SAOIRSE32

BreakingNews.ie

17/10/2005 - 17:18:05

Dissident republicans abandoned bombs in a hedge near a police sports club in Belfast, security sources said tonight.

Homes were evacuated along Newforge Lane in the south of the city for a second time as military experts dealt with a new alert.

Soldiers moved in again after a device was found close to where a crude pipe bomb was discovered hours earlier.

A security source close to the investigation confirmed dissident republican terrorists were the main suspects.

The bombs were located on a leafy avenue that leads to Newforge Country Club where the Police Service of Northern Ireland hosts sporting and social events.

But detectives were uncertain if those who stashed the devices planned an attack on the premises.

“They were just about 30 yards into Newforge Lane, stuck in a hedge,” one said.

“It seems they were just dumped and a major concern was that the first device was just a come-on to lure us to something bigger. But that’s not the case.”

The operation began on Sunday night with an anonymous telephoned bomb warning.

A controlled explosion was carried out on the first device, described as viable, after surrounding houses were cleared.

Residents were taken to Newforge Country Club, but were all later allowed to return home.

Although a helicopter with a spotlight was used to search the area during darkness, it was only when daylight broke that the second discovery was made.

BBC

The case involved a contract for police vehicle armour-plating

Detectives have begun a criminal investigation into alleged police corruption, as recommended by a High Court judge.

It follows a case in which the judge said there was evidence someone within the PSNI had undermined a firm which lost a vehicle armour-plating contract.

The contract ended up going to another firm at a much greater cost.

The PSNI said its fraud squad had begun an inquiry which was being personally supervised by a senior detective.

Sam Kinkaid, Assistant Chief Constable for Crime Operations, will be advised by an “external independent expert”, the police added.

Some politicians had called for an outside force to investigate following last Wednesday’s judgement.

The Policing Board, which holds the PSNI to account, has asked for the chief constable to submit a report on the case by Thursday.

The judge, Sir Liam McCollum, awarded £400,000 in damages to NI Sheet Metal Works Ltd.

The Belfast-based company took an action for breach of contract after Firth Rixson Castings Ltd was awarded the contract, at an extra cost of £350,000.

The judge said once legal costs had been taken into account, the wasteful loss of public funds was in the region of £1m.

FROM: IRISH REPUBLICAN INFORMATION SERVICE (no. 39)

SAOIRSE

IN A statement on October 15 the PRO of the Joe Conway/Willie Stewart Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Newry/Dundalk said that they had noted with interest Provo MP Conor Murphy’s visit to the Tory Party conference on October 4.

The statement continued: “Conor Murphy commented on the ‘record of the British Tory party and their policy towards Ireland over many years’. Republican Sinn Féin also remembers the record of the British Tory Party in Ireland over the years. They allowed ten men to die on hunger strike rather than recognise their right to political status, they sanctioned state collusion with loyalists and caused the death of many Irish citizens. The Tory Party during their terms of leadership in Britain have oppressed, imprisoned and murdered nationalists and Republicans unremorsefully.

“The Provo leadership apparently felt it necessary to send a delegate to this party conference in order to ‘place on the record the fact that there are those who share a different vision of the future. And in particular a different vision of the future relationship between Ireland and Britain’.

“It was a wasted journey for Conor Murphy, the Tories, like all those who have been in power in Britain over the years are well aware of opposition to British colonialism, otherwise there would have been no need to oppress, imprison and murder those who opposed their occupation in Ireland.

“Republican Sinn Féin in Newry were also under the impression that the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916 placed firmly on the record the fact that there is a different vision of the future relationship between Ireland and Britain. If only Pearse and his comrades had thought of sending a delegate to a Tory Party conference instead!

“However, as a conformist political party the Provos can send delegates to address any conference they choose and indeed can spend their Saxon shillings as they wish. Conor Murphy seems to believe though that he was ‘the first Irish Republican to speak speak at an event attached to the British Conservative Party conference’ - we think not, no self-respecting Irish Republican would lower him/herself.”

Daily Ireland

Editor: Maria McCourt

It is time for nationalists to bite their tongue again as the furore over Fr Alex Reid hits a new low with the news that he is to be investigated by the PSNI for saying that unionists treated nationalists like Nazis.
No matter that he subsequently withdrew and apologised for that piece of hyperbole.
As a nationalist hero of the peace process is pilloried, nationalists must also take a deep breath and allow the Progressive Unionist Party even more space to bring the venomous sectarian gangsters of the Ulster Volunteer Force to their senses.
Turning the other cheek has been elevated to an art form by nationalists, who, over three decades, have refused to stoop to the level of their adversaries. There is no reason, therefore, why they should now declare that the PUP has run out of road and that the drug dealers and blackguards of the UVF should be forcibly put of business before they murder more of their own kith and kin.
“Gheibh foighid furtacht” (“Patience gets its reward”), says the Irish. When the leader of Irish nationalism asks at Bodenstown for generosity and tolerance to be shown unionism, then he should get a positive response.
But the Taoiseach should be aware that the day when sectarianism is truly tackled in the squalid Six County state cannot be put off forever. With a wink and a nod, the British have allowed sectarianism to fester in the North, from shopfloor to boardroom, from playing field to pulpit. Nationalists have shown zero tolerance to sectarianism within their own community. They have a right to insist that unionism and the British do the same. If they need more time to get their act in order, so be it. But democrats cannot wait forever while the unionists and their sponsors move from 1690 to 2005.
Meanwhile, it is hard to know where to start with the news that Fr Reid’s spur-of-the-moment comments are now to be probed by the forces of law and order.
Where were the boys in green, one might ask, when we had these gems from unionist elected representatives?
“Taxpayers’ money would be better spent on an incinerator and burning the whole lot of them [nationalists]. The priests should be thrown in and burnt as well.”
“Sinn Féin councillors are evil human pus who are part of the Republic’s poison in this city.”
“No Pope and no priests, no rosary beads. Every day is the Twelfth of July.”
“Cliftonville supporters are black bastards.”
“West Belfast is a parasites’ paradise.”
Of course, we don’t have to look at unionism to find political representatives inclined to use intemperate language. Didn’t our own justice minister compare a certain newspaper that had the audacity to disagree with him to a Nazi propaganda sheet?
We suggest all sides choose their words carefully as the prospect of a just peace moves ever closer.

BBC

There is to be a smoking ban in Northern Ireland in 2007

A smoking ban is to be implemented in all Northern Ireland’s workplaces and enclosed public spaces, including pubs, the health minister has said.

Shaun Woodward made the announcement in Belfast following an extensive consultation exercise on the issue.

It will be April 2007 before the new legislation comes into effect in Northern Ireland.

The Irish Republic introduced a total ban on smoking in workplaces and public spaces in 2004.

The minister told an audience which included health professionals and members of the licensed trade in the city’s Waterfront Hall: “I do not want to stop those who want to go on smoking from doing so.

“That’s your choice. You have every right to lead your life as you choose.

“But no-one has a right to subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke and passive smoking.

“No-one has a right to subject members of the public who do not smoke to those same dangers in enclosed public spaces.

Mr Woodward - himself an ex-smoker - recently visited Dublin and New York to assess how both cities have administered their bans.

Over the summer, he revealed the results of a public consultation in Northern Ireland which showed that 91% of those questioned were in favour of a total ban.

The announcement comes as medical researchers stated that a smoking ban in the Republic of Ireland was protecting bar workers.

Health groups have welcomed the decision, and the British Medical Association’s Dr Peter Maguire said the government had “listened to the people”.

“Minister Woodward has shown courage in making this decision and we will give him our full support in taking it to implementation,” he said.

Deborah Arnott, director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said it was the “most important advance for public health in Northern Ireland for 30 years”.

“Non-smokers will be protected from the health damage caused by second-hand smoke and many smokers in the province will be prompted to give up,” she said.

Publicans

Dr Sam Everington, the BMA’s deputy chairman, said he hoped Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt would introduce a ban in England.

However, the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) said they were disappointed at the move.

Tim Lord, chief executive of the TMA, said Mr Woodward had “chosen to ignore the wishes of the majority”.

“Government data (ONS) shows that in the UK only 31% of people want a total ban on smoking in pubs,” he said.

“Research undertaken in Northern Ireland itself by Forest found that only 33% of people consider smoking should be banned completely in all pubs, bars and clubs with 43% thinking that pubs and clubs should be mainly non-smoking but with separate areas for smoking.”

He said a total ban may have a “drastic effect” on the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Cancer Foundation had urged the minister not to take the “soft option” of a partial ban.

Publicans were hoping Mr Woodward would opt for a partial ban.

Speaking before Monday’s announcement, Nicola Carruthers, chief executive of the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade, Northern Ireland, said: “What we fear is a complete smoking ban. What we hope is that there is still room for a small compromise.”

Sinn Féin

Published: 17 October, 2005

South Belfast Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey has hit out at the PSNI after they announced they were investigating remarks made by Fr. Alec Reid last week on a foot of a complaint by prominent loyalist Willie Frazer.

Mr Maskey said:

” Surely after a summer which has witnessed a campaign of sectarian violence from unionist paramilitaries and in the very week that former Special Branchman Eric Anderson admitted on camera to stealing and possessing confidential PSNI files the PSNI would have more to occupy their time than going on a pointless witch hunt against a catholic priest on the foot of a complaint from an individual like Willie Frazer. This move by the PSNI will cause widespread anger within broad nationalism and is further evidence of how out of touch the PSNI remain from our community.

” It is not the job of the PSNI to try and provide succour to individuals who simply do not want to have the debate about the origins of the six county state and the sectarian discrimination which underpinned its very existence. Whatever about the choice of language from Fr. Reid some sections of unionism are to a large degree in denial about the past and its role in the conflict over the past 30 years.

” Are the PSNI now also going to open investigations into the anti-Catholic statements articulated by unionist political leaders and the DUP in particular over the past 30 years, statements that were used by unionist paramilitaries as justification for killing innocent people over many years.

” Fr. Reid has apologised for his choice of words last week in a heated public meeting and that should be left at that. However unionist politicians need to have the debate about the origins of the six counties and the institutionalised discrimination which did exist and the role of all of this in creating conflict. Otherwise unionist communities will continue to view the moves towards equality demanded by the Good Friday Agreement with suspicion and hostility.” ENDS

Daily Ireland

Michael Brennan

The revolutionary leader Michael Collins has been airbrushed out of history, it was claimed yesterday.
A new society, Collins 22, has been set up to publicise the achievements of the west Cork native on the 115th anniversary of his birth on October 16, 1890.
Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins spoke at the launch of the society. He said not enough recognition had been given to Collins’ role as a leader in the War of Independence.
“We’re here to recognise the fact that a man of dedication, vision and unquestionable leadership qualities has been airbrushed from Irish history for far too long,” he said.
He said Collins had built up a complex network of spies that had penetrated Dublin Castle, the nerve centre of British rule in Ireland, and had used innovative military tactics during the war.
“He recognised that you couldn’t get rid of the British with conventional warfare methods. He devised a whole new structure, the ambush guerrilla tactics,” Mr Higgins said.
Collins had been head of the provisional government when he was killed in an ambush in Béal na Bláth in Cork in 1922 during the Civil War.
Mr Higgins said the tantalising question of what would have happened if Collins had lived could never be easily answered.
The MEP for the Northwest constituency said he believed that Collins would have not ignored the discrimination against nationalists in the North and would have put a process in train that would have prevented the outbreak of the Troubles.
Although Collins was never a member of Fine Gael, the party claims a link with him because of his association with the members of the provisional government who went on to form Cumann na nGaedheal and later Fine Gael.
Fine Gael members accounted for five of the seven speakers at the Collins 22 launch in the historic round room of the Mansion House, where the first Dáil met in 1921.
They included party leader Enda Kenny and former justice minister Nora Owen, a grandniece of Michael Collins. The former MEP Mary Banotti, another grandniece, also attended.
Collins 22 organiser Bill Martin said: “We have people from all parties but essentially it’s a Fine Gael-led and supported society.”
He said the society would campaign to put Michael Collins at the centre of Irish history.
“All we want to do is have the man honoured. America honoured George Washington. We became independent from England in 1921 when they signed the treaty, so why isn’t there a statue of Michael Collins outside the Dáil?” he asked.
A statue of Michael Collins has been erected in Clonakilty. His life was the subject of a Neil Jordan film in 1996.

Daily Ireland

“It’s immoral that any government would allow that sort of situation to remain.” - Martin McGuinness

Connla Young

A woman from Co Derry who is battling breast cancer has spoken of her despair after she was denied access to a potentially life-saving drug.
Patricia McPeake, from Castledawson, was diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease in May. Since then, the mother of two has battled bravely to overcome her serious condition. She is to complete a course of chemotherapy early next month.
But Mrs McPeake and her family last week received a massive double blow when health chiefs told her she was not eligible to receive the drug trastuzumab, which is known commercially as Herceptin.
The seriously ill care worker was told that, if she wanted the drug, it would cost her £25,000 (€36,600) for just one year of treatment.
Medical experts at Antrim Area Hospital in Antrim town, where Mrs McPeake has been undergoing treatment, have told her that she must receive the drug before beginning a course of radiotherapy in December.
Mrs McPeake told Daily Ireland last night that she was still trying to come to terms with the Department of Health’s refusal to give her access to the drug.
“I have to say I am very angry and upset about this. My whole family is angry and upset.
“I felt I was doing so well, and I have to say I believe this news has set me back. It is on my mind day and night and I know that is not helping me at all.
“The whole situation is very distressing. It makes it worse knowing I am a suitable candidate for the drug and still they won’t give it to me.
“Some people get this drug but they are forced to fight for it and they should not have to. The fact is that, for many people, these things come down to a basic question of life and death,” she said.
Earlier this year, Mrs McPeake’s sister was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She will find out next week if she will be allowed access to trastuzumab.
Mrs McPeake said: “It is a trying time for us all and we are not asking for anything more than we believe we are entitled to.
“Both I and my family have worked and paid taxes. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for access to a drug that could help my condition. If I don’t get anywhere, then maybe this will help someone else like my sister.”
Tests have shown that trastuzumab can extend the life expectancy of people diagnosed with cancer. It is currently used on people whose cancer is at an advanced stage. The drug has yet to be approved for use on women who are in the early stages of the disease.
Just last week, an English nurse won a battle to force a health authority to give her the drug. Barbara Clark faced the prospect of selling her home to raise the cash to pay privately for the drug.
After being diagnosed with cancer last year, the 49-year-old from Somerset was told she would not be treated with the drug because her cancer was not terminal.
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust relented and gave Mrs Clark access to the drug after she threatened to sue the trust under the Human Rights Act.
Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness said ill people should be allowed access to potentially life-saving drugs.
“If there is a drug available to save lives, no one should be asked for £25,000 [€36,600]. It’s immoral that any government would allow that sort of situation to remain.
“While I’m not a medical expert, it is common sense that the earlier someone gets vital treatment, the better it is for them,” said the Sinn Féin MP.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the department was in the process of working towards making the drug more widely available.

BBC

A second device has been discovered in an area where Army technical experts earlier made safe a bomb in south Belfast.

A number of houses in Newforge Lane have been evacuated.

A controlled explosion was carried out on the first “viable device” during the security alert off the Malone Road.

The police were called out after a telephone bomb warning was made on Sunday night. Several homes were evacuated.

Residents were taken to the nearby Newforge Country Club, but were all later allowed to return home.

The alert began at about 2130 BST on Sunday.

A helicopter with a spotlight was used during a search of the area.

Malone Road and Balmoral Avenue had been closed for a time, but the roads were later reopened. Newforge Lane is still cordoned off.

BBC

Denis Bradley said attack will not force him off Policing Board

The vice chairman of the Policing Board has said he will not resign after being attacked in a pub in Londonderry nearly four weeks ago.

Denis Bradley suffered serious head injuries when a masked man hit him with a baseball bat in the Brandywell area.

He had previously decided to resign from the board when it is reconstituted next April, but said the assault almost made him reconsider that decision.

Dissident republicans were blamed for the attack.

It was the latest in a series of attacks on the former priest, including a petrol bomb attack on his home and death threats.

“It was the only thing that came close to making me reconsider my decision not to go back onto policing in April,” Mr Bradley said.

“It came very close to driving me in the opposite direction.

Mr Bradley still has stitches in head and mouth wounds

“The fact that the board was rolled over and is now open to April, there’s a number of months left to actually begin to do whatever work I think is left in me.”

Mr Bradley also said that other people had suffered worse attacks and received less attention.

He said he still felt free to go anywhere in Derry.

Last week, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain announced that the make-up of the Policing Board would change next April to reflect recent election results.

Derry Journal

Friday 14th October 2005

A pregnant woman from Derry escaped injury this week when the taxi she was travelling in was attacked by a loyalist gang in the Waterside. The victim was left petrified along with two other female passengers and their driver following the incident on the Ardmore Road on Sunday night.
Police are investigating the attack which followed trouble between rival factions at the Tullyally/Currynierin interface earlier that night. A friend of the pregnant woman spoke of their terror just days after the ordeal. The attack saw the taxi roof sign ripped off and extensive damage to the vehicle’s paint work and sun roof. The woman, who did not want to be identified, told the ‘Journal’ how they all feared for their life during the incident. “The taxi had just passed the entrance to Tullyally when this gang of men - some wielding baseball bats and wearing Rangers scarfs - launched their attack,” she said. “We were travelling to McCourt’s Bar for a birthday party when our taxi was singled out. “We thought we were going to be dragged out of the car and beaten to death. We were so hysterical afterwards that we told the driver to take us straight home again. “As we turned the car got stoned. Things got so bad that we had to get a police escort out of the area.
“It was a terrifying experience and none of us have slept since.” The incident is the latest in a string of attacks on Cityside-based taxis operating in the Waterside.
However, on this occasion the women - who are from the Top of Hill area - were travelling to the pub in a Waterside taxi. The woman said there was nothing to indicate where the taxi or its passengers were from. “They didn’t know who are what we were,” she said. “It’s terrible that people cannot go somewhere for a night out without this sort of thing happening.” Jim Logue, a Sinn FÈin community worker in the Top of the Hill area, condemned the attack. He said: “Unfortunately there is an increase on taxi drivers who are simply out to earn a living and most of these attack are emanating from within the unionist community. “Public representatives and community workers in those areas must use their influence to bring to an end such attacks before somebody is seriously injured or killed. “This was a shocking and traumatic experience for all involved and I would like to commend the brave actions of the taxi driver who put his own life at risk to get his female passengers to safety.”

Irelandclick.com

‘We have a radio that we would be prepared to give you, but you’d have to go to Dublin to pick it up.’ The speaker had just shaken my hand, smiled and was giving the impression that he was listening intently to what I was saying. In fact he was the only one talking, speaking clearly at low volume, without actually moving his lips.
‘Meet this guy, at this address, and he’ll sort you out,’ and he palmed a slip of paper into my hand, still smiling and carrying his demeanour in a way that would conceal his intent from even the sharpest-witted of British spies who, by now I realised, were following our every move by way of secret camera and concealed microphone.
By the middle of the next day two Belfast Irish speakers were steering our small, hired vehicle through the myriad streets of Tallaght.
Some weeks previously we had made an abortive attempt to establish Irish language radio in Belfast. I think the transmitter went on fire, or blew up, or clapped out or something like that.
Anyway, we were grateful for this offer of help, and a trip to Dublin didn’t seem such a bad thing.
The ‘guy at this address’ was accessed sharpish and he jumped into the front.
‘Just down here… now left… up to the top of the street and round the corner. Now just park your car and someone will pick you up in five minutes.’ The he disappeared into the maze, waving over his shoulder to make sure we were staying put.
The milk float wheeled round a full circle in front of us and the guy standing on the running board shouted at the pair of us to jump in.
We squeezed in beside the driver who smiled a knowing, ‘Right, lads’ and, with running board guy keeping a sharp lookout, we penetrated the depths of the Tallaght housing estate.
‘Rough enough up there these days,’ were the only other words the driver said before depositing his cares at a particular garden gate. As the milkfloat disappeared a woman in her ‘20s pushing a buggy emerged from behind the house and announced that she was ‘going round that way, anyhow,’ and we could follow her.
We did, and we chatted, and goo-goo, gah-gahed the baby and three streets later she opened the gate of another house, went up the path – the two of us glued to her shoulder – rapped the door and protested to the woman of the house that she couldn’t stay for tea as she had to get to the shops, get round to her mother’s and get his dinner ready before he got back from work.
‘Howyas lads,’ asked our new host, ‘Tea or coffee?’ We took both and sat in the living room, putting away sandwiches like there was no tomorrow. No matter how many we ate our kind host replenished the plates to overflowing.
‘Youse must be starving, lads. Sure, I know youse just have to grab the bit of grub whenever youse can. Must be rough up there these days. Himself’ll be in about five, but here, help yourselves to the sandwiches.’
And about five himself did appear. Working guy, Belfast accent.
‘What about yis, lads?’ said he, sitting down to tea and sandwiches. ‘Must be rough up there these days.’
So we agreed, had another sandwich, another cup of tea and coffee and… agreed again, and inquired as to how long he had been resident in the Free State.
‘Yis’ll be staying a week or two, lads?’
‘Unfortunately not.’
‘Well, for the rest of this week, then.’
‘Not even that much.’
‘A couple of days?’
‘Jesus, we’ed love to, thanks, but we got to get back.’
‘Just tonight?’
‘Naw.’
‘Yis aren’t staying at all?’ our host asked, but now a note of concern was making his Belfast accent quiver.
‘Nah, got to get back tonight, really. But thanks, all the same.’
‘Well, if you don’t mind me asking… why are youse here.’
‘We came to pick up a radio.’
The nano-second of silence that followed lasted about an hour and exploded to the very heavens. Our congenial host muttered an expletive directly to his Lord and Saviour and then burst into action. In one fell swoop he had removed a cup of coffee from my lips and snatched a half-eaten sarnie from my comrade’s hand. Two seconds later we were standing outside of his house while he excused the rush, announced a misunderstanding and damned ‘those eejits’ who brought us this length in the first place.
Now the tape was running in reverse, at speed. Woman and buggy appears, ‘ack howyas, again, didn’t expect to be seeing youse so soo-in. Never mind, sure I’m going up that way anyhow.’
And off we went, the two of us, herself and the goo-goo, gah-gah baby, until we were met by the milk float, jumped in and taken back to our car, outboard guy still in attendance. One minute later the first guy arrives, piles into the car and says, ‘It’s the radio youse are here for.’
Quick as a flash he directs us through another half dozen streets, until we got to another particular house where he rings the doorbell and pushes past the teenager who opened the door.
‘Won’t be a minute, love,’ he said as he led us up one flight of stairs to the hot press, pulling all the clothes out onto the landing and revealing an AM transmitter.
‘Here youse are, lads, and away youse go. Good luck.’
And before you could say ‘Maidin Mhaith Béal Feirste,’ we were back on the main road to Belfast and approaching the border.
We had passed through the British army checkpoint at Newry – having been thoroughly searched by a squaddie who was definitely not interested in our illicit cargo – before either of us could say a word about what happened. Even then, we decided to say nothing, not ever to each other. Silence is, after all, you know what…
‘Someday,’ says I, ‘I am going to write this story down. But who would believe it?’

Belfast Telegraph

By Ashleigh Wallace
17 October 2005

A teenage girl beaten by a sectarian mob has vowed to defy her attackers by going back to a youth club in the only predominantly unionist area of Derry’s west bank.

The 17-year-old Protestant from the Waterside and another girl were targeted by a 14-strong gang of Catholic youths as they left a youth club in the Fountain area.

Although the attack happened last Wednesday, details were only released by police yesterday.

The young victim was set upon near John Street at the Carlisle Road roundabout as she made her way to a bus stop with a friend.

It is understood the girl was punched, kicked and verbally abused by the 14-strong gang, consisting of 10 males and four females.

One line of inquiry being investigated by police in the city is that the attack had a sectarian motive.

A police spokeswoman revealed that some of the girl’s attackers were believed to be wearing Celtic shirts.

Jeanette Warke, a community worker in the Fountain estate who runs the local youth club, said the girl was shaken by her ordeal but vowed not to let it stop her attending the club.

She also said the teenage victim is on placement in the Fountain estate as part of an NVQ course.

She said: “The two of them left the youth club and were heading out to get the bus and it seems they were followed from Wapping Lane.

“The girl who was attacked was badly shaken by what happened to her but she came back to us the next night and said it wasn’t going to stop her coming to the youth club.

“She’s a quiet girl. It was terrifying for her but she’s grand now, thank God. From now on, we’re not letting people from the Waterside get the bus, it’s too dangerous.

“We’ll be giving them lifts home. It adds extra pressure to us but we don’t want other youngsters getting attacked.”

The PSNI at Strand Road have appealed to anyone who was in the John Street area between 10.15pm and 10.30pm last Wednesday and who may have information on the attack to contact them on 7136 7337.

Witnesses can also phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Belfast Telegraph

By Noel McAdam
17 October 2005

The Republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern was today to meet the heads of North-South bodies in Northern Ireland.

The talks in Armagh involving the cross-border chief executives came as the SDLP vowed to push the Government to inject fresh momentum into the work of the North-South groups.

The Armagh meeting was due to follow an informal meeting in Newry of the North-South “roundtable” group, a private sector initiative aimed at developing economic and business policy, which Mr Ahern was also due to attend.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan is heading a party delegation to meet Tony Blair in Downing Street tomorrow afternoon.

The party said its main focus would be to warn the Prime Minister against giving in to the DUP’s “shopping list” of demands.

A spokesperson said: “We will be urging Tony Blair not to indulge the DUP, not to go the road of concessions no matter how many demands they present.

“Single-party shopping lists is not the way forward. Instead, we should bet back to the Good Friday Agreement.

“It is time to produce a strategy for ending the cancer of sectarianism so that we can move towards a shared future.”

Belfast Telegraph

By Noel McAdam
17 October 2005

The SDLP has accused the Progressive Unionist Party of failing its greatest leadership test after renewing its traditional links with the UVF.

The PUP’s annual conference - held behind closed doors - decided to retain its connection with the UVF and Red Hand Commando and work for “conflict resolution”.

But SDLP North Belfast Assembly member Alban Maginness said: “This PUP conference could have been a turning point for loyalism, but all we got was a statement of stunning blandness about working in partnership with all those committed to transforming loyalist communities.

“There are people committed to transforming loyalist communities into a drug-ridden wasteland, and others who are committed to creating free-fire zones around Orange marches.”

Mr Maginness said the message the UVF and associates are faced right now with a choice: peaceful politics or jail.

“David Ervine and the PUP were in a position to put that message across in the clearest possible terms. They still can, but first they must come off the fence and call murder by its proper name,” he added.

Mr Ervine said he hoped the relationship his party had with the paramilitary group would improve - even though the feud with the Loyalist Volunteer Force which cost four lives this summer is ongoing.

Mr Ervine said,

“The UVF have a lot to talk about. The PUP is saying, yes, let’s give them the space and secondly, let’s sort it out.”