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Daily Ireland

Former Long Kesh prisoners demand facts about chemical used to quell riot

by Ciaran Barnes
23/08/2006

The British government is coming under renewed pressure to reveal if it used a controversial gas on republican prisoners during a prison riot 32 years ago.

The Ministry of Defence has always denied using CR gas, a known carcinogen, on inmates during the burning of Long Kesh in October 1974.
More than 300 prisoners were affected by the gas fired from helicopters. It’s claimed that around a fifth of this number have since died or are suffering from unexplained cancers.
Inmates have always maintained that CR gas, which is ten times stronger than CS gas, was used against them.
Although admitting CR gas was kept in Long Kesh and that it was authorised for use in the North in 1973, the British government still denies using the deadly toxin during the prison riot.
Over the past four weeks Daily Ireland has spoken to three former British soldiers who served in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal regiment that was sent into Long Kesh to take on the republican rioters.
Two of the ex-soldiers, who asked for their identities to be kept secret and who were among the soldiers who fought with the prisoners, confirmed that an “unknown” gas was used.
The third soldier, Lawrence Finnegan, was posted to Long Kesh shortly after the riot occurred.
He said that although he did not have any knowledge of CR gas being used “this is not to say it did not happen”.
The soldiers’ frank admissions has heaped more pressure on the British government to admit the gas, which the US army refuses to employ because of its links to cancer, was used in Long Kesh.
Former IRA prisoner Jim McCann, who was one of those gassed, said the British soldiers’ statements confirm what he has known all along.
“The prisoners were used as guinea pigs to test CR gas.
“More than 50 men, including many who led healthy lifestyles, have since died or are suffering from cancer,” said Mr McCann.
“Now that we have British soldiers all but admitting CR gas was used the Ministry of Defence should do the same and end the cover-up.”
On its official website, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal regiment admits encountering “friendly fire” while fighting with the prisoners. This is a reference to the gas canisters fired from British army helicopters that hovered above the Long Kesh football pitches, the scene of the most intense fighting.
One of the soldiers who spoke to Daily Ireland said he witnessed men “dropping like flies” when the gas canisters were launched.
“I can tell you now, because I have seen CS gas being used and that wasn’t CS which was fired from the helicopters.”
“I don’t know what it was, we weren’t told and we didn’t ask questions.
“Really, it [the gas] was unknown to us, but it made those boys [the prisoners] drop like flies.
“A couple of our own ones were affected. One guy told me he felt as if he was drowning.”
This is the same memory Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, who was in Long Kesh at the time, had of the effects of the gas. The controversy over the use of CR gas in the jail came about after Labour MPs Ken Livingstone and Kevin McNamara asked a series of questions in the House of Commons.
Prisoners who were affected are now mounting a legal challenge against the British government under international human rights law.
The Long Kesh riot began after a dispute between the inmates and authorities over visits, food and compassionate parole. Republicans burnt 21 of the compounds used to house internees.
In the weeks after the riot blood samples were taken from all the prisoners affected by the gas. The British government has refused to make these samples available to the prisoners or their legal representatives.

Derry Journal

Tuesday, August 22

The IRSP in Derry have said there’s a need to actively begin a process of healing the relationships between the various republican traditions.

IRSP Ard Comhairle member, Eddie McGarrigle, who made the comment at the weekend parade to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of hunger striker Micky Devine, said political prisoners around the world had taken inspiration from Micky and the other hunger strikers.
Mr. McGarrigle said: “Today in prisons throughout the world there are many political prisoners, Palestinians, Lebanese, Basque and Kurdish prisoners and all of them draw inspiration from Micky and his nine comrades.”
Mr. McGarrigle added that there was now a need for republicans to come together in an effort to gain political status for prisoners in Maghaberry.
“We as republicans from every party need to sit down together and resolve to end the conditions endured by these men. The republican prisoners in Maghaberry are political prisoners and no British Government can deny them their rights.
“Republicans learn to treat each other with respect, we should debate with each other and engage each other in a genuine spirit of comradeship. Whilst recognising the absolute need to engage with the unionist tradition we should be mindful that all of us need to actively begin a process of healing the relationship between the various republican traditions.”
Mr. McGarrigle concluded by saying it was imperative for Republicans to accept the diversity and move towards the future constructively.
“We should not let our egos or our pride stand in the way, I believe we need to put out the hand of friendship to each other, we need to accept and welcome the diversity of opinion within republicanism. It is time to heal and to move on,” he said.

Derry Journal

22 August 2006

Paul McCauley, the 29 year-old Waterside man who was critically injured in a brutal sectarian assault at Chapel Road last month, has been transferred to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. He remains in a coma.

Mr McCauley was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast shortly after the attack more than five weeks ago. His family have been maintaining a vigil at his bedside.
His father Jim told the ‘Journal’ last night that they still didn’t know the long-term impact of the injuries Paul suffered.
“Paul has survived the attack, in which he was left for dead and had to be resuscitated twice. But we haven’t got him back and we won’t know what the future holds until he comes out of the coma.”
A 15 year-old male has been charged with the attempted murder of Paul McCauley, grevious bodily harm with intent and common assault.
He was granted High Court bail on 2nd August and is due to appear at the Derry Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
It’s thought that around eight people were involved in the attack, which took place after a barbecue in the garden of a house on Chapel Road in the early hours of Sunday morning, 16th July.
Police have asked anyone with information on the attack to contact them on the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555111 or to speak directly to detectives on 0845 600 8000.

BN.ie

*From yesterday

22/08/2006 - 14:56:00

An appeal for calm was issued today to a community in west Belfast which witnessed an horrific brawl in which a man was attacked with a hatchet and shot at.

Sinn Féin councillor Marie Moore called for no repeat of the gruesome incident in the Turf Lodge area on Saturday which also saw the man being run over with a car.

The victim, who was in his fifties, was taken to hospital after also being battered with hammers in Norglen Drive.

Eyewitnesses said he had a foot-long gash in his back.

He was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital but no complaint was made to the police about the incident.

Ms Moore said: “The use of knives or weapons in this sort of way is completely unacceptable to people in the area. We would appeal for calm and for no repeat of the incident over the weekend.”

Police confirmed they were alerted to the incident in the staunchly republican area.

“It was alleged that a number of people were fighting with hatchets,” a PSNI spokesperson said. “However no formal complaint has been made to police.”

Neighbours claimed the dispute may have been sparked by a row over a dog. It soon intensified as a car was rammed into another vehicle in the same street.

One of those who watched said a man produced a gun and shot at the victim as he ran to his house.

“It was terrifying. I went into shock,” the woman said. “He was trying to crawl away but was getting whacked with a hatchet, taking lumps out of him. His back was opened wide.”

Anxious residents claimed retaliation was inevitable.

The incident also triggered calls from a nationalist SDLP councillor for more co-operation between the community and the PSNI to tackle knife crime.

A knife amnesty over a three-week period in May and June this year saw 886 weapons handed in to police.

Senior officers said over the period there was a 30% drop in knife crime. Councillor Tim Attwood said people needed to bear in mind the risks.

“The knife amnesty was quite successful and that type of approach needs to be encouraged,” he said.

“These dangerous knives need to be taken out of the community. We need a legislative change preventing the sale of lethal knives.

“There are concerns that there’s been a rise in knife attacks in Belfast and across the north. We need to challenge this knife culture that exists, especially at weekend when people have been taking drink.”

The minimum age to buy a blade is to rise to 18 under official plans.

Approximately 1,200 knife-related crimes occur across the North every year.

The amnesty followed the revelation that knife crime had doubled in nearly a decade. Blades were dumped at designated bins in civic amenity sites during the amnesty.

Belfast Telegraph

By Chris Thornton
23 August 2006

Hearings about the sectarian mob murder of Portadown man Robert Hamill will be delayed, the inquiry investigating the case confirmed last night.

Public sessions had been due to open on September 5, but have now been pushed back while about 20 former RUC officers battle to remain anonymous.

The officers went to court yesterday to appeal a ruling by the inquiry panel which said they should be named and give evidence in public.

Robert Hamill, a father of three, died after being beaten by a loyalist mob in Portadown town centre in April 1997.

The inquiry will examine allegations that police at the scene failed to stop the attack and claims about the handling of evidence.

Earlier this month the panel granted anonymity to one of the 60 former RUC officers linked to the case.

But around 20 other officers who were turned down argue that they are entitled to the same protection.

Their appeal will be heard in a judicial review on August 29.

The inquiry panel is unable to hand documents concerning the officers to the Hamill family’s legal team until the anonymity issue is decided.

“It is inevitable that the judicial review proceedings will delay the start of the inquiry’s public hearings,” the inquiry team said in a statement last night.

Barra McGrory, the solicitor for the Hamill family, said his clients want the case dealt with as quickly as possible.

Belfast Telegraph

By Deborah McAleese
23 August 2006

The PSNI last night said it has no intention of removing a blast wall from Downpatrick Police Station - despite demands from the local council.

Down District Council has passed a Sinn Fein motion calling for the removal of the wall, claiming it is impeding business growth in the town.

However, Chief Superintendent Ralph Taggart said that after a security assessment it was decided the wall cannot be removed.

He said: “At this time there are no immediate plans to remove the wall from around Downpatrick station due to the current security assessment. However, this remains under constant review.”

The motion stated that the wall serves no practical purpose and is a “severe impediment to businesses in the area” and contributes to traffic congestion.

Sinn Fein Councillor McConvey said: “The PSNI must now decommission this blast wall as it serves no purpose whatsoever yet it is having a very detrimental impact on Downpatrick’s town centre.

“It is a significant impediment to local businesses on Irish Street because of how it contributes to traffic congestion in the area, a fact consistently highlighted by Roads Service, and at the same time is hampering the economic expansion of the town.

“It beggars belief that any elected representative who claims to have the best interests of Downpatrick at heart could put forward arguments in support of the continued existence of this blast wall.”

An amendment to the motion by the DUP, calling for a security assessment to be carried out first, was rejected.

DUP councillor William Walker said: “If the local PSNI Commander comes back and tells us that there is no longer a security threat in the town or district then by all means take down the wall. I agree it is unsightly but until there is no longer a security threat it must stay up.”

Belfast Telegraph

Psychologist’s warning over paramilitary displays

By Clare Weir
23 August 2006

A child psychologist todaycorrect warned that paramilitary shows of strength can entice children into joining armed groups.

Professor Ed Cairns was speaking after a masked INLA gunman fired off a volley of shots from a sub-machine gun at a hunger strike commemoration in Derry at the weekend.

Many children were present at the event, which was also attended by Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, party whip Mitchel McLaughlin and MLA and former hunger striker Raymond McCartney.

Such displays have also been carried out by loyalist paramilitaries at 11th night bonfires.

Professor Cairns is based at the University of Ulster in Coleraine and specialises in the effect of political violence on children and social phychological aspects of the Northern Ireland conflict.

He said that research suggests that “learned behaviour” from adults is one of the reasons why young people join paramilitary groups.

The Fellow of the British Psychological Society, who has also worked in America and Australia during his distinguished career, said he was more worried about the influence of such actions on children rather than any possible trauma caused.

“It all depends on the individual child, but there is always the possibility that a child could be inspired by this as a model of how they should behave,” he said.

“Children who would be frightened of this type of behaviour would normally get over it very quickly, but more worrying is if a child is impressed.

“One of the mysteries about all conflicts, including our own, is how people are drawn in.

“There is research that suggests that one of the reasons why young people join paramilitary organisations is because of the behaviour of older people around them.

“Some of these children may have not had a choice over whether or not they were able to attend this event and it is easy to sit on the sidelines, but there is a possibility that some children could be affected by this.”

However Willie Gallagher of the IRSP, the political party linked to the INLA, dismissed the claims and denied that the group’s ceasefire was breached.

“This is the first I’ve heard of this, it really is scraping the barrel,” he said.

“I had my own kids of three and six there and the eldest boy talked about it but he wasn’t disturbed and neither was I.

“It was a tribute to Mickey Devine, nothing more, nothing less, there’s nothing more to be read into it.

“The INLA is on ceasefire and its guns have been silent for years. Firing into the air is not an aggressive act.”

Policing Board member and DUP MLA William Hay said he would be raising the matter with the Chief constable Sir Hugh Orde.

“More of these events are attracting people who are prepared to fire a gun in public,” he said.

A police spokesman today urged anyone with knowledge about illegally held firearms to contact the PSNI.