No shame

CAIN

Greysteel Killings - Saturday 30 October 1993

The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), killed six Catholics civilians and one Protestant civilian in an attack on the ‘Rising Sun’ bar in Greysteel, County Derry. A further 13 people were injured in the attack one of whom later died of his injuries on 14 April 1994. [One of the gunmen was hear to say “trick or treat” before he fired into the crowded bar. This was a reference to the Halloween celebration that was taking place. There was widespread condemnation of the attack. The UFF later claimed that it had attacked the “Nationalist electorate” in revenge for the Shankill Road Bombing on 23 October 1993. The killings brought the total number of deaths during October to 27 making it the worst month for casualties in 17 years.]

BreakingNews.ie

29/10/2005 - 15:40:12

Former ICTU Chief Peter Cassells has been appointed as mediator in the dispute over the controversial Corrib gas pipeline.

The announcement was made today by the Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey.

Mr Cassells takes up the position today.

Minister Dempsey said Mr Cassell’s previous experience meant he was ideal for the position.

“Peter is very well known, and he has a lot of experience in industrial relations and in mediation generally”, Minister Dempsey said.

“I felt as former leader of ICTU and current Chairperson of the National Centre for Partnership that he was ideally placed”, he added.

BreakingNews.ie

29/10/2005 - 13:53:39

There has been a poor turnout at today’s ‘Love Ulster’ parade in Belfast.

Loyalists were hoping up to 30,000 people would take to the streets to protest against what they say are repeated concessions to Republicans.

The PSNI say only about 2,000 have braved the weather.

The rally’s organisers say the peace process discriminates against Protestant culture.

BBC

A car belonging to an independent member of the district policing partnership in Larne, County Antrim, has been vandalised.

Corrosive liquid was poured on to the vehicle parked outside Terry McCaughan’s home on Victoria Road.

The attack took place between 2020 BST on Friday and 0900 BST on Saturday.

A motive for the attack has not been established. Mr McCaughan said he may have been targeted for his outspoken comments on drug abuse in the area.

“We feel that cocaine use is on the up and we feel that perhaps people in Larne don’t want this highlighted,” he said.

“I’m not the first independent DPP member to be targeted.

“These people seem to think that if they target you, then you will stop saying things that need to be said.

“I was elected to Larne DPP to monitor things that are going on in the town and I will say things I feel need to be said.”

Belfast Telegraph

Woodward and Orde join forensics bid

By Debra Douglas
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
29 October 2005

Chief Constable Hugh Orde and Security Minister Shaun Woodward are backing calls for a forensic expert being brought in to investigate the cases of the “Disappeared” to look into the murder of Lisa Dorrian.

Responding to a request in Parliament from North Down MP Lady Hermon to encourage the Dorrian family to maintain confidence in the police investigation, Mr Woodward said Sir Hugh continued to take an interest in the case.

He said: “He is ensuring that maximum resources are used and agrees with me and my honourable friends that we should use forensic experts to help to find Lisa’s remains.

“The investigation is ongoing and we can only hope that we find Lisa’s remains before long and bring the perpetrators of her death to justice.”

In July, the Dorrian family, backed by Lady Hermon, requested that the remit of the forensic expert was extended to include Lisa’s murder.

Both the British and Irish governments agreed to look into the possibility of doing so but, at present, the legislation only covers murders that were committed before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

But the family are hopeful steps will be taken to adapt the legislation to include Lisa’s case.

It is eight months since the 25-year-old shop assistant went missing after a party at a Ballyhalbert caravan park.

Despite sea, air and land searches and the subsequent murder inquiry, her remains have never been found.

It is widely believed individuals linked to the LVF were behind the killing but detectives have been met with a wall of silence.

A number of people were arrested in connection with her murder but all were released without charge.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police remain committed to the recovery of Lisa’s body to help bring closure to her family and subsequently to bring those responsible for Lisa’s murder before the courts.

“Detectives are in regular contact with the family through this difficult time and continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.”

Belfast Telegraph

Murder victim’s dad in challenge to ex-RUC men

By Alan Erwin
29 October 2005

The father of a loyalist terrorist murder victim last night offered to meet police Special Branch officers accused of protecting the killers.

Raymond McCord said the ex-RUC men who allegedly shielded paramilitary informers that were involved in beating his son to death were running scared.

With Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan examining the murder as part of a widening probe into claims of a massive collusion plot, it has been reported that officers have refused to be interviewed.

But Mr McCord challenged them: “What are you frightened of?

“If you don’t want to Mrs O’Loan come and talk to me. Give me the information you have on my son’s murder.”

His son, ex-RAF operator Raymond McCord Jr (22), was killed by Ulster Volunteer Force men and dumped in a north Belfast quarry in November 1997.

Ever since, Mr McCord has claimed Special Branch officers thwarted the murder inquiry because it implicated two UVF agents. Mrs O’Loan’s two-year investigation into the case has been stretched to examine up to a dozen other killings.

In the Republic on Thursday a senior politician used parliamentary privilege to name two Belfast loyalists allegedly linked to the McCord murder.

Pat Rabbitte, leader of the Irish Labour Party, claimed in the Dail parliament that Special Branch informer Mark Haddock and another man were present when Mr McCord was murdered.

Haddock (39), from Belfast’s Mount Vernon district, is awaiting trial accused of attempting to murder a doorman in Co Antrim nearly three years ago.

Mr Rabbitte claimed under privilege: “The central allegation is that Haddock was not charged with any crime because he was an informer who had to be protected. He was able to act with impunity, while the police effectively colluded in his crimes.”

The Dublin TD also alleged Haddock was linked to seven other murders while working as an RUC police informer.

These were: Catholic builders Gary Convie and Eamon Fox in 1994; alleged informer Thomas Sheppard in 1996; Protestant clergyman the Rev David Templeton in 1997; Billy Harbison in 1997; former unionist politician Tommy English in 2000; and David Greer in 2000.

An interim report by Mrs O’Loan’s investigation team has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service. But an exhaustive dossier has still to be completed, and a decision has yet to be taken on whether to recommend prosecutions against any Special Branch officers.

With some of those under investigation vowing not to talk to the Ombudsman’s staff because they believe the probe is an attempt to demonise them, Mr McCord insisted they had no right to silence.

“Serving and past police officers have given me information because they are disgusted with the antics of Special Branch,” he said.

“Murders could have been prevented and they weren’t allowed to be because it would jeopardise informers.”

Belfast Telegraph

By Deborah McAleese
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
29 October 2005

Hopes were high last night that today’s Love Ulster mass rally will pass off peacefully, despite the expected presence of loyalist paramilitaries.

The terrorists will not be “uniformed” and there will be no show of strength, organisers said.

Those behind the event also said they were not expecting any trouble, but they accused republicans of attempting to fuel tensions by torching Whiterock Orange Hall on Thursday evening.

There had been speculation that up to 40,000 people would attend the Protestant rally which was organised to voice unionist frustration at political developments, but it is now believed the number could be significantly smaller.

The event was organised in the wake of civil disruption which followed the re-routed Orange Order parade at Whiterock.

The parade, which will include up to 70 bands, is due to start at 11.30am and travel along Northumberland Street, Shankill Road, Woodvale Road and finally gather at Woodvale Park at around 1.30pm. A wreath is to be laid at the scene of the Shankill bombing.

The Rev Mervyn Gibson of the Loyalist Commission, who is due to speak at the event, said there was definitely going to be no paramilitary show of strength but said everyone is invited and “whoever’s there is there”.

Event organiser Willie Frazer of the victims’ group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR), said he was not expecting any trouble.

He said if any loyalist paramilitaries attended they would be able to hear that the people on the streets wanted an end to violence.

“If they do come it is better they hear from the communities that they want an end to violence,” he said. “I will be calling for peace and unity, for an end to drug dealing and for all the organisations attacking each other to stop. I will also be calling for the Government to recognise the problems in our communities.

“There’s a situation out there within the republican movement trying to heighten tensions. Whiterock Orange hall has not been touched in years and yet just days before this rally it was torched. This was not a coincidence. This was done to raise tensions.”

Chief Superintendent Mike Little said: “I would also ask all those attending from outside the district to travel safely while making their way to and from north Belfast. Local police traffic and information patrols will be on hand to assist motorists on the day. Parking arrangements have also been made by the organisers for those planning to travel by bus.”

Although it is believed the event will pass off peacefully there are fears that trouble may kick off as people make their way home past flashpoint areas.

BBC

Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine has suggested there is reason to hope the UVF’s feud with the LVF is drawing to an end.

Speaking on BBC NI’s Inside Politics, Mr Ervine said the UVF was no threat to the peace process.

He called for time for the organisation to follow the IRA’s decision to end its campaign and decommission.

Mr Ervine also attacked calls for unionist unity and insisted it was time for diversity in unionism.

“I detest the concept of unionist unity,” Mr Ervine said.

Too often it resulted in unionists “huddling around” the lowest common denominator, he added.

BBC

Loyalists have gathered in west Belfast to take part in the “Love Ulster” parade.

The event, which organisers say is being held to “promote unionist unity”, began on the Shankill Road at 1200 BST.

A rally is be held in Woodvale Park following the march. Earlier this week, NI Secretary Peter Hain met with the demonstration’s organising committee.

Afterwards, Mr Hain said he had been assured the event would be “peaceful and dignified”.

Daily Ireland

Posted by Danielle Ni Dhighe

Connla Young

Former republican prisoners have reacted with anger after the offices of a support group was raided by the PSNI yesterday.
The offices of Teach na Fáilte in Strabane, Co Tyrone, and on the Falls Road in Belfast were searched and documents were removed during a series of raids carried out across the North yesterday morning which saw 20 homes and businesses targeted.
Set up almost ten years ago, Teach na Fáilte works with former Irish National Liberation Army prisoners.
A Teach na Fáilte spokesperson said a number of homes belonging to Teach na Fáilte employees were also raided by several heavily armed PSNI units.
A leading figure in the ex-prisoner’s group Eddie McGarrigle hit out at the PSNI after he was tossed from his wheelchair by a PSNI man attempting to pull the shutters down outside the group’s Strabane office.
“At a time when Teach na Fáilte is getting its doors sledgehammered open Bertie Ahern met with political representatives of a group that has killed 28 people since its ceasefire,” said Mr McGarrigle.
“What is Bertie Ahern going to say about these raids?
“Two years ago he spoke about his support of Teach na Fáilte and the republican socialist movement and the direction they are taking.
“The mood of the republican socialist movement and former INLA prisoners is one of absolute anger.
“They have taken away all our funding documents and put a lot of people out of employment.
“For over ten years we have been peace building and working towards conflict resolution and this work can all be verified.
“People should be aware that the offices of the IRSP were not raided and with the exception of two people who are members of the IRSP the majority of raids were carried out at the homes non-political people. They are simply employees at Teach na Fáilte.
“Many of these people work with us on the New Deal programme.
“I believe this action has been carried out to provoke a response.”
Earlier this month Mr McGarrigle called on anti agreement republicans not on ceasefire to bring their campaigns to an end.
Belfast-based IRSP man Paul Little said the raids were politically motivated.
“The PSNI have demonstrated once again that they are not a new beginning to policing but rather a new politically motivated paramilitarist force, that excels in all the bad traits of the RUC.”
A spokesperson for the PSNI said the 20 raids were carried out by their Organised Crime Squad.
The PSNI claimed the raids formed part of an ongoing criminal investigation.