Wake Up and Live
by John Kelley
‘What is happening in the United States and around the world through the process of globalization is nothing less than class warfare. And guess what, it was the richest people in the world who declared war on the rest of us’.
Michael McDowell
The Irish justice minister has said he is satisfied money confiscated in Cork was linked to the £26.5m Northern Bank robbery in Belfast earlier this year.
Speaking on Irish state broadcaster RTE, Michael McDowell also refused to accept Thomas “Slab” Murphy’s denial of involvement in money laundering.
He also said Mr Murphy was on the IRA’s army council and was chief of staff.
Last week, Mr Murphy denied allegations linking him to a company at the centre of a probe into IRA money laundering.
Offices belonging to Craven Property were raided by the Assets Recovery Agency on 6 October as part of its investigations into alleged IRA links to 250 Manchester properties valued at about £9m.
In his statement, Mr Murphy said being linked to the raids had caused him and his family “distress”.
However, he made no comment on the widespread accusation that he is the chief of staff of the IRA.
Mr Murphy said he did not own any property and made his living from farming. He also denied any connection with the Craven Property Group.
He said that he had to sell his own home after losing a libel case to the Sunday Times.
This was in 1998, after challenging the newspaper’s description of him as a prominent IRA member.
Manchester businessman Dermot Craven, whose company premises were raided during the agency’s investigation, has denied having any dealings with “Slab” Murphy, but said he had done business with Murphy’s brother, Frank.
He has also denied involvement in any illegal activity.
Documents were seized in the Manchester searches, which took place 10 days after the IRA put its weapons beyond use and on the day Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams met Prime Minister Tony Blair in Downing Street.
**I, for one, would give them LOTS of space
16/10/2005 - 15:54:19
nice pic of Bertie
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said today that loyalists need space, encouragement and support to move beyond their recent past. (**Would this be their nazi-like past?)
Mr Ahern said those in the North on the unionist side will get a positive response from the Irish Government if they take the same path as Republicans.
He was speaking at the annual Fianna Fáil Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown in County Kildare where he hinted that it’s time for Loyalists to decommission their weapons.
The Taoiseach also hinted that the latest report from the International Independent Monitoring Commission may record incidents of criminality by the specialist IRA units.
The document was delivered to the Government last week and is expected to be published in full within the next few days.
Riot police kept residents and marchers apart
Police investigating attacks on officers following a controversial re-routed Orange Parade in west Belfast have issued pictures of riot suspects.
Officers were attacked by loyalists with petrol bombs, blast bombs and live rounds on Saturday 10 September.
It followed a Parades Commission ruling that the Whiterock parade could not enter an interface area.
Photographs from video footage are being circulated by police who have urged those involved to come forward.
West Belfast district commander, Chief Superintendent David Boultwood said: “Our footage is extensive and clearly shows us the perpetrators of this violence.
“We are asking them to come forward before our officers have to knock on their doors.”
He appealed to the community to work with the police to prosecute anyone involved in public disorder.
“Criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. We are determined to bring before the courts those who have taken part in serious public disorder,” he said.
The march was barred from going through security gates on the Springfield Road, and had to use a former factory site.
There was a major police and Army presence in the area. Screens were erected in front of houses.
Security forces came under sustained attack from several hundred rioters on West Circular Road.
Cars were hijacked and set on fire on Ardoyne Road and North Queen Street.
16/10/2005 - 13:24:46
The Catholic priest who witnessed the completion of IRA disarmament is being investigated by police for alleged incitement to hatred after comparing the North’s Protestants to Nazis, it was confirmed today.
Father Alec Reid is being investigated after the Police Service of Northern Ireland received a formal complaint about his comments at a public meeting on IRA decommissioning at a Belfast church last week.
The complaint has been made by Willie Frazer of the Families Acting for Innocent Relatives which represents victims of IRA violence.
Fr Reid’s alleged comments were made during a heated exchange involving Mr Frazer.
The priest, who is credited with helping to broker the IRA ceasefire in 1994 by setting up talks between Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and the then SDLP leader John Hume, has apologised for the outburst which caused widespread outrage.
He likened the treatment of Catholics in the North by Protestants to that of the Jews in Germany by the Nazis.
Issuing a fulsome apology after calming down, he said he had been deeply provoked and in the heat of the moment lost his temper.
The PSNI confirmed today that officers in south Belfast had “received a complaint following an alleged incident that occurred at a public meeting” last Wednesday and an investigation had been mounted.
Mr Frazer’s solicitor, Democratic Unionist Party MLA Arlene Foster, said he felt he had to act, not only for himself but others who had contacted him.
“A lot of people contacted his office to express their distress,“ she said.
“He also has also been taunted by nationalists giving him Nazi salutes and shouting ’Heil Hitler,” she said.
Ms Foster said it would be up to the police if they decided to proceed with a prosecution. She added: “We feel the Public Order Order could be used to bring a complaint.
“It says a person who uses threatening or abusive or insulting words or behaviour is guilty.”
Fr Reid was embroiled in fresh controversy 24 hours after his Nazi outburst when he told a BBC current affairs programme that he refused to accept the IRA was involved in criminality and behind the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery in Belfast last December, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
He said the IRA leadership had denied involvement in the robbery and added: “I believe absolutely that they had no truck with it”.
Fr Reid went on to explain away IRA so-called punishment attacks as the result of “an absence of a police force that has functionality in nationalist districts”.
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Click to view - “A view of one of the so-called ‘peace walls’ along Springmartin Road, separating the Loyalist neighborhoods of Springfield-Highfield Estate from the Nationalist area of New Barnsley and Moyard estates”.
From Still Divided (2003)
16 October 2005
A FURIOUS city councillor has accused police of “provoking” a full-scale riot at a strife-ridden interface in west Belfast.
Frank McCoubrey, who lives in and also represents the Springmartin estate, said last night:”Police have always been welcome in this community - but that may no longer be the case.”
A number of complaints have already been lodged with the Police Ombudsman’s office following disturbances in the area and on the Ballygomartin Road, a week ago.
The trouble flared with stone-throwing - but later escalated into petrol bombing.
Councillor McCoubrey, who represents the Court ward as an independent, said: “We’re talking about kids here, and they were not all from Springmartin.
“This is one of the biggest interface areas in west Belfast and youngsters tend to confront each other at night.
“Public representatives have managed to keep a lid on it for a long time, but the police reaction on this particular occasion was way over the top.”
He claimed a 12-year-old girl was “manhandled” by police and thrown against a wall.
“In another serious incident, a Land Rover mounted a footpath and a youth, who was on crutches, was knocked down and had to be taken to hospital,” he said.
“Without doubt, these incidents provoked a reaction from people within this community, people already verbally abused by the PSNI day and night.”
Councillor McCoubrey, who along with unionist councillors has withdrawn from the city’s district policing partnership boards, added:”There was just no call for what the police did, it was excessive and provocative by any standards.
“I think the police have some major decisions to take about regaining trust in loyalist areas.”
A police spokesman said he could not comment on matters that were being investigated by the Ombudsman.
He added: “What I can say is that police were attacked by between 90 and 100 people, and one Land Rover alone was struck by eight petrol-bombs.”
16 October 2005
**See also Castles of the North (.pdf), a photo essay of british military bases and places by JONATHAN OLLEY
BBC photo
BESSBROOK Army base in Co Armagh is set to be axed before Christmas, it has been claimed.
Robert Smith, the DUP’s deputy mayor of Craigavon, made the claim in the wake of the news that Royal Irish troops are to pull out of Fort Mahon barracks, in Portadown, next month.
Councillor Smith described the decision to close the two Co Armagh bases as premature and a “knee-jerk” reaction to IRA decommissioning.
“At the moment, the risk posed by dissident republicans in this area is high,” said Cllr Smith.
“We do not know what these organisations will do in the months ahead. The continued closure of military bases, in Co Armagh, leaves the area wide open and extremely vulnerable.”
The last part-time RIR troops at Mahon Barracks are set to transfer to Drumadd Barracks, Armagh, on November 15.
An Army spokesman refused to confirm or deny Mr Smith’s claim that the Bessbrook base was to close.
“We will not comment on speculation about the future of military bases or units in Northern Ireland,” he said.
“Full support is provided to the PSNI as required. Military deployment is regularly reviewed to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.”
But Willie Frazer, of the South Armagh victim’s group FAIR, said: “This closure of the Bessbrook base is further proof, if that was ever needed, of continued government capitulation to Sinn Fein/IRA demands.
“The deliberate dismantling of security in this area is creating a republican fiefdom, where Protestants have no future whatsoever.”
Case dismissed
By Sunday Life Reporter
16 October 2005
HISTORY has been made in an Ulster court after a judge issued part of a ruling in Irish.
The judgment was handed down by Mr Justice Weatherup in a judicial review brought by parents of two children suspended from Meanscoil Feirste, the Irish language secondary school, on Belfast’s Falls Road.
It’s believed to be the first time a High Court ruling - or part of a ruling - has been given in Irish.
The children - identified only as ‘Child C’ and ‘Child A’ - were suspended after school authorities found C “stole school property”.
C was accused of taking home a hurling ball, while A was accused of covering up for her.
The suspensions infuriated the children’s parents and they sought a judicial review.
Mr Justice Weatherup heard how the drama over the stolen hurling ball unfolded when Brendan O’Fiach, a teacher at the school, asked C and a number of students to carry sports equipment into a store.
Some time later, on his way home, Mr O’Fiaich saw C hitting a ball against the wall of a shop.
There then followed a lengthy investigation into the “stolen ball” incident, which eventually led to the suspensions.
This prompted the judicial review by the parents, who claimed the school had conducted an inadequate hearing, had ignored its own disciplinary procedures, and had insufficient reason to act against the children.
But Mr Justice Weatherup rejected their claims - and found for the school.
However, he surprised the court by ending judgment in Irish.
He said: “Na fiorais, an fhianaise agus na hargointi ata thaca leis an forais, ta siad gan bhunus. Mar sin, ta an cas caite amach (There is no evidence to support this claim, so I am dismissing it).”
slnews@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
By Alan Murray
16 October 2005
THE Assets Recovery Agency was forced to jump the gun in its major operation to seize the IRA’s racketeering profits.
Sources inside the agency have told Sunday Life that they swooped on the offices of Manchester property management company the Craven Group MONTHS before they planned to - because of a leak to the Dublin media.
ARA boss, Alan McQuillan, reluctantly agreed to bring forward the planned raids by months because of the leak.
Said one source: “Ideally, we had planned to do much more research and do a lot more preliminary work before carrying out the raids.
“They would have taken place anyway, but not at this stage.
“Our hand was forced by a leak in Dublin, which we became aware of on the Friday afternoon before the raids.”
Added the source: “We had the choice of putting everything off and allowing people to destroy documents, or bringing everything forward and burning the midnight oil over the weekend to get everything in place for raids as early as we possibly could.
“At the stage we were at two weeks ago, we would not have gone raiding offices.
“But we became aware that a media source in Dublin had been advised that raids would take place in the Republic, and was briefing outlets in Britain that there could be raids there, too.
“On the day of the raids, BBC News 24 got wind of the location and the cameras were there, which was something we didn’t want.
“The agency did not leak any details about these raids and the leak was actually detrimental to our operation.”
slnews@belfast telegraph.co.uk
16 October 2005
A UVF-LVF truce has been set back by “months” because of leaks to the media.
Loyalist sources say reports last week that the LVF was about to disband were “unfounded”.
LVF activists in Belfast and mid-Ulster are angry at reports that the organisation was about to fold up in the face of scores of UVF attacks which have left four people dead since July.
Informed sources said yesterday that no deal had been brokered with either organisation and that those behind the leaks had caused “enormous damage”.
Said one source: “Progress had been made, but there were one or two sticking points to be ironed out and they were difficult matters that would have taken a bit more time.
“But now people have gone away angry at the attempt to spin this against the LVF.”
A senior LVF source said they believed the UVF was having difficulties convincing all its members to end the attacks.
Said the source: “There is no question that the LVF is going to disband because of fear of the UVF.
“We believe they can’t deliver all their members to the position of ending this feud and have internal problems.”
A neutral observer familiar with the negotiations added: “The feud will have to be officially ended and ended absolutely. Then both groups can decide their futures, but that will take months.”
16 October 2005
A LOYALIST prisoner in Maghaberry faces charges after being caught behind bars with a major drugs stash.
The inmate, whom Sunday Life understands is a prisoner in the separated loyalist wing of the jail, was caught with the drugs last week as he returned from receiving a visit.
A prison spokesman confirmed that more than 26 grammes of cannabis, a 75ml ampoule of steroids and about 200 tablets were found during a search of the inmate.
It’s believed the drugs were found stuffed down his socks.
A cut-down syringe and several needles were also recovered during the search.
“The prisoner was charged under prison rules and is awaiting adjudication,” a spokesman said.
Chilling warning issued in wake of Gray murder
By Stephen Gordon
16 October 2005
DEPOSED loyalist warlord Johnny Adair has been given a chilling warning that the UDA are planning to murder him in Bolton, before Christmas.
The warning has come from Johnston Brown, the retired detective who put the notorious former Shankill UDA boss behind bars, in 1995.
Mr Brown believes the UDA are stalking Adair at his Bolton bolthole.
“I’ve been told the UDA have sent men over to Bolton to watch him. He’s under surveillance,” said Brown, who continues to keep his ear close to the ground.
“I’ve no doubt they are planning to kill him just as they killed Jim Gray.
“And, whatever I think of Johnny Adair, I wouldn’t want to see him shot down in the street like a dog. No one deserves that,” said the ex-CID detective.
Adair ordered a bomb attack on Mr Brown’s family home in Ballyclare in October 2000, in revenge for the detective’s key role in having him jailed for 16 years for directing terrorism.
But, Mr Brown says he believes Adair deserves to be alerted that his life is in imminent danger.
“I have no doubt that Special Branch will have received the same information I’ve received, but, whether or not they’ve passed on the warning, I don’t know,” he said.
The UDA regard Adair as “unfinished business”, blaming him for a bloody internal feud and, in particular, the murder of the terror group’s East Antrim ‘brigadier’, John Gregg.
Mr Brown recently stated that he believes Adair, who has had a miserable time in Bolton since his release from jail in January, is plotting a return to Northern Ireland.
Earlier this month, Adair appeared in court to admit beating his wife, Gina.
He brutally attacked her only hours after being released from prison, where he had been serving a 39-day sentence on a harassment charge.
Johnston Brown has written a book about his extraordinary career. Read exclusive extracts from: Into The Dark: 30 Years In The RUC in next week’s Sunday Life.
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15/10/2005 - 21:33:34
The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) tonight ruled out severing its links with the Ulster Volunteer Force despite the group’s role in a bloody loyalist feud.
The party said it would instead work in partnership with all those committed to transforming loyalist communities, including the UVF.
“The Progressive Unionist Party is committed to conflict transformation and the processes that empower and build a strong, confident and vibrant loyalist community,” it said in a statement.
There had been speculation that the party would distance itself from the UVF, which has been linked to at least four deaths in its feud with the Loyalist Volunteer Force.
The PUP’s allowances for the Northern Ireland assembly have been suspended because the British government has decided it is not doing enough to curb paramilitary violence by the UVF.
PUP chairman Dawn Purvis said that many people thought the annual conference would be the end of the PUP but added that the members had come out confident, re-invigorated and unified.
She said the focus of the conference had not been on IRA decommissioning.
“It didn’t feature heavily. The focus of the conference was ourselves,” she said.
The PUP is to concentrate on rebuilding confidence and stability in the loyalist community after the devastating riots and arson attacks of last month.
“This requires transformation in the communities most affected by conflict and, importantly, transformation in the political arena and in particular amongst those powerful influences that seek to destabilise Loyalism – the same influences that opposed the calling of the ceasefires in 1994,” it said.
Around 100 PUP members attended the conference, which was held in the Park Avenue Hotel in East Belfast.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain is still deciding whether to continue the suspension of the party’s Assembly allowance.
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