SAOIRSE32

Daily Ireland

By Connla Young
27/03/2006

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs are set to challenge the British army after it was revealed that a number of spy cameras are being used to monitor a south Armagh football club.
Officials from Saint Patrick’s Gaelic Football Club, Dromintee, carried out an inspection of a massive mountain top British army spy post and have claimed that a number of cameras are being used to monitor their facilities.
The claim comes just weeks after British army documents discovered discarded in the district revealed that a number of homes and the club are monitored by a spy post on Faughil Mountain, which over looks the area.
Dromintee chairman Peter Fearon described the current situation as “unacceptable”.
“We have several hundred young people in the club, some as young as seven years-old,” Mr Fearon said.
“The men and women who manage underage teams have to undergo a rigorous training course in child protection. One of the many regulations states that children cannot be photographed without parental permission, yet at the same time we have a situation where children and adults at the club are under constant surveillance by the most sophisticated observation cameras in existence. All club members are enraged by this espionage and demand that the cameras be immediately and publicly removed.
“I am grateful to the GAA in Croke Park and Armagh County Board authorities for their prompt response to the club’s request for support. Through them the mater is being raised with the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is our hope that their efforts will bring an end to this interference in the running of our club.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “We have received representations from Dromintee GAA club and have in turn raised the issue with British authorities.”
A spokesman for the British army said: “While we do not comment on alleged operational activity, it is worth noting that the observation towers along the south Armagh border were built to enhance the safety of communities in the area as well as the safety of security force personnel on patrol. They were also built to assist in the detection and tracking of terrorists and their equipment.”

Belfast Telegraph

By Tom Brady
27 March 2006

The Irish government has called on Sinn Fein to end its misuse of the title, Oglaigh na h-Eireann, after party teeshirts with the name were worn by some of the thugs who took part in the Love Ulster riots in the centre of Dublin.

The Republic’s Defence Minister Willie O’Dea has written three letters to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams to point out that, by law, the Defence Forces is the only legitimate Army in this State and it alone can call itself Oglaigh na h-Eireann.

Mr Adams has acknowledged the letters but did not make a response while similar requests by the minister to the Sinn Fein leader in the Dail, Caoimhghin O Caolain have been ignored.

Last night, the minister described Mr Adams’ silence as further evidence of the contempt he and Sinn Fein held for the Defence Forces.

The teeshirts are sold by Sinn Fein in their shops and through the internet.

Mr O’Dea said: “The Provisionals continue to use and abuse the title, Oglaigh na hEireann, to line their pockets and fund their political purposes.

“The legacy of 1916 is not a commodity for sale by anyone, least of all by the provisionals,” he added.

The issue will be raised in the Dail this week by Fianna Fail’s Dublin TD Charlie O’Connor.

Belfast Telegraph

Army agent says SF must face mole issue

By Michael McHugh
27 March 2006

A British Army whistleblower who worked for an organisation allegedly connected to the murder of Pat Finucane has challenged Sinn Fein to come clean on IRA informers.

Writing in an online discussion site, the agent handler known as Martin Ingram warned the subject of collusion is potentially explosive for the leaders of mainstream republicans.

Mr Ingram was a former agent handler at the Force Research Unit, a branch of the Army charged with dealing with agents and intelligence and linked with the February 1989 Finucane murder.

In an article in the Blanket, a site edited by left wing republican Anthony McIntyre, Mr Ingram said the unmasking of high profile republican Denis Donaldson as an informer came as a shock to supporters of Sinn Fein.

“The issue of informers within the movement is a real one and the grassroots want answers to the many questions being posed by supporters,” he said.

“This subject, if left unchecked, is explosive, and when the truth finally emerges it will be thanks largely to those like myself who want to see victims given closure and have a desire to see a United Ireland.

“If Sinn Fein does not deal with the issues of infiltration and collusion among IRA/SF ranks, it has the potential to reward the British and its agents who murdered almost at will.”

Mr Ingram rose to prominence after claiming somebody from FRU fed information to loyalist killers in 1987 to divert them from targeting a high-level mole known as Stakeknife.

Francisco Notorantonio, an old republican who had not been involved in the IRA since the 1940s, was killed by gunmen using the information.

“It would be easy to argue that the (republican) movement are not interested in this subject but we all know this is not true,” Mr Ingram added.

“Can you imagine the British Labour party not wanting to discuss at a party conference the impact of, say, Alistair Campbell being exposed as a Soviet spy for over twenty years? Of course they would!

“So why would Sinn Fein not want to debate and learn from its past mistakes; after all, this is what normal political parties do.”

Mr Ingram also exposed west Belfast republican Freddie Scappaticci as Stakeknife. Scappaticci had allegedly been the head of internal security for the IRA.

He quit his west Belfast home following newspaper allegations in May 2003, and has since denied the claims.

Belfast Telegraph

By Ashleigh Wallace
27 March 2006

Friends and family of missing Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian have attended a special ceremony at which a tree was planted in her memory.

Lisa’s family picked a cherry blossom tree as a lasting memorial to the pretty 25-year-old shop assistant, who went missing from a caravan park in Ballyhalbert in February 2005.

It is hoped the tree, which has been planted in the grounds of Bangor Heritage Centre, will flower in time for what would have been Lisa’s 27th birthday on June 12.

Also unveiled at yesterday’s ceremony was a plaque designed by Lisa’s friends, while a bench picked by Lisa’s ex-boyfriend, Jamie Mills, was erected.

Around 70 people attended the emotional ceremony. Lisa’s mother, Patricia, was comforted by Holywood woman Karen Kelly, whose 21-year-old son Martin has not been seen since leaving a pub on Belfast’s docks New Year’s Day.

Anyone with information on the murder is asked to contact the PSNI or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

Belfast Telegraph

One-day strike ‘only start’ of union campaign

By Debra Douglas and Kathryn Torney
27 March 2006

Commuter chaos and serious disruption at schools is feared tomorrow as Northern Ireland braces itself for a major one-day strike across public services.

Up to 50,000 staff in Ulster’s councils, schools, colleges, public transport and the Housing Executive are due to strike as part of a UK-wide protest against Government plans to cut pension entitlement.

With public transport expected to grind to a standstill as Translink, Ulsterbus and Metro bus staff join the industrial action, more commuters will have to drive to work, leading to even more congestion on Ulster’s busiest roads, including the lane-restricted Westlink.

All bus and rail services, including the Enterprise, are expected to be severely disrupted or cancelled with a number of services later tonight also halted.

School buses will also be severely affected - 65,000 pupils will have to find alternative arrangements for getting to and from school.

A spokesperson for Translink said: “There will be severe disruption across all services. It is most likely there will be no trains or buses running but we will not know until tomorrow.

“We would advise passengers to make alternative arrangements for their journeys and apologise to them for any inconvenience caused.”

Schools are also likely to be severely hit by the strike action.

Non-teaching staff from Northern Ireland’s five education boards due to be involved include catering, cleaning, classroom assistants, nursery assistants, secretaries, technicians, caretakers, crossing patrols, school bus drivers and escorts and headquarters staff.

Trade union Nipsa has warned that home to school transport will not be available, schools meals will be badly affected, schools may not be open and many aspects of education will cease to function.

A Southern Education and Library Board spokesman said: “Principals have been advised that arrangements should be made to enable buildings to be opened for those attending work.”

In the case of classroom assistants, head teachers with any health and safety concerns have been told to contact the board of governors and parents/guardians.

UUP education spokesman, David McNarry, said: “I sympathise with those seeking to protect their pensions. However, I cannot support action which disrupts school buses and prevents children from going to school.”

Meanwhile, a union leader has warned the strike will be the beginning of a campaign on pension rights.

Brian Campfield, deputy general secretary of Nipsa, said: “This isn’t a one-off thing - this is the beginning of a campaign.”

Further information on Translink services is available on www.translink.co.uk or by telephoning 028 9066 6630.

For more information on the roads, log on to www.trafficwatchni.com or telephone 0845 7123321.

Irelandclick

By Laura McDaid

Scores of residents showed the true face of Ballymurphy with a huge clean up operation yesterday morning designed to raise the spirits of local people.
Graffiti, litter and other debris was cleared up in an extensive effort involving local residents, Housing Executive, Council workers and politicians.

West Belfast MLA Michael Ferguson and Ballymurphy councillor Marie Cush grabbed brushes and joined local people in the operation which aimed to build community spirit and confidence in the midst of spiralling violence and antisocial behaviour which followed the death of Gerard Devlin.

Young people worked tirelessly with adults throughout the morning, removing graffiti, clearing litter and lifting debris strewn on streets after fire attacks.

The weekend event came on the back of requests from politicians for additional support from the British government for trauma counselling.

Cllr Ferguson requested counselling resources for St Bernadette’s and St Aidan’s primary schools to combat the adverse impact of the community tension on children.

Commenting upon yesterday’s event, Michael Ferguson said, “We are initiating a number of activities which are about demonstrating the true spirit of the people of Ballymurphy. This area has a long and proud history of supporting itself in the face of adversity and resisting external oppression as books written about the area depict very clearly. Today we, as elected representatives, are joining with the Ballymurphy Residents’ Association in the first of a number of environmental clean-up projects.”

Residents’ spokesman Tommy Holland said the clean-up sent out a strong message of community solidarity and intolerance of criminal gangs and anti-social elements.

“These criminals, young and old, have no concern about the welfare of Ballymurphy residents and the community do not want them,” he said.
“Today we are demonstrating community solidarity through this environmental clean-up, showing that we care about the image of our area.”

Volunteers thanked Belfast City Council and NIHE for their excellent support for the project.

Journalist:: Laura McDaid

Daily Ireland

Initiative shows solidarity with sacrifice of men

27/03/2006

Republicans across the country yesterday lit candles to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike.
Irish Republican Army and Irish National Liberation Army prisoners in the Co Antrim jail began the hunger strike in March 1981. Ten men had died by the time it was called off in October.
Candles were lit and placed in the front windows of republican homes across Ireland.
Bik McFarlane, the IRA officer commanding in Long Kesh at the time of the 1981 hunger strike, said the commemorative candle was an initiative aimed at remembering in a small way the sacrifices of the ten men.
He said it was also a way of showing continuing solidarity with their families, especially the mothers on Mother’s Sunday, 25 years after the events.
“We chose Mother’s Day as the day when we are asking people to place the candle in the window of their homes as a particular tribute to the immediate families of those who died and as a tribute to the courage they displayed throughout those long and difficult months from March to October 1981,” he said.
The first to die was Bobby Sands, who began the fast and who was elected MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in an April by-election. His death on May 5, 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike was followed by the biggest funeral ever seen in the North. Around 100,000 people lined the route to Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast.
The hunger strike smashed British attempts to criminalise Republican prisoners and kick started Sinn Féin’s entry into electoral politics.

Daily Ireland

27/03/2006

Prison officers, who were given millions in compensation after an alleged threat to their lives, are set to cash in again following a dissident republican death threat.
Prison staff at Maghaberry were told this week that the Real IRA plan to attack them, either on or off duty.
However Daily Ireland has learned that a number of prison officers who work in Bush House, where Real IRA prisoners are held, already received compensation payouts following the ‘Stormontgate’ case.
Despite having already received massive security payouts they could now be entitled to thousands of pounds more because of this latest threat.
Over 1,426 prison workers were told in 2002 that their details were in the hands of republicans following PSNI raids which led to the collapse of the Stormont power sharing Assembly.
Despite the collapse of the case over £28 million (€40.5 million) was paid out in compensation to have the prison staff rehoused and their personal security tightened.
The sum paid out amounted to £20,000 (€28,900) per officer with cameras, lights, reinforced doors and bullet-proof glass being installed at many of their homes.
However, a similar amount could be claimed again because of a potential dissident republican threat.
Head of the Prison Officers Association Finlay Spratt confirmed yesterday: “The same staff who work in Maghaberry may well have already had to move home following the last threat.
“Prison officers never got any benefit from the ceasefire because of these continuing threats.
“If people are named and the threat is serious then they will more than likely have to move home and or review their security situation.
“And some of the staff at Maghaberry have already had to move home once because of potential threats.
“This is very distressing but will not change the way the staff work or how the implement prison policy.”

BN.ie

27/03/2006 - 16:10:00

A once highly regarded detective garda has admitted systematically and severely abusing two innocent sisters as they were interrogated over the death of Donegal cattle dealer Richie Barron, it emerged today.

In a shocking statement to the Morris Tribunal turning years of denials on their head, Detective Sergeant John White revealed he lied about the atrocious treatment of Katrina Brolly and Roisin McConnell in Letterkenny Garda Station.

The officer, who is currently suspended from the force, said the sisters were utterly blameless in relation to the Barron death.

Det Sgt White revealed he was drafted in to make the women crack under pressure in the hope that they would identify Mr Barron’s killers.

“It was made clear to me that my role was to break the person being interviewed in order to corroborate the suspicions of An Garda Siochana,” he said in a statement.

In three separate inquiries over the last eight years, Det Sgt White has denied claims that he mistreated and harassed the sisters.

But in a dramatic departure from the cover-up and deceit witnessed at the tribunal, Det Sgt White decided to come clean.

His shock move came after his colleague Garda John Dooley last week outlined the extent of abuse faced by the sisters, pinning much of the blame on Det Sgt White.

The detective sat motionless in the public gallery, only feet from Mrs Brolly, as tribunal barrister Paul McDermott SC read the lengthy admission of guilt into the record.

He outlined a catalogue of abuse dished out to the two sisters while in custody.

:: Graphically shocking pictures of Mr Barron’s post mortem were shown to the women.

:: They were told Frank McBrearty Jnr had murdered Mr Barron.

:: A chair was tossed around an interview room.

:: Foul, abusive and insulting language was used.

:: Lights were flicked off and on.

:: Mrs McConnell was warned to tell the truth and save herself years in prison.

:: She was told her husband Mark was having an affair.

:: And she was warned her kids could be taken from her and put into care.

Det Sgt White said in the statement: “I acknowledge that my conduct in these matters falls far short of an acceptable standard.

“I acknowledge that their [Mrs McConnell and Mrs Brolly] treatment was in breach of custody regulations and their human rights.

“I fully acknowledge that each of them is blameless in relation to the investigation and the treatment of them by me is inexcusable.”

Det Sgt White, who served in top Dublin detective units in the early 1980s, also confirmed Letterkenny Garda Station, where the interrogations took place, had been bugged.

He revealed he was instructed to be aggressive when interrogating the pair. And he admitted that the tough interview methods used by him, and other officers, have been employed time and time again during his career.

He said two high ranking officers, Detective Superintendent Joe Shelley and Inspector John McGinley, were convinced Frank McBrearty Jnr and Mark McConnell, Roisin’s husband, were guilty of murder.

He said the two sisters had been identified as accomplices in the Barron death.

Det Sgt White said he trusted the senior officers’ judgement.

“I knew Dt Supt Shelley very well having served with him in the murder squad and I was aware that he was extremely experienced and I trusted his judgment,” he said.

“Strident and aggressive [interviewing techniques] were not used, it was quite clear that results were being expected if not demanded. This was made quite clear to me by Det Supt Shelley.”

He admitted he called the women lying bitches.

“I may have used the words lying bitch, this would not be unusual language in an interview situation with an uncooperative and obstructive witness,” he said.

“I wish to state that in relation to murder and serious crime investigations the method employed with Roisin McConnell was similar to that used on other occasions by myself and other interviewers over the years.”

He admitted asking Roisin to pray to her father as accusations were made over the death of Mr Barron.

“I understood that I was to adopt a hard line in relation to the interrogation. In retrospect, I acknowledge that I approached the task believing Roisin McConnell to be guilty,” he admitted.

“I now accept that this was unfair and improper.”

His statement continued: “No interview of any prisoner or any witness is carried out in a ’tea party’ atmosphere as the purpose is to elicit information from persons who are either reluctant, uncooperative or simply lying.

“My job was to ascertain answers to the questions put and explanations as to the conflicts in their answers.”

Det Sgt White , however, rejected claims that he spat in the women’s faces, that he broke wind in front of them, that he assaulted them or called Roisin McConnell “Satan”.

Paul McDermott SC, barrister for the tribunal, read the statement into the record.

He said: “The statement made by Detective Sergeant White is perhaps welcome but if it is true a late departure from the lies which have been engaged in in the past.

“The tribunal at this stage can only continue to exercise the patience which has been perhaps tested over the last number of years in this regard.”

BN.ie

27/03/2006 - 16:17:26

Up to 200 victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles who live in the Republic are expected to be compensated under the latest phase of the Irish Government’s Remembrance Commission.

The body, which began its work in July 2004, has already paid out up to €3.5m to people bereaved or injured by nearly 30 years of violence and has a total fund of €9m.

The Commission covers terrorist atrocities including the Dublin & Monaghan bombings in 1974 and other blasts through the years in Dublin Airport, Castleblayney, Belturbet and Omagh.

The Commission began a new national public awareness campaign today through the media to encourage more victims to come forward.

A spokesman for the Commission said: “The Commission is concerned that there are still people who are victims of the conflict who are either unaware of the scheme or have yet to submit their application for assistance.

“We estimate that there may be up to 200 victims out there that haven’t come forward yet. The nature of injuries received must be interpreted in line with the scheme.”

Funding is also available for victim support groups and for erecting local memorials.

The Commission has four categories of payment including an initial acknowledgement amount of €15,000 to the family of a person killed during the Troubles.

Another €15,000 sum is available for economic hardship suffered by the spouse and family of a victim.

If somebody injured is unable to work, they can also receive a €15,000 amount.

If a family was displaced from Northern Ireland they may be entitled to €15,000 or €7,500 if they were forced to move abroad.

The Remembrance Commission was established by the Irish Government in October 2003.

Its five members comprise David Andrews, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Irish Red Cross; Conor Brady, journalist and former editor of the Irish Times; Pat Hume, member of the board of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund; Paddy Mullarkey, former Secretary General of the Department of Finance and Caitriona Murphy, chairman of Investor Compensation Company Ltd, and former chairman of the Labour Relations Commission.