SAOIRSE32

Guardian

Henry McDonald, Ireland editor
Sunday July 9, 2006
The Observer

A Merseyside MP has challenged the Orange Order in England to expel two Liverpool men convicted of loyalist terrorist offences from its ranks. Louise Ellman, the Labour member for Liverpool Riverside, said the Order had no choice but to bar the pair.

Roy Barwise, 48, and John Irwin, 43, were jailed last week after over the discovery of a UVF arms haul at the home of another Liverpool Orangeman, Alan Clair, in 2004. Clair was later jailed for eight years for UVF membership and possession of weapons.

Barwise, of Cardigan Way, Liverpool, was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court for UVF membership and possessing weapons. Irwin, of Scarsdale Road, Anfield, was jailed for two years for membership of the UVF.

During the raid on Clair’s house, Merseyside Police found thousands of rounds of ammunition, British army flares, explosives and photographs of a UVF show of strength.

Irwin and Barwise were both members of Orange lodges in the city and belonged to the Liverpool Volunteers Flute Band based at the Derry club in Everton.

During their trial the court was told that the ‘activities of the highly illegal UVF have been concealed by the lawful activity of Protestant unionism which operates under the banner of the Loyal Orange Lodges in Liverpool’.

Last week the Grand Master of the Orange Order in England, Ron Bather, suggested the two men may ‘not have broken the laws of the institution’. Bather added: ‘I am not glorifying paramilitarism, but there might not be grounds to put them out of the Order.’

Last night Louise Ellman urged the Orange Order to rethink its position and immediately expel the convicted terrorists. ‘I am sure the vast majority of people in the Orange Order are law-abiding citizens who want nothing to do with terrorism. I really think the Order should act to put these men out of the institution. Keeping men like that in the Orange Order is not compatible with it being a peaceful organisation. It’s time they looked at this again.’

There are around 50 Orange lodges in Liverpool making it the ‘capital’ of the loyal orders in England. A number have strong links with Ulster loyalist strongholds like the Shankill Road.

In recent years the Orange Order has been reluctant to expel known or convicted loyalist terrorists from its ranks. In December 2000 Orangemen Paul and Mervyn Armstrong were found guilty of membership of the anti-ceasefire terror group the Orange Volunteers and possession of a rifle. The secretary of their local Orange Lodge, when asked if they were about to be expelled, replied: ‘I don’t think that’s any of your business … those lads have been through enough.’

RTÉ

09 July 2006 15:51

The death has taken place of Micheal O’Domhnaill, one of the foremost figures in folk and traditional music.

He died suddenly at his Dublin home. He was 54.

A native of Co Meath, he was a former member of the Bothy Band.

He also performed regularly with his sisters Triona and Maighread.

RTÉ

09 July 2006 15:26

The Orange Order’s annual Drumcree Parade in Portadown, Co Armagh, has passed off without incident.

Reduced numbers of Orange Lodge members attended the parade which, as before, was prevented from passing through the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road area.

Yesterday, several thousand people attended the Orange March in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal.

Since 2004, Drumcree has passed off without a serious incident.

RTÉ

09 July 2006 15:37

A ceremony honouring all Irish people who have died in past wars or on service with the United Nations took place this morning.

The National Day of Commemoration was held in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin and was attended by President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Representatives of the Council of State, Diplomatic Corps, Defence Forces, Dáil and Seanad Judiciary, relatives of the 1916 leaders and Northern Ireland representatives were also present.

The next-of-kin of those who died on UN service and a wide cross-section of the community including members of ex-servicemen’s organisations were also in attendance.

The ceremony began with a multi-faith service of prayer, after which the President lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland.

Representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, the Jewish Community, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Islamic Community conducted the multi-faith service.

Today’s ceremony follows on from last week’s 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

BN.ie

09/07/2006 - 14:37:50

Northern Ireland Parades Commission chief Roger Poole and its Protestant members today faced calls for them to stand down after Orangemen were banned from marching in a nationalist area.

Portadown District Master Darryl Hewitt demanded the resignations after around 400 Orangemen were, for the ninth time running, blocked from returning from a church service in Drumcree through the nationalist Garvaghy Road.

He told the marchers: “Once again we are disappointed by the negative determination from that unaccountable body, the Parades Commission.

“This is even more the case when we remember both the public and indeed private utterances of the Secretary of State (for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain) who promised us in Portadown and the wider Orange family that this is a new commission with new ideas and a new urgency on parading.

“However I have in my possession the same old no determination from a ’No Parades Commission’.

“The call must go out today from this platform and indeed from Drumcree Hill for so-called Protestants who are members of the ’No Parades Commission’ to back their culture, heritage and traditions or else do the honourable thing and resign from this biased, discriminatory anti-parading body.”

Sunday Independent

Via Newshound

Jim Cusack
9 July 2006

A FORMER IRA man who once topped the British security services’ most-wanted list is behind a new conservative Catholic magazine opposing the “liberal agenda” in Ireland on such issues as homosexual marriage, abortion andembryonic research.

Gerry McGeough, originally from Tyrone but now living in Dublin, was also a former director of elections with Sinn Fein, taking charge of its successful campaign in the Nice referendum in October 2002. He left the party shortly afterwards in protest, he says, at the direction it was taking. He is now a sharp critic of the Sinn Fein leadership.

Twenty years ago, however, McGeough was one of the most-wanted men being tracked by security services across Europe and the United States where he was the IRA’s top arms buyer.

He escaped a huge FBI manhunt in 1982 after being filmed covertly trying to negotiate a deal to buy surface-to-air missiles in New Orleans. Shortly afterwards, the Federal agents seized a major cache of weapons which McGeough had assembled for shipment to Ireland.

He escaped from the US but was soon afterwards sent by the IRA to run its campaign of attacks on British military bases in Germany. He was caught by German police in a car containing two AK47 rifles in 1988 and spent four years largely in solitary confinement at a maximum security prison. He was then extradited to the US where he was imprisoned for his arms smuggling offences in Louisiana, being released in 1996.

He says his new magazine, The Hibernian, will appeal to what he believes is a “large swathe of the population” disillusioned with the liberal agenda.

“These are the people who perceive themselves to have been politically marginalised and ignored by the sundry developments in Irish society over the past decade. They tend to be conservative Catholics who are concerned about the current liberal trends in the country and who feel that the hierarchy is not giving sufficient leadership on religious issues.”

:::u.tv:::

The Drumcree parade dispute in Northern Ireland is a dead issue, a nationalist residents spokesperson has claimed.

By:Press Association
09/07/2006 13:34:24

As Orangemen made their way to Drumcree Parish Church, Breandan Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, claimed that the march which once sparked roadblocks and rioting in Portadown and other parts of Northern Ireland was no longer the controversy it once was.

“We have said for the past two years to the Parades Commission and said it no later than last week that Drumcree is a dead issue and it should be allowed to rest in peace,” he said.

“The Orange Order applied for 2,000 members to parade to Drumcree but only 400 have turned up.

“I think that tells the story.”

Portadown Orangemen have been banned for the ninth year running from marching down the Garvaghy Road.

Earlier, they left Carleton Street Orange Hall in Portadown town centre on their way to the annual Battle of the Somme Memorial Service at Drumcree Parish Church, an Anglican church.

Their spokesperson David Jones insisted that the reduced size of the march was a return to the district parade of old and he insisted they remained determined to secure a return parade through the Garvaghy Road.

Only a handful of nationalists watched the Orangemen as they headed out to the church today.

Mr Mac Cionnaith said the vastly reduced numbers of nationalist protesters also reflected how Drumcree was a `dead issue`.

In a reference to the Ulster Championship Gaelic Football Final between Armagh and Donegal, he said: “Most people have their focus on a different set of people dressed in orange elsewhere today.”

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen and Alan Murray
09 July 2006

Death-threat UDA boss Andre Shoukri dispatched a trusted go-between to a top-secret meeting with senior NIO officials, Sunday Life can reveal.

The behind-closed-doors meeting - involving north Belfast pastor Brian Madden - took place on Friday.

The Rev Madden told Sunday Life last night: “Yes, I did meet officials from the Northern Ireland Office to convey to them that the north Belfast UDA had a positive message to bring to them.

“I told the officials that the people running the brigade wanted to scotch the image of a violent bunch of fellas out to wreck and destroy.

“I told the NIO that the north Belfast UDA wants to see positive, political developments and wants to be involved in bringing progress to the area and doesn’t want to be left out of the political loop.”

But the Elim pastor added: “That’s all it was - there certainly were no negotiations about Ihab Shoukri or Andre Shoukri during the meeting.

“I have worked with these fellas (north Belfast UDA) for months and months and I think I know what they are about.

“I took a positive message to the NIO from them. The message is that they are not ready for war, but, on the contrary, they want to be kept in the loop and not left to fester on the sidelines.

“I said that, whatever the other element of the UDA was prepared to discuss, they would be prepared to discuss and that was how it was left.

“We didn’t discuss decommissioning of weapons or some deal to release Ihab or Andre Shoukri.”

An NIO spokesman confirmed last night: “Meetings have taken place with community representatives in north Belfast, but we cannot discuss the details of these discussions.”

The UDA’s ruling ‘inner council’ last month demanded behind-bars Andre and brother Ihab Shoukri stand down in a bitter feud over criminality.

But the UDA’s dissident north Belfast brigade - including long-time Shoukri henchman Alan McClean - defiantly rejected the demand.

A senior inner council source told us: “The offer of decommissioning is the talk of north Belfast.

“They have some gear (weapons) in the area and the Government would love to see the guns destroyed.

“Everyone knows the IRA would not have decommissioned without some sort of assurances from the Government: this is why (Andre) Shoukri is making this offer.

“If he gets the Government to recognise the north Belfast brigade as a separate group from the mainstream UDA in future discussions, then they will hand over the guns.”

The north Belfast UDA is believed to have more than 1,000 weapons, including handguns, sub-machine-guns, AK-47 assault rifles and deadly pipe-bombs.

Although the renegade LVF destroyed a miniscule amount of outdated weapons after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, this would mark the first time loyalists have put forward a serious offer of decommissioning.

The Red Hand Commando, UVF and UDA have all previously resisted calls to hand over their arsenals.

Andre Shoukri is currently held on remand at Maghaberry jail charged with blackmail and extortion.

His brother, Ihab, is being held at the same prison accused of UDA membership.

Both have been under threat of death since last month’s bitter falling-out with the UDA’s mainstream.

Sunday Life

By Joe Oliver and Stephen Breen
09 July 2006

A pet dog was seized by cops probing the cold-blooded murder of a Catholic schoolboy.

The cocker spaniel was ‘detained’ for almost a week before being returned to its shocked owners.

Detectives hunting the killers of teenager Thomas Devlin would not discuss the bizarre development last night.

A police spokesman would only say: “This is very much a live investigation and inquiries are ongoing.”

Heavy metal fan Thomas (15) was fatally stabbed as he and two friends were returning from a garage on Belfast’s Antrim Road last August.

The frenzied attack happened close to his home, at Somerton Road.

At the time, detectives said the prime suspects in the murder inquiry were two young men seen with a black-and-white dog.

At least six people have been questioned about the killing, but to date no one has been charged.

The spaniel seized by police is owned by a north Belfast couple.

One neighbour of the couple told us yesterday: “People were surprised when they led the dog away.

“It’s a harmless animal - it came as quite a shock to its owners when they were told why police wanted it.

“It seems very strange, but I suppose police have to follow every line of inquiry open to them.”

It’s understood the dog was detained at Antrim Holding Centre - normally used to hold suspected terrorists and others involved in serious crime.

One line of inquiry is believed to be that DNA evidence recovered from the murder scene may indicate the presence of a domestic pet at the time Thomas was killed.

Last night, Thomas’ mother, Penny Devlin, told Sunday Life: “We can’t comment on this development, but we know that the police have all along been looking for two suspects who may have had a dog the night my son was murdered.

“We know the police are actively continuing their investigation and we know there have been a number of searches carried out in recent days.”

Sunday Life’s offer of a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Thomas’ killers remains in place.

sbreen@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sunday Life

By Alan Murray
09 July 2006

Loyalist paramilitaries are pointing the finger of guilt at two brothers over the murder of missing Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian.

Sixteen months after the 25-year-old disappeared after attending a party at a caravan site in Ballyhalbert, sources say that all four loyalist paramilitary organisations now agree that none of their members were directly involved in the County Down woman’s killing.

One senior paramilitary source said last week that there was now a consensus between the UVF, the UDA, the Red Hand Commando and the ‘caretaker’ leadership of the now stood down LVF over who killed the pretty Bangor woman.

“After this young woman was murdered, some paramilitaries and one political figure in particular jumped to the conclusion that Lisa Dorrian was killed by people connected with the LVF,” the senior loyalist paramilitary said.

“Now after each organisation has conducted an investigation within their own ranks, they have concluded who didn’t do it and who actually did do it.”

The source added: “There is a conclusion about who killed this wee girl and the finger of suspicion points at two brothers who have no connection to any of the paramilitary organisations.”

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
09 July 2006

A Belfast man last night rubbished reports that he laundered stolen banknotes for diehard republicans in Cuba.

Worried Tomas Gorman claimed he was at the centre of a sinister “dirty-tricks” campaign after he was accused of making a secret visit to the Caribbean last month with convicted INLA bomber Willie Gallagher.

According to newspaper reports, Gorman (28) was part of a renegade republican gang who visited the island to finalise a money-laundering scam with Cuban president Fidel Castro.

The reports claimed the cash was stolen from bank raids on both sides of the border.

But bar-worker Gorman, a member of the International Solidarity Movement, told Sunday Life that the purpose of his visit was to ferry medical supplies to poverty-stricken Cuban kids.

He said: “If I was part of a plot to launder over £1m, why would I be working in a bar 39-hours-per week? I am totally bemused by this story.

“The article suggested I was some sort of diehard republican paramilitary, but this is total nonsense.

“The only thing I am guilty of is of being an international socialist.”

Added Gorman: “My visit to Cuba was very much public because I was photographed in a local paper with the medical supplies I had collected just before I left. I was there to help people and to learn about Cuban society.

“My family were naturally very concerned because it is putting me at a level of risk.

“I think the only reason I have been mentioned in relation to this so-called ‘money laundering scam’ is because of my work with an ex-prisoners’ group, Teach Na Failte, and because my father is a former republican prisoner.”

The report also claimed the local men received “five-star” treatment and gained exclusive access to Che Guevara’s tomb during their three-week stay.

Gorman, who has also taught English in Venezuela, said: “I was staying in very basic accommodation with about 300 other people during my visit - there was definitely no ‘five-star treatment’ for us.

“I knew of Willie Gallagher because of his work with ex-prisoners, but only got to know him better during the trip.

“We were able to get into Che Guevera’s tomb with other European socialists and we were allowed to take a photograph by the museum’s manager because he appreciated us bringing the Starry Plough [flag] to the tomb.

“I hope to make other trips to Cuba in the future and I won’t be put off by false allegations being made against me.”

Sunday Life

By Alan Murray
09 July 2006

The father of a UVF murder victim has called on PUP leader David Ervine to urge the terror group’s leadership to lift a death threat on his family.

Raymond McCord said it was now time for the UVF leadership to come clean about the murder of his son Raymond jnr and put the whole issue to bed once and for all.

The north Belfast man made the call to the organisation’s Shankill leadership after learning that he and his family are still targets for attack.

“I was told this week that I am still a target for attack along with members of my immediate family.

“What I am saying to the UVF leadership today is put this whole issue of my son’s murder to bed.

“I now know that young Raymond’s murder wasn’t sanctioned by the Shankill leadership and that the local brigadier didn’t know about the killing until after it was done.

“Mark Haddock took the UVF for a ride.

“So I’m saying to the UVF leadership, wash your hands of these murderers and the police informers who directed them, clear the air and put this whole issue to bed now”, he said.

Raymond McCord says the targeting of a relative by a UVF gang in the Rathcoole area recently confirmed that he is still being targeted by the organisation.

“My cousin was burned on the hands and stomach while this gang asked him where I was,” he admitted.

The north Belfast welder, who has waged a nine year campaign to bring his son’s killers to justice, urged David Ervine to press the UVF to make a clear statement about the continuing attacks on his family and the threat to his life.

Sunday Life

‘I think we have God on our side’

By John McGurk
09 July 2006

An Ulsters mother’s love for her desperately ill baby has provided the ultimate gift - a fighting chance of life.

For battling baby James Hynes is astonishing doctors and delighting his family - just days after receiving desperately needed bone marrow from his mum, Cathy.

In her first interview since the operation, Cathy told Sunday Life: “Any mother would do the same, if they were in my situation. After all, you have to give your child every chance.

“You have to feel that you are doing everything that you possibly can for them.”

The 13-month-old Dundrod tot is suffering from a particularly vicious form of leukaemia.

Just last month, the outlook was unbearably bleak for baby James, when no UK hospital would carry out a bone marrow transplant - as he was not in remission from the cancer.

But, with only weeks left to live, his parents discovered a German hospital team which was prepared to carry out the procedure as a matter of urgency.

After Sunday Life highlighted the family’s plight, countless big hearted readers rallied around to help raise the £100,000 cost - before the Eastern Health Board agreed to cover the baby’s German hospital bill.

Last Tuesday, James received millions of his mum’s stem cells at Tubingen Children’s Hospital, near Stuttgart.

In two day’s time, tests will initially determine if the transplant has been successful.

A more thorough procedure, examining the tot’s bone marrow, will then be conducted in three week’s time - to find out if there is normal cell growth and the chance for James to live a healthy life.

In preparation for the transplant, Cathy had injected herself twice a day for five days to multiply the number of stem cells she could donate. A total of 38m cells were then transplanted into little James’ system.

Speaking to Sunday Life yesterday, Cathy was cautiously optimistic about her youngest child’s future.

She said: “Every time the doctors come to see him, they can’t believe what good form he is in. He is tired and he hasn’t eaten anything since then and he had a bit of a temperature.

“We are still taking things one day at a time and we realise that we are still going to have to look over our shoulders and just be careful.

“But the main doctor thinks that James will make a quick recovery. I think that we have God on our side.”

In spite of tiredness and a headache or two, the selfless Ulster mum shrugged off any suggestion that what she has done is special in any way, saying “any mother would do the same”.

Cathy urged people to donate blood, pointing out that her baby son “would not even have been alive today”, without volunteers.

Delighted dad, Jim Hynes said that he was “flabbergasted” by baby James’ resilience and his “bounciness” - and that he was back, running about and dancing again to his favourite song, Crazy.

Added James: “His brother Michael, his granny Maura and auntie Pauline came over last Tuesday. As soon as he saw them, he was up another gear - laughing and giggling away.

“We know that we are not out of the woods yet, by any stretch of the imagination. But we are definitely a bit more hopeful now.”

jmgurk@belfast telegraph.co.uk

Sunday Life

By Stephen Breen
09 July 2006

Detectives last night vowed to catch the would-be killer of a young man who was left blinded after a barbaric gun attack.

One year after an LVF gunman pumped six bullets into innocent loyalist feud victim David Hanley, police have renewed their appeal for anyone with information on the murder bid to come forward.

David was just three days away from his 21st birthday when he was shot, on July 10 2005 - the victim of mistaken identity.

Although a number of people were quizzed about the murder bid, no-one has ever been charged with the attempt on his life.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Harkness, who is leading the shooting inquiry, is determined to get justice for David.

Said Det Harkness: “The investigation into this attack is ongoing and we continue to urge anyone with information to contact us.

“We firmly believe that there are people living in the Crumlin Road community who witnessed the attack on this man and who knows who is responsible for this attempted murder.

“We would ask for anyone who in the area prior to midnight on Sunday July 10, 2005 and who has any information which could assist us with our inquiries into this serious attack on a man’s life to contact us immediately.

“The number to ring is 0845 600 8000 and members of the public should ask to speak with detectives at Gough Barracks.”

“Whoever carried out this evil act is a very dangerous person and there’s no reason to believe they won’t commit similar acts in the future.”

David also made a plea for anyone with information on the person who tried to kill him to come forward.

He said: “I would like to see whoever did this to me taken off the streets because I wouldn’t want them to hurt another innocent person.

“The last year has been terrible for me and I didn’t deserve this because I was totally innocent. It’s hard to believe that this time last year I approached death’s door.

“I hope and pray that I will get justice one day but I also thank God for giving me the opportunity to get on with my life.

“Whoever did this to me is a very dangerous person and I would plead with people to tell the police what they know.

“I can’t thank my family, friends, the Bangor Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Wave Trauma Centre enough for helping me through the last year - they have been fantastic.

“I have made a miraculous recovery and I will just spend the anniversary of the day I was shot reflecting on the past year and how far I have come on since then.”

The surgeon who saved David’s life, Dr Kishor Choudhari, also praised the young man’s courage over the last year, adding: “David has made a remarkable physical recovery from his life-threatening injuries.

“Unfortunately, both his optic nerves are irreversibly damaged and his visual loss is most likely to be permanent.

“Unfortunately, David is finding it very difficult to come to terms with the after-effects of his injuries and is likely to be left with significant physical and psychological disabilities in the long-term.”

sbreen@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

___________________

‘How was he meant to report the incident when he was in hospital fighting for his life?’

Lady Sylvia blasts NIO on gun victim’s compo controversy

North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon last night hit out at the NIO for refusing to compensate innocent loyalist feud victim David Hanley.

Sunday Life revealed last week how the NIO’s Compensation Agency knocked back David’s request for funding because of his failure to report the murder bid to police.

David, who was left blinded and in a coma after the attack, was also refused funding for having a number of driving convictions. David’s solicitor has appealed against the controversial decision.

And now Lady Sylvia, who is David’s MP, intends to raise the issue at Westminster

Said Lady Sylvia: “I think it is important the Government is made aware of the situation that David Hanley finds himself in.

“The NIO should be held accountable for refusing to pay David compensation and I will do my best to help him.

“I can’t imagine how he was meant to report the incident when he was lying in hospital fighting for his life.

“David’s life has been destroyed by this barbaric act of violence and the Government must do all it can to help him rebuild his life.”

Following last week’s exclusive story, we have also been inundated with calls from outraged readers who have vowed to support David’s campaign for compensation.

Said one reader: “I would like to offer my support to Mr Hanley and I’m sure many people will find it hard to believe the NIO has acted in this way.

“The best way people can offer their support to David is to write to the NIO to oultine their objection to such a ridiculous decision.

“After everything the young man has been through, the last thing he needed was to be told he would not be receiving any cash because he didn’t report the incident.”

David also urged people to voice their support for his stance with the NIO by writing to 34, Balloo Road, Bangor, BT19 7PG.

Sunday Life

By Alan Murray
09 July 2006

A report by the Police Ombudsman will severely criticise the original RUC inquiry into the disappearance of west Belfast mother of 10, Jean McConville.

Nuala O’Loan is expected to blast the failure of the RUC to conduct a proper investigation into the 1972 disappearance of Mrs McConville when she releases her report to the family in a few weeks time.

Mrs O’Loan issued a brief statement on Friday confirming that the widow - who was abducted and murdered by the IRA - had not given any information to the RUC, the Army or the British security services before she was abducted.

The statement quashed the IRA’s stated reason for her ruthless murder.

It is reliably understood that the Ombudsman encountered some opposition from the Northern Ireland Office to the use of the forthright declaration in her statement that Mrs McConville “was not an informant”, as it breached a government convention.

But the Ombudsman considered it vital for the McConville family that her conclusion be explicit.

One source said: “The Northern Ireland Office was a bit unhappy with the line in the Ombudsman’s statement clearly declaring that Jean McConville was not an informant because it broke with the convention not to declare if someone was or was not an informant, but the Ombudsman insisted that the sentence should be included.”

It is understood that neither the PSNI nor MI5 raised any objection to the explicit declaration.

“The police were not concerned and MI5 said that as it was just a one off circumstance they had no objection, but the NIO objected because it breached the overall Government policy of not indicating whether someone is or isn’t an agent.

“The statement on Jean McConville is unprecedented,” an official said.

Mrs O’Loan is expected to say that the 1972 RUC investigation into the widow’s disappearance was virtually non-existent and that officers initially did not treat the report as a disappearance.

“It appears that the incident was not treated as a disappearance from the start, but more probably a domestic circumstance which would resolve itself in a day or so.

“And very little police paperwork could be unearthed about the circumstances of the disappearance. There is a large gap in the paperwork and either it was never there or it went missing, it’s not clear whether it was ever there or was lost,” one source said.

It was not until 2003 that Jean McConville’s remains were found on Templeton Beach in Co Louth.

THE STATEMENT

Following a public request from the family of Jean McConville, the IRA carried out a thorough investigation of all the circumstances surrounding her death.

That investigation has confirmed that Jean McConville was working as an informer for the British Army.

The conclusion of this investigation was reported to Michael McConville.

The IRA accepts that he rejects this conclusion.

The IRA regrets the suffering of all of the families whose loved-ones were killed and buried by the IRA.

(signed) P O’Neill