McDowell’s comments might be better informed if he left the comfort and safety of his Dublin home for a few hours to visit the hundreds of nationalist homes attacked over recent days.” ENDS

~~~~~~~~~~

BreakingNews.ie

Republicans ‘must reach out to unionists’: McDowell

13/09/2005 - 11:25:51

True republicans must do more to reach out to the unionist community in the North, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today.

As loyalist rioting erupted across Belfast for a third night, Mr McDowell vowed that the violence would not bring down the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and urged greater reconciliation.

He said that a new vision of Ireland must recognise and respect the orange panel in the tricolour.

Police Service of Northern Ireland officers said they arrested 20 people last night after blast bombs and missiles rained down on them and burning cars blocked main streets across Belfast.

It was the third night of violence across the North, which has been described by the PSNI as some of the most dangerous ever seen in the history of British policing.

“I don’t think it will bring down the Agreement because the two governments are totally committed to it,” Mr McDowell said today.

“But I believe it can be deeply damaging to the prospects for reconciliation between the two communities in Northern Ireland.”

He said the first challenge for all republicans was to respect the orange panel of the tricolour and to develop a sense of Irishness which includes Ulster Scots and Anglo Irish.

“It must reach out to those people, not polarise Northern society,” he explained.

“The two communities are drifting further and further apart. That’s wrong for Ireland and it’s wrong for the children of both communities going forward.”

Mr McDowell said the governments had made every possible effort to include every shade of opinion in the political process in the North.

He said voters had made the choice to opt for a polarised political spectrum, rather than supporting the centre ground.

“It’s for genuine republicans such as myself to re-articulate a vision of Ireland where reconciliation of orange and green is the centrepiece of progress in Northern Ireland.

“Not polarisation of two communities, not the foolish idea being proposed by Sinn Féin at the moment that Westminster elections should in Catholic areas be elections to Dáil Eireann and in Protestant areas be elections to Westminster.”

Unionist leaders have been urged to re-assert their authority over their communities by PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde and US Envoy to the North Mitchell Reiss.

BBC

New Barnsley police station was attacked

Loyalist violence which has hit parts of Northern Ireland should stop, the Ulster Defence Association has said.

The loyalist paramilitary group is believed to have played a major part in the rioting, sparked by the re-routing of a contentious Orange Order parade.

The statement, issued by the UDA in north Belfast, came as police said 63 people were arrested over three nights of rioting which left 60 officers hurt.

UDA members were urged to remain calm, “no matter what the provocation”.

“No longer can we or will we let these types of situations destroy our own communities as it seems the community is the only sufferer in this conflict,” it added.

In the latest night of violence in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland on Monday, 10 police officers were injured.

Sixty people have been arrested for public order offences and three in connection with serious terrorist offences. Police said that more arrests would be made.

On Monday, trouble flared in Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownards and Newtownabbey.

But the violence was not on the same scale as at the weekend, police said.

In north Belfast, arrests were made in the Cambrai Street/Boundary Way area and the Army dealt with a pipe bomb.

Petrol bombs, fireworks and other missiles were also thrown and one police officer was knocked unconscious when he was hit with a brick.

In west Belfast, about 40 petrol bombs were thrown and New Barnsley police station came under attack.

Police moved water cannon on to the Shankill Road after being attacked by rioters throwing petrol bombs.

In east Belfast, paint and bottles were thrown at police and an attempt was made to hijack a bus. A car was hijacked in Ravenscroft Avenue.

In Lisburn, there were petrol bomb attacks and a woman was pulled from her car which was then set alight.

In Newtownabbey, Bangor, Newtownards and Millisle, there was sporadic violence. Cars were hijacked, buildings set alight and petrol bombs thrown.

One car was burned in the Ballykeel 1 estate in Ballymena. The police recovered ten crates of milk bottles and two drums of petrol. A firework was also thrown at the police.

Ten officers were injured in Monday’s violence, a total of 50 officers were injured in the weekend riots.

As part of their ongoing investigations, police are considering breaches of the Parades Commission’s ruling on Saturday’s Whiterock parade.

Chris Kerr from the Fire and Rescue Service said that, as far as fire crews were concerned, tensions were “greatly reduced” on Monday night.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain is reviewing to what extent Ulster Volunteer Force or Ulster Defence Association members orchestrated the violence.

He is expected to announce on Wednesday that the UVF ceasefire is no longer recognised.

The US consul general Dean Pittman said he was “disheartened and saddened” by the violence of the past few days.

He was speaking during a visit to an integrated primary school in Londonderry.

He described the image sent out across the world at the weekend as “terrible”. It was now important for leaders to come together and build for the future, he said.

Unionists said there had been a build-up of resentment within their community because of the government’s handling of the peace process.

Trouble began in the city on Saturday after the Parades Commission refused to change their decision to allow the Orange Order’s Whiterock parade to pass through a nationalist section of Springfield Road.

Meanwhile, evening bus services from Belfast to areas which have been particularly affected by rioting since Saturday have been cancelled.

Services leaving the city centre to east and north Belfast, Bangor and Newtownards will be cancelled from 1830 BST on Tuesday.

Metro services will continue to operate as normal to south and west Belfast.

Rush hour traffic in Belfast is being delayed for a second night running by peaceful loyalist protests at Blacks Road, Seymour Hill at Dunmurry, Crumlin Road, Twaddell Avenue and Derriaghy Road at Milltown.

BBC

Scorch damage was caused to one of the homes

The head of the police in Derry has said they will provide a constant policing presence “for a short time” at two of the main interfaces in Derry.

Chief Superintendent Richard Russell was responding to concerns by Protestants in Irish Street.

Several hundred people from the area blocked Dungiven Road on Monday night in protest at attacks on homes.

Mr Russell said 24/7 policing will also be provided at the flashpoint between the Bogside and the Fountain estates.

Speaking before the development, the DUP’s Gregory Campbell said he would highlight the area’s problems with Prime Minister Tony Blair when they meet in the next ten days.

He said Protestants in the area need constant police protection immediately.

“There needs to be 24/7 coverage to give people the satisfaction and confidence that they are not going to be burnt alive in their beds; that they are not going to have their children intimidated, their windows broken and their homes torched,” he said.

The protest followed an attack on two homes in the estate by nationalist youths at the weekend.

Two petrol bombs were thrown at two homes in the mainly Protestant estate.

The city’s Sinn Fein Mayor, Lynn Fleming, condemned the attacks.

BBC

Graves were damaged at the church

Graves were damaged in a weekend sectarian attack on a Catholic church in Magherafelt, County Derry, police have said.

Paint was sprayed on 20 graves and slogans daubed on the church walls.

It was the second time the church at Castledawson Road has been targeted.

Graffiti was also sprayed on a Free Presbyterian church at Mullaghboy Hill. Police also said five Orange halls have been damaged in the past month.

Inspector Stephen Martin appealed to people with influence in the community “to take positive action to prevent an escalation of this unacceptable behaviour”.

“Community relations in Magherafelt are normally very good and I am calling for an end to these sectarian attacks before they escalate,” he said.

The District Commander for the area, Chief Inspector Tom Wiggins, warned vandals that his officers are engaged in a range of operations to catch those responsible.

He also said that his officers will be robust in bringing the culprits before the courts.

BreakingNews.ie

13/09/2005 - 10:03:29

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said that 10 officers had been injured during the latest night of violence in Belfast and other parts of the North.

The extent of injuries was not yet known, said a spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, Alliance Party leader David Ford issued a stinging rebuke to Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain for his failure to take action against the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force.

He said that for months the UVF had been threatening, attacking and killing people in the North, yet the British government had done nothing and still formally recognised its ceasefire.

Last week, said Mr Ford, the Secretary of State admitted he had not even read a report on the UVF produced by the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) three days after it had been delivered to him.

“When Alliance proposed the setting-up of the IMC, we did expect that ministers would at least read its reports,” he said.

Following the massive violence in Belfast on Saturday, Mr Hain still did nothing against the UVF, he said.

“For months we have seen the (British) government trying to cling to a pathetic pretence of a ceasefire. They have only been concerned at attacks on the state and its forces.

“Surely Peter Hain can recognise that when live bullets are fired at the police and army, that constitutes a breach of even his definition of a ceasefire.”

The British government, it appeared, was no better than the Orange Order and unionist politicians in its unwillingness to take a firm stance against the paramilitaries, said Mr Ford.

“Specifying the UVF might not make an immediate difference on the ground. But Mr Hain needs to send out a message that the government is going to stand up to terrorism and defend decent citizens. It is time to specify the UVF.”