SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph

By Chris Thornton and Mark Hookham
21 November 2006

The Attorney General agreed last night to set up a cover-up inquiry to look into Peter Hain’s handling of a High Court case.

Lord Goldsmith said he will announce the leader of the inquiry at a later date.

Mr Hain promised full co-operation with the investigation, while insisting that he and his officials did not try to mislead a probe into the appointment of the Victims Commissioner.

Pressure for an inquiry grew yesterday when Mr Justice Girvan referred the matter to Lord Goldsmith - posing 67 questions about the conduct and knowledge of the Secretary of State and senior civil servants.

The judge said there could have been an attempt to pervert the course of justice and said his questions “must be addressed in a rigorous and searching investigation”.

Two weeks ago the judge found that the appointment of Bertha McDougall as the Interim Victims Commissioner had been an improper political concession to the DUP.

But he also called for an inquiry into whether there had been an NIO cover-up of the appointment.

The judge found that the NIO had provided misleading information to the court about the DUP’s role in the appointment.

At least one contentious item - a statement by civil service head Nigel Hamilton - had been approved by Mr Hain before it was sent to court.

After the judge’s call there was no immediate Government action, apart from a Cabinet Office statement saying that it would be up to Mr Hain to decide if there should be an inquiry.

But in another hearing yesterday, the judge returned to the matter and said he was referring the case to Attorney General Lord Goldsmith.

“The papers and manner in which the respondent met the legal challenge raised serious issues as to whether there was an attempt to allow the court to be misled as to the true factual and legal situation,” he said.

Mr Hain was stung into a response.

“I absolutely reject any suggestion that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the court in relation to the appointment of Bertha McDougall as the Interim Victims Commissioner,” he said.

He said the inquiry “will receive our full co-operation”.

Conservative spokesman David Lidington said the Attorney General - who, like Peter Hain, attends cabinet meetings - should appoint either a retired judge or a senior lawyer to act as an independent investigator.

Mr Lidington said such a report must be made public and that Lord Goldsmith should wrap up the inquiry by Christmas.

The Conservatives yesterday sought to table three Commons written questions about the affair.

The first asks the Secretary of State to directly respond to yesterday’s judgment.

The second asks the solicitor general, Mike O’Brien, to reveal the terms of reference for the inquiry, the membership of the inquiry team, the time scale of the probe and whether the findings will be made public.

The third asks Prime Minister whether he was consulted over Ms McDougall’s appointment.

In a separate development, Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalists, last night threatened to make a complaint to the Commissioner for Public Appointments if Lord Goldsmith’s inquiry is not dealt with urgently.

Plaid’s parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd said: “If we find in four weeks time that nothing has happened then we will refer it to the Commissioner for Public Appointments.”

Belfast Telegraph

By David Gordon
21 November 2006

A leading north Belfast loyalist and former police informer has been handed a 10-year prison sentence for a “gangland” attack on a pub doorman.

But notorious paramilitary boss Mark Haddock is likely to be free in little more than two years.

Thirty-seven-year-old Haddock remains at the centre of a major investigation by Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan into alleged police collusion with a UVF murder gang.

He escaped death in a loyalist gun attack in March this year while out of prison on bail.

A report on the Ombudsman’s inquiry is not now expected to be released until early 2007.

The 10-year sentence imposed yesterday related to a vicious assault on Ballyclare man Trevor Gowdy in December 2002.

Haddock has already served close to three years in custody on remand, awaiting the conclusion of the case. With 50% remission on his sentence, he could be back on the streets in around two years.

Mr Gowdy, a former amateur boxer, was moved out of Northern Ireland on a witness protection programme after narrowly surviving the 2002 assault in the Monkstown area of Newtownabbey.

The homes of some of his relatives were then attacked in a co-ordinated but unsuccessful attempt by the UVF to stop him giving evidence.

Imposing the sentence yesterday, Mr Justice Weatherup said he was satisfied that Haddock had been the leader of the four-man gang that set upon Mr Gowdy with a hatchet, hammer and knife.

At one stage, they forced him into the boot of car but he managed to escape and fight back.

His resistance led to Haddock’s downfall - traces of the loyalist’s blood were found at the scene by a forensic team, tying him to the attack.

The judge yesterday said Mr Gowdy had been “summoned” to Monkstown in an act of “gangland revenge” after an earlier altercation with other members of the gang in Ballyclare.

“This was an act of conspicuous savagery and a despicable act upon this man,” Mr Justice Weatherup added.

“He was put in fear of his life and but for his own resourcefulness I do not doubt he would have been removed from the scene and further punishment inflicted upon him.”

Haddock, from the Mount Vernon estate, was not present in court, but appeared by video link from Maghaberry Prison.

His defence lawyer said he was fearful of being attacked and had suffered post traumatic stress disorder following the shooting. He may have to wear a colostomy bag for the rest of his life due to a gunshot wound to his bowel, the court was told.

The video link showed a bearded Haddock, in a light pink pullover, sitting impassively during the hearing.

He had been cleared of attempting to murder Mr Gowdy, but guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Only a small group of his relatives were present in court yesterday. During earlier stages of the case, large numbers of north Belfast loyalists turned up to support him.

Two armed police officers stood guard inside the court.

Also present was anti-UVF campaigner Raymond McCord, the man whose complaint to the Police Ombudsman prompted the lengthy investigation by Mrs O’Loan’s office.

Mr McCord believes Haddock ordered the 1997 murder of his son Raymond Jnr and was shielded from justice for years by his police handlers.

“I believe the sentence was far too light,” Mr McCord said last night. “Justice has not been done for Trevor Gowdy.”

Guardian

By The Associated Press
Monday November 20, 2006 11:46 AM

NEW YORK (AP) - Frank Durkan, a lawyer and activist who defended Irish-Americans entangled with the law due to their involvement in the politics of Northern Ireland, died Thursday. He was 76.

Durkan, who lived in Rye, N.Y., died at a hospital in Greenwich, Conn., after suffering from pulmonary lung failure, his daughter Mary Louise Martin said.

Known as a fierce defender, Durkan counted among his most famous clients George Harrison, who for many years was the main gunrunner of the Irish Republican Army in the United States.

Harrison and four co-defendants, who had been caught with dozens of machine guns and other weapons, were found not guilty after Durkan convinced the jury that the CIA was the true culprit behind the scheme.

Durkan was a nephew of William O’Dwyer, a former New York mayor. He was born Francis Patrick Durkan in Bohola in County Mayo, Ireland in 1930.

He moved to New York in 1947, but despite the prestige of his then-mayor uncle, Durkan did not have an easy start. He held jobs ranging from janitor to racetrack parking attendant.

In 1951, he graduated from Columbia University and went on to receive a law degree from New York Law School.

Belfast Telegraph

By Noel McAdam
21 November 2006

Political progress is happening “inch by inch”, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said yesterday - but the days of “not an inch” are ending.

Another small step towards implementation of the St Andrews blueprint was taken as the Programme for Government committee finally met for the first time, and discussed setting up a sub-group to examine policing.

Yet DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said policing powers might not be transferred to the Assembly not just in his political lifetime, but his actual lifetime.

He attended the meeting with Mr Adams, Ulster Unionists and the SDLP.

Sinn Fein requires a deadline for the devolution of policing and justice - at present the target date is May 2008 - before it will call its special ard fheis meeting to deliver a verdict on joining policing arrangements.

After yesterday’s 130-minute session, Mr Robinson said: “I think I probably said it before Nigel (Dodds) that it wouldn’t be in my lifetime, let alone my political lifetime.

“So it is up to Sinn Fein. They have to create the political confidence with the community that these issues can be dealt with.”

The meeting agreed the Government should defer water charges and bear the costs itself but was primarily focused on Chancellor Gordon Brown’s financial dividend.

Mr Adams said it had been a “good engagement” while Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey described it as “businesslike”.

The 10-strong committee is to examine establishing a number of sub-committees on rural regeneration, an anti-poverty strategy as well as the economy.

Mr Adams said: “It’s inch by inch but given that some people have been saying ‘not an inch’ I think that’s quite appropriate.”

Chaired by Sinn Fein MLA Francie Molloy, who also co-chaired the Preparation for Government committee, the MLAs discussed its procedures and rules - but declined to mark their meeting by allowing a photograph to be taken.

BN.ie

20/11/2006 - 19:41:25

Gardaí are reviewing security around the Co Donegal holiday home of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams after recent threats to his life.

The move comes after reports that Mr Adams and other party leadership figures such as Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly may be targeted by disaffected IRA members opposed to any moves to support policing as part of a power-sharing deal for the North.

Dissident republicans were recently blamed for arson attacks on commercial premises around Halloween and for ongoing incidents involving guns and home-made bombs.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell requested a security assessment of Mr Adams’ home from the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and he received a written report on the issue late last week.

Mr Adams’ north Co Donegal holiday home has been the subject of media attention in the past.

He uses the remote cottage as a retreat during the summer months to write books and answer correspondence.

A Department of Justice spokesman refused to comment on specific security issues relating to Mr Adams, but added: “Security for individuals or premises in this jurisdiction would of course be a matter for the Garda.”

Sinn Féin also declined to comment on any security arrangements for any member of the party.

Referring to the recent reports of security threats, a spokesman added: “The security threats remain very real. We are taking them very seriously and making the necessary precautions to ensure the party can get on with its work.”

In order to restore power-sharing in the North, Sinn Féin is contemplating finally joining other political parties in endorsing the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

But hard-liners within the republican movement are believed to be fiercely opposed to such a move.

Speaking about the threats, Mr Adams said last week: “Obviously, there are elements out there who are opposed to Sinn Fein strategy and who are seeking to exploit the current situation.

“I would not be playing this up or dealing with it as anything other than just the atmosphere in which we work.

“I am calling on people to ensure they are not being manipulated. I uphold people’s right to express an opinion on issues in a frank, open and comradely debate on any matter.”

BN.ie

21/11/2006 - 07:59:59

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed that the five bodies of the unidentified Stardust victims will be exhumed and formally identified.

Mr Ahern sent a letter to the Stardust Victims Committee confirming that the Department of Justice will cover the costs of the exhumation, private funerals and reburials.

It is hoped that the coroner could order the exhumations at a formal hearing before Christmas.

Once the exhumations have been carried out, the bodies will either be re-interred immediately or held until tests are carried out in the UK.

It is hoped that the bodies can be identified before the 26th anniversary in February.

BN.ie

21/11/2006 - 08:25:44

Emergency legislation aimed at restoring power sharing in the North will be debated by members of parliament in Britain today.

Peter Hain will present a bill based on the St Andrews proposals.

It is expected to be rushed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords.