SAOIRSE32

Irish Examiner

By Dan Buckley
25 November 2006

DRAWN into militant loyalism from an early age, Michael Stone, 50, joined the infamous loyalist Tartan Gang at the age of 13 and by the age of 16 he had already been held in Belfast’s Crumlin Road jail for possession of firearms and membership of the Ulster Defence Association.

His lone gun and grenade attack on the funeral of an IRA man in 1988, in which he killed three mourners earned him a reputation as one of the most notorious loyalist killers. It also provided television images of one of the most savage attacks during 30 years of bloodshed in Northern Ireland.

His aim was to assassinate leading republican figures Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, who had gathered at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast for the burial of three IRA activists shot dead in Gibraltar a week previously by Britain’s SAS.

Armed with hand grenades and two pistols, Stone missed his intended targets, but killed three other people, only one of whom was an IRA member, and injured 60 more, including pensioners and children.

He was eventually overpowered by mourners and would have been beaten to death had he not been dragged to safety and arrested by members of the RUC.

Images of a bearded Stone jogging through the cemetery firing indiscriminately at mourners were beamed around the world, and turned the Protestant militant into, respectively, a demonic figure for Catholic republicans and an icon to diehard loyalists.

In 1989, he received a 684-year sentence for six murders. While in custody for the Milltown attack he admitted to three other murders of men he claimed were IRA members but who were Catholic civilians.

He served less than 11 years. In July 2000, he was released from the Maze prison, along with hundreds of other convicted terrorist murderers, as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

He was greeted as a hero by loyalists and the jacket which he wore during the Milltown attack was auctioned for £10,000 at a Scottish loyalist club. One of Stone’s successors to the leadership of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair, said Stone inspired him to join the group.

During his incarceration, he was the leader of the UFF and was visited by Mo Mowlam, the Northern Secretary, who reassured loyalist prisoners about the course of the peace process.

He has collaborated in the writing of two books about his life — one of the reasons why the British Government said earlier this month that it will introduce legislation to prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes.

Since leaving prison, Michael Stone has concentrated on making a living as an artist — a hobby he began in the Maze. His paintings are vivid and impressionistic and not so much political as topical. They fetch between a few hundred and a few thousand pounds each.

In 2004, he published his autobiography titled None Shall Divide Us, in which he revealed that he had received “specialist assistance” from RUC operatives in carrying out the cemetery killings.

In November 2006, he claimed to have been “three days” away from executing then leader of the Greater London Authority and current Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, over his support for Gerry Adams.

The Times

David Sharrock
November 25, 2006

Michael Stone dragged Northern Ireland back to its bloody past yesterday when he attacked the Stormont Parliament building.

The outcome was happier than his attack on a Provisional IRA funeral in 1988, when he killed three mourners, including an IRA member. TV cameras had caught Stone firing a pistol and throwing grenades before he was rescued from a mob by RUC officers. He later said that his intention had been to assassinate Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

Both his former targets were inside Stormont yesterday with the Rev Ian Paisley. Their business was to take another step towards power-sharing. Stone’s “protest” seemed to have been aimed at both sides of Ulster’s polarised political class.

In 1989 he was sentenced to a 684-year sentence for six murders, but served less than 11 years. While in custody for the Milltown cemetery attack, he admitted three other murders of men he claimed were IRA members but who were Roman Catholic civilians.

In July 2000 he was released from the Maze prison as part of the Good Friday agreement. He was greeted as a hero by loyalists, and the jacket he wore during the Milltown attack was auctioned for £10,000. One of Stone’s successors in the Ulster Freedom Fighters, Johnny Adair, said that Stone had inspired him to join the group.

Stone, 50, has collaborated on two books about his life — one reason why the Government has said that it will introduce legislation to prevent criminals from profiting in this way.

He was brought up on the hardline loyalist Braniel estate in East Belfast. He joined the Tartans, a loyalist group, when he was 13. By 16 he had been imprisoned for firearm offences and membership of the Ulster Defence Association. He said that he planned the Milltown attack in response to the IRA bomb that killed 11 people at a Remembrance Sunday service in Enniskillen in 1987.

Since his release he has earned a living as an artist. He is said to divide his time between Belfast, London and Spain. He has nine children from two marriages, and now has a girlfriend with whom he has exchanged Christmas gifts of body armour, claiming that his life is in danger from loyalist and republican enemies.

Last year he took part in Facing the Truth, a BBC series in which victims were brought together with the perpetrators of their suffering. Sylvia Hackett talked to Stone, who was convicted of murdering her husband.

Although he had admitted the murder, Stone told her that he had no direct responsibility. At the end of their meeting she forced herself to shake Stone’s hand. When he placed a second hand on hers, she recoiled and fled.

On another occasion he said: “If I was to say sorry, I believe it would fall on deaf ears. I would be called a hypocrite. Those operations were military operations. I do not regret any fatalities that have occurred.”

This year he has been questioned by police about terrorist-related offences during the Troubles. Under the Good Friday agreement, a terrorist prisoner’s licence can be revoked if he or she reoffends.

BBC

The Northern Ireland Assembly is expected to meet again on Monday to resume proceedings disrupted by a security alert.

The assembly session will reconvene on Monday

It will hear a report on the security implications of the incident at the entrance to Parliament Buildings.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern welcomed what he called further clarity from the DUP leader on his intention to accept the job of first minister.

Sinn Fein said Martin McGuinness was its choice for deputy first minister.

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said the meeting would be taking place at 1030 GMT on Monday.

“This will enable them to finish the proceedings interrupted by the incident at the front door.

Ian Paisley has said he will accept the first minister’s job

“In Dublin, Bertie Ahern said the comments by the DUP leader during the assembly meeting had not been the clear indication of intent the governments had been expecting.

“However, the taoiseach welcomed Ian Paisley’s later clarification that he would accept the first minister’s job provided his conditions are met.

“The DUP insists there is no internal split over power sharing.

“But referring to a statement from 12 assembly members emphasising that no status should be given to either the potential first or deputy first ministers, the Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey, claimed Dr Paisley was now facing an unprecedented challenge.

“Sir Reg described the rumblings within both the Free Presbyterian Church and the DUP as a dramatic development by any stretch of the imagination.”

BBC

A man has appeared in court in Belfast charged with attempting to murder Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

Loyalist Michael Stone appeared in court in Belfast

Michael Stone faces a total of five charges of attempted murder following a major security incident at Stormont on Friday during an assembly sitting.

He was also charged with possession of articles for terrorist purposes and possession of explosives.

Mr Stone, 51, faces a further charge of possession of an imitation firearm.

Mr Stone, of no fixed address, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday.

In addition to being charged with attempting to murder the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Stone is accused of trying to murder two security guards and a person unknown.

The court heard the articles allegedly for terrorist purposes included nailbombs, an axe and a garrotte.

A police officer confirmed to Mr Stone’s solicitor that during two police interviews, the defendant had told police “he acted alone in that no other person or organisations were involved in the preparation or planning”.

The defendant was remanded in custody until 22 December.

BBC

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a number of firebomb attacks at a retail park in Belfast.

An incendiary device was left at the Homebase store in Belfast

The Homebase store on Boucher Road was destroyed and nearby Smyth’s toyshop was badly damaged by incendiary devices on 1 November.

A number of staff were in the Homebase store when the device exploded, but no-one was injured.

More than 70 firefighters tackled the blazes which senior fire officers described as extremely dangerous.

BN.ie

24/11/2006 - 16:41:48

Between six and eight devices were made safe by the Army tonight after loyalist killer Michael Stone stormed Stormont’s parliament buildings during an Assembly debate.

The North’s chief constable, Hugh Orde, said they were “viable” devices.

He said their potential for causing damage, death and injury was being assessed.

He added: “They are fairly amateurish in design, that does not make them any less dangerous.”

Orde, speaking at a press conference at police headquarters just over a mile from Stormont, said a gun and a knife had also been recovered.

Stone was being questioned by police tonight about what the chief constable branded “a sad publicity act by a very sad individual”.

BBC

A Sinn Fein councillor on Coleraine Borough Council has said he has received a death threat.

Billy Leonard said he believed the threat was from loyalists

Billy Leonard said the police told him of the threat on Friday morning, and he assumed it was from loyalists.

He said loyalism in the Coleraine area “has declared its own version of independence from other loyalists, who are trying to move on”.

“They do their own thing here so the battle for change will definitely be greater here,” he said.

Mr Leonard said the threat “was made in a certain context of my work as a councillor”.

He added that he would not be deterred from his work.

Belfast Telegraph

Survey suggests violent death rate in Iraq is now running at one every three minutes

By Andrew Buncombe in Washington and Ben Russell
12 October 2006

The human cost of the war in Iraq could be far higher than previously thought. A new survey says more than 650,000 Iraqis have lost their lives as a consequence of the invasion by the United States and Britain, with an estimated 200,000 violent deaths directly attributable to Allied forces.

Iraqi war dead

The new figure is much larger than all previous estimates - more than 20 times higher than President George Bush claimed 11 months ago - and will add considerable weight to the calls of those seeking a withdrawal of troops.

The 654,965 deaths estimated to have resulted from the invasion represent about 2.5 per cent of the Iraqi population. It means people have been dying at a rate of about 560 a day, equivalent to one death every three minutes, or less

Two years ago, a study by Dr Les Roberts and a team from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, estimated that at least 100,000 Iraqis had been killed as a result of the war. This new survey, conducted by the same team and based on similar methodology but using a larger sample, suggests the situation is getting worse rather than better - a conclusion at odds with claims made by President Bush.

Dr Roberts said: “Yes [this finding was a surprise]. I didn’t realise that things there were twice as bad as when we carried out our first survey in 2004. I did not know it was that much.” Dr Roberts said he expected there would be many who would seek to undermine the report, as happened two years ago. But he said: “Let’s have these people tell us what we have done wrong and what the true numbers are. Our study is pretty easy to verify. If they go to a graveyard in a small village and ask how many people are being put in the ground…”

The survey was overseen by epidemiologists at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Epidemiology is considered a cornerstone methodology for public health research, and is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine.

The study, published by The Lancet, was based on a survey of 1,849 households at 47 random locations in Iraq this summer. A team of Iraqi doctors asked heads of households how many members had lost their lives in the year before the invasion in March 2003 and then in the three subsequent years.

In 92 per cent of the 87 per cent of households where the questioners asked to see death certificates, the households were able to provide them.

The findings were then extrapolated to match the total estimated population of Iraq. The survey concluded Iraq’s mortality rate has increased from 5.5 people per 1,000 prior to the invasion to 13.3 in the period since.

The survey also found the overwhelming majority of the 650,000-plus deaths between March 2003 and July 2006 were “violent deaths” and included civilians, insurgents and Iraqi security forces. About 75 per cent were men. About 50,000 deaths were attributed to other causes such as a disrupted health service, the exodus of doctors, insufficient water supplies and disruption to infrastructure - all related to the war.

Of the 601,027 violent deaths, 31 per cent were directly attributed to Allied forces, with 24 per cent attributed to “other” causes and 45 per cent attributed to an “unknown” cause.

Fifty-six per cent of all violent deaths were caused by gunshots, 13 per cent by car bombs, 14, per cent by other explosions and 13 per cent by air strikes. The number of people killed by car bombs increased markedly between June 2005 and June 2006, as did the total violent deaths.

“In Iraq, as with other conflicts, civilians bear the consequences of warfare,” the survey’s authors concluded. “The combination of a long duration and tens of millions of people affected has made this the deadliest international conflict of the 21st century and should be of grave concern to everyone.”

The US and Britain have long insisted they have not recorded Iraqi death figures. Yesterday, Mr Bush sought to dismiss the survey, claiming without elaboration that its methodology was flawed. “I don’t consider it a credible report. Neither does General George Casey [the commander of US forces in Iraq] and neither do Iraqi officials,” he said.

“I do know a lot of innocent people have died, and that troubles me. And it grieves me. And I applaud the Iraqis for their courage in the face of violence.”

The Foreign Office - which also questioned the previous mortality survey’s findings - said it was studying the report. It claimed continuing violence in Iraq meant troops had to remain to support the Iraqi government.

Others said the survey confirmed US and British forces were part of the problem. The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, said: “Time is running out. There is a desperate need for a new strategy led not by the US, but by the UN, providing for a peace process with a reinvigorated reconstruction programme and concerted… engagement.”

Andrew Murray, chairperson of the Stop the War Coalition said every night people were confronted with images of carnage from Iraq. “Two years ago, some people were willing to believe it was going to work out for the best but it has become all too obvious that is not the case,” he said.

John McDonnell, chairman of the Socialist Campaign group of MPs, said: “The absolutely shocking scale of casualties The Lancet has revealed demonstrates the disastrous decision of the Cabinet to back Bush’s decision to invade Iraq.”

In the US, the Iraq war is one of the key issues of November’s mid-term elections in which the Democrats are seeking to break the Republican stranglehold. Polls suggest Democrats could seize control of the House and possibly the Senate.

The last report

When The Lancet first published research claiming that the death toll in Iraq had reached 100,000 in the 18 months since the invasion, the reports unleashed a political firestorm. The figure, based on data collected by scientists in Baltimore, was far above any official estimate then available.

The British Government, and the Pentagon, tried to cast doubt on the research, but it prompted calls for a full inquiry into the scale of civilian deaths since the invasion. There is, however, still no official estimate of the death toll among Iraqi civilians.

Belfast Telegraph

By Brendan McDaid
24 November 2006

The INLA killers who gunned down a former loyalist prisoner in Strabane are still walking the streets of the town, the detective in charge of the murder case has said at his inquest.

The inquest into the death of Charles Folliard (30), mown down as he left the home of his 16-year-old Catholic girlfriend in the Ballycolman estate shortly after 11pm on October 29, 2001, was held at Strabane Coroner’s Court yesterday.

Nicola McAnenny fought back tears during the hearing as she recalled being pushed to the ground by the two masked gunmen before they opened fire on Mr Folliard. Coroner John Lecky told her: “You have been through an absolutely dreadful experience.”

Detective Inspector Robyn McKernan who has led the murder investigation confirmed to the court that one of the guns used by the killers was the same gun that was lost by the RUC in an emergency call-out in Strabane in May 2000.

During yesterday’s hearing, one of the deceased’s sisters, Frances Scanlon, quizzed police over lack of progress in the investigation, while both the PSNI and the family said they believed the murder was sectarian.

Mr Lecky said a “very sinister” picture was emerging after several witnesses said Mr Folliard had expressed concerns he was being followed in the months leading up to his death.

Mr McKernan said that while the INLA have never claimed responsibility for the murder, police believed “beyond doubt” they were responsible. When asked by Mr Lecky whether he believed those who carried out the murder were still walking the streets of Strabane, Mr McKernan replied: “Yes, they are.”

Mr Folliard served seven years of a 14-year sentence for charges relating to an attempt to kill a Catholic man who was his colleague at the time.

Belfast Telegraph

By Noel McAdam and Gary Fennelly
24 November 2006

Loyalist Michael Stone has been arrested after entering Stormont builidings during a key debate on Assembly nominations.

Witnesses said loyalist Michael Stone walked into the building shortly after 11am, threw a bag at security staff and claimed there was a bomb in it.

He shouted “no surrender” before being tackled to the ground by security staff.

Police said the building was evacuated following reports of a live device. The meeting was being held to hear if the DUP and Sinn Fein would indicate candidates for first and deputy first minister posts.

During the debate DUP leader Ian Paisley carried out his threat not to fully nominate a First Minister as he accused Sinn Fein of failing to fulfil its obligation to accept policing.

Mr Paisley said that the St Andrews Agreement was built on the twin pillars of DUP acceptance of power-sharing and Sinn Fein’s acceptance of policing. However, he said that since Sinn Fein was not ready to take the next step his “party was under no obligation” to make a nomination.

During a stormy meeting which was disrupted when MLAs were forced to evacuate the chamber following a fire alarm, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams nominated Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister. Earlier, Secretary of State Peter Hain had threatened to dissolve the Assembly if Sinn Fein and the DUP failed to find a compromise to move towards devolution.

Behind the scenes discussions continued, however, to find a form of words to allow the Government to argue the political process - and the prospect of a power-sharing Executive by next March remains on track.

This week, in what Downing Street characterised as a “critical moment” for Northern Ireland, the Assembly met in its first major test since the St Andrews Agreement last month.

The Agreement, carved out over three days of negotiations, had envisaged today as a major symbolic act which could inject confidence into the political process and demonstrate Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness could potentially share office.

But today’s moves will involve pain for both parties.

The DUP is facing unease within its core support base, particularly the Free Presbyterian Church.

And there is disquiet in republican ranks also, as pressure increases on Sinn Fein to move towards a definitive verdict - involving a meeting of its ard fheis - on policing.

And shortly before the meeting, Secretary of State Peter Hain warned he could still shut the Assembly down, even via a second meeting later today.

“I have got a dissolution order - we’re prepared to use it if it looks at any time as if there’s no prospect at all of devolving power on 26 March, after an election,” he said.

And he insisted the parties had signed up to the St Andrews framework and current timetable, including a new Assembly election on March 7.

“And what’s important about today - and all the parties signed up to the process today, to give an indication that on 26 March, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness would be First and Deputy First minister respectively - they all signed up to that process and they now need to indicate whether they’re going to fulfil that agreement.”

Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams addressed Assembly members, along with Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey and SDLP boss Mark Durkan.

Sinn Fein had said, however, it would not repeat its action earlier this year when Mr Adams nominated Mr Paisley for First Minister.

“It is different standing orders,” a spokesman said.

When Mr Adams proposed Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness for the First and Deputy First Ministers’ positions, the suggestion was angrily rejected by the DUP leader

Hoping for a better outcome today, Mr Hain added: “What is important today is that there is a fresh dose of confidence injected into the process.

“We had a Programme for Government earlier this week, with all the parties at most senior levels represented, and we took the St Andrews legislation through Parliament.

“We as a Government, together with the Irish Government, have done our bit. It is up to the parties to play their part. I cannot be certain what the outcome will be today.”

The Irish Government also warned that the so-called ‘plan B’, an enhanced role for Dublin in the day-to-day administration of Northern Ireland, could still be put into effect if the devolution blueprint collapses.

Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said: “It is the case that if we fall at any hurdle, then we will go to plan B, but it is not the preferred option of the Irish Government or the British Government.

“We want to see devolved government restored to Northern Ireland and we believe leadership is needed from the DUP and Sinn Fein to achieve this.”

Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said: “We expect to play our part in moving the process forward.”

Sinn Fein to treat nominee as deputy minister

By Noel McAdam, Political Correspondent

Sinn Fein plans to garland prospective Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness with the trappings of office from today.

According to senior republican sources, the party will begin to treat the Mid Ulster MP as if he already is in office as Deputy First Minister.

The party plans to appoint a number of advisers to Mr McGuinness, who was formally nominated by the party president Gerry Adams in the Assembly today.

And a series of meetings and photo-opportunities will be arranged and publicly presented as Mr McGuinness in his role as Deputy First Minister.

From next week, the party also intends to attempt to work more closely with officials in the Office of First and Deputy First Minister, the sources said.

“From this point we intend to treat Martin McGuinness as if he already is Deputy First Minister,” a senior source said.

The plan will, however, enrage the other parties, particularly the DUP, who are believed to have sought assurances that the roles of First and Deputy First Ministers designate are totally unofficial.

Mr Adams also warned last night, however, that his party could “walk away” today if the DUP fails to come up to the mark on designations.

The West Belfast MP said if the DUP did not meet the “minimum requirement” the Government should pull down the shutters on the Assembly.

“At the very, very minimum, at the very least, there has to be the nomination of the First and Deputy First Ministers. At the very least,” he said.

“But if that doesn’t happen, the governments need to move smartly into the partnership arrangements which they signalled up in Scotland.”

But Dublin Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern reminded Sinn Fein it still has work to do on the vexed policing issue.

Addressing Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh in the Dail, he said: “There is a need for movement from Sinn Fein on policing. We would like to see the colour of your money in that respect.

“We would like to see Sinn Fein propose an ard fheis (party conference) so that they can discuss this among themselves and hopefully move positively towards policing. So the sooner that happens, the better.”

Mr Ahern also warned, however, that the British and Irish governments could still resort to ‘Plan B’, an enhanced role for Dublin in administering Northern Ireland, if the devolution blueprint falters.

“It is the case that if we fall at any hurdle, then we will go to Plan B, but it is not the preferred option of the Irish Government or the British Government,” he said.

“We want to see devolved government restored to Northern Ireland and we believe leadership is needed from the DUP and Sinn Fein to achieve this.”

Belfast Telegraph

Assembly evacuated as the Milltown killer storms into Stormont with gun

By Noel McAdam at Stormont, Claire Regan, Emily Moulton and Claire McNeilly
24 November 2006

Milltown killer Michael Stone today sparked chaos at Stormont, forcing Assembly members to evacuate the chamber after claiming he had thrown a bomb into the building.

Michael Stone poses with a replica weapon last year. In a bizarre publicity stunt, Stone sent photographs of himself holding replica firearms to the Belfast Telegraph. - See article at end of this entry.

He was convicted of six murders including three during an IRA funeral in 1988 — entered the building armed with a firearm, shouting “no surrender” and warned that he was carrying a device before attempting to enter the debating chamber.

Security staff grabbed him and held him to the ground outside the front door of the Assembly shortly after 11am. Eyewitnesses claimed he threw a bag inside, sparking the alert.

He was then wrestled to the ground by a female security officer. Staff and visitors fled in terror as smoke appeared to emanate from a device and there were shouts of “it’s a bomb”.

An emergency bell was then sounded as Alliance Party leader David Ford was giving his reaction to the day’s proceedings. He continued speaking for a while until the Speaker, Eileen Bell, directed MLAs and Stormont staff away from the building amid fears a live device had been thrown inside.

Stone was then seen being dragged away by police. There were scenes of panic as civil servants and other workers ran down corridors during the 20-minute evacuation.

They were met outside by driving rain but were forced to move away from the front of the building and down past Carson’s statue for safety reasons. One of the security guards was hurt during the incident.

A PSNI spokesperson said that army techinical officers were sent to examine a number of devices and added: “A member of the security staff is receiving treatment for a head injury but it is not thought to be life threatening.”

Stone was then taken to the Antrim Serious Crime Suite. Politicians stood in teeming rain, most without coats or umbrellas as the drama unfolded.

Ian Paisley, Gerry Adams, Sir Reg Empey, Mark Durkan and Bob McCartney were among dozens of politicians, civil servants, journalist and Stormont staff who were hurriedly evacuated from the building when Stone tossed the package into the building.

PUP Assemblyman David Ervine, who had been in the debating chamber before evacua tion, told the Belfast Telegraph: “I’ve spoken to the woman security officer who wrestled him to the ground and she is very shaken by the incident. She was in no doubt that the man was Michael Stone.

“She obviously needs to be commended for a difficult job well done.”

Stone was seen with a firearm as he was wrestled to the ground by security staff. But it was not clear if the gun, possibly a 9mm pistol, was real or imitation.

Earlier he had daubed in red paint on one of the pillars outside the main entrance a slogan proclaiming: “Sinn Fein/IRA scum.”

Army bomb disposal experts finally arrived at Stormont to examine the suspect package. Police taped off a huge area around the Stormont Parliament Buildings and ordered all politicians and civil servants to retreat well away.

A high level inquiry is to be launched into how security was breached and Stone was able to carry the device into the building, putting MLAs, civilians and civil servants in jeopardy. Reacting to the incident, Prime Minster Tony Blair said he had spoken to both Mr Paisley and Mr Adams and was determined that “paramilitaries” would not be allowed to disrupt democracy.

Speaking from Downing Street, Mr Blair said: “No move forward in Northern Ireland is easy, we’ve learned that over 10 years, and it’s not because the people, or indeed, the leaders in Northern Ireland want it to be so, but because each step towards a different and better future is taken alongside the memory of a wretched and divisive past.'’

A visibly angry Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said in Dublin: “It seems that Michael Stone has gone on the rampage again, in a very dangerous way. But he was stopped. It just shows you exactly what we are trying to get away from in Northern Ireland.

“Michael Stone is well-known to us from previous incidents. This is all a good example why an Assembly would be a good idea.”

The DUP’s Nigel Dodds said: “This is an appalling act, an attack on innocent people and democracy itself. I hope the young people present are not left traumatised by it.”

Sinn Fein MLA Caitriona Ruane said the attack showed the importance of getting the institutions up and running.

“My party and the DUP should be sitting down together and trying to move this forward,” she said.

Earlier Mr Paisley told the Assembly he would enter government when Sinn Fein accepted policing under rule of law.

Mr Paisley’s language was thought to be sufficient for Sec retary of State Peter Hain to declare that the prospect of devolution by March next year still exists.

But the heavily qualified indication by the DUP leader made clear he has yet to make a final judgment on taking up office with Martin McGuinness.

During a stormy meeting in which the speaker admonished several MLAs for interrupting, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams nominated Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister.

Staff flee in terror as smoke pours from bag

By Noel McAdam

Civil servants, schoolchildren and workers including canteen staff fled in terror as loyalist Michael Stone launched an apparent bomb attack on the Assembly.

Security staff wrestled Stone to the ground just inside the main door as he was said to have taken an apparent incendiary device out of a bag.

An inquiry is likely into how a leading loyalist as recognisable as Stone was able to get into the grounds of Stormont and as far as the Assembly entrance with a device. Workers and visitors ran down corridors as someone shouted “it’s a bomb, it’s a bomb”.

The entire 200-strong Assembly staff and an estimated 300 visitors, many of them secondary school children from west Belfast were evacuated and forced to stand some distance from the building in driving rain.

Red painted slogans also appeared to have been daubed on the front pillars of Parliament buildings.

One eye witness, a member of the public, who decided to visit the Assembly because of its historic day said: “I heard a commotion. I turned round and immediately thought we have some sort of lunatic here.

“He was carrying a bag and I saw him drop it and pull something out of it. I actually thought it was a camera.

“But I saw sparks and smoke coming from it and he was trying to throw it towards the security people.

“I don’t have any experience of anything like this. I was scared so I tailed it and ran.”

A senior staff member said he had seen smoke emanating from the device as security staff held a men to the ground.

“I think he had a gun, it may have been a replica but it was taken from him.

“One security guard had him by the arm and he was forced down and then taken away.”

A cameraman who attempted to film the attack said: “He was ranting and raving but I’m not sure if it was him or someone else who shouted it’s a bomb.”

Alliance leader David Ford was on his feet addressing members when the alarm bells first rang out. It took more than 20 minutes for the building to be cleared and one security source said: “It’s a slow burning device. It’s hard to say how long it might take to deal with it.”

Stone could be sent back to prison for the rest of his life

By Claire McNeilly and Emily Moulton

Convicted murderer Michael Stone could spend the rest of his life in jail after he dramatically burst into Stormont during today’s crucial talks.

Stone, who is arguably one of Ulster’s most notorious killers, was released from prison in July 2000, as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

The prison service today confirmed that there are three conditions to his release - that he must not support an organisation; not become concerned with criminality or acts of terrorism in the affairs of Northern Ireland; and not become a danger to the public.

A loyalist paramilitary from Belfast’s Braniel estate, Stone is most famous for the bloody Milltown Cemetery massacre 18 years ago, in 1988.

There, at the cemetery in west Belfast, Stone opened fire during the funeral of three Provisional IRA members who were killed - while on active service - by the British Army in Gibraltar.

Leading republicans were present at the ceremony, including Gerry Adams, when Stone attacked the crowd with grenades and a pistol.

He killed one member of the IRA, along with two civilians, and injured 60 others before he was arrested.

The attack was caught on television cameras.

Some of the most savage images of the conflict were broadcast into homes across the world.

Stone also confessed to shooting dead three other Catholics between 1984 and 1987, claiming the victims were linked to the IRA.

At his trial he pleaded not guilty, but refused to offer any defence.

He was convicted of six murders and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serve at least 30 years. During his time behind bars, Stone allegedly became the leader of the Ulster Freedom Fighters and was among a loyalist group who met then Secretary of State Mo Mowlam in the Maze prison.

This was part of the negotiations the Government held with paramilitaries from both sides during peace negotiations in the mid-1990s.

Stone also collaborated with Martin Dillon on a book about his life entitled Stone Cold.

On July 24, 2000, he was released from prison under the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement.

In 2004 he published his autobiography titled None Shall Divide Us, in which he claimed that he had received “specialist assistance” from RUC operatives in carrying out the cemetery killings.

Stone has nine children from two previous marriages.

He also featured in the BBC2 television series Facing The Truth where he met relatives of a victim of loyalist violence.

Earlier this month, he claimed to have been “three days” away from executing Ken Livingstone, the then-leader of the Greater London Authority and the current Mayor of London, over his support for Gerry Adams.

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Stone’s sick gun gimmick

Belfast Telegraph

30 July 2005

Milltown murderer Michael Stone was at the centre of a gun-toting controversy today after posing for a series of chilling photographs.

These exclusive pictures show the loyalist killer-turned artist standing in a back yard holding a replica armalite.

In another photograph he is pictured with a SA 80 rifle.

One of the photographs shows him aiming the armalite as if he is about to fire.

In a bizarre publicity stunt, Stone sent the photographs, taken in 2004, to the Belfast Telegraph to “highlight the plight of loyalist prisoners being pressurised to turn informer”.

He also claimed the pictures were part of an arts project entitled “Presumed Guilty” and said he had been willing to be arrested and interrogated by the PSNI to draw attention to the alleged attempts to recruit loyalist informers.

Stone, who claims to have turned his back on paramilitary activity, was convicted of six murders, including the three at Milltown Cemetery on March 16, 1988.

But in July 2000 he was released on licence, 12 years into his 800-year sentence.

The disturbing new photographs - the latest twist in the Stone saga - have prompted calls from politicians and angry relatives of his victims to review his licence.

Mark Thompson, spokesman for Relatives for Justice, branded the photographs “distasteful and upsetting” and accused Stone of “brazenness”.

“Stone is drawn to publicity like a moth to the lightbulb but each time something like this happens, it has terrible consequences on the relatives of the people he killed and those he tried to kill,” he said. “These pictures are distasteful and upsetting and will be very traumatic for the families of those affected by his deeds.

“We are engaged in legal proceedings at the moment to stop him from making profits from his book None Shall Divide Us. He’s never shown any remorse for what he did, he’s just tried to make money from his actions.

“While the photos of him posing like this are not surprising, they are very upsetting.”

Alex Attwood, the SDLP’s Policing and Justice spokesman, described the pictures as “shocking”.

“If these pictures are genuine, and I must stress the word if, then there needs to be an investigation and review of his licence,” he said.

“Anyone out on licence posing with a firearm, either real or imitation, has serious questions to answer. Any individual out on licence must be seen to be fully complying with the law and to be on their best behaviour.

“These pictures, if genuine, are shocking and should be passed onto the police and prison authorities.”

Defending his actions Stone said he regretted upsetting the relatives of victims but that his loyalties lay with the former loyalist prisoners.

He admitted the pictures were shocking but said he felt their publication was necessary to make a point.

“If I’d sent in pictures of me painting what attention would that have got?” he said. “I wanted to highlight the fact that former loyalist prisoners are being put under pressure to become informers and are being told their licences will be revoked if they don’t.

“I would have been willing to be lifted and brought to Antrim to be interrogated if it meant highlighting what’s going on.”

Stone said that following the release of Shankill bomber Sean Kelly, he did not believe he would be arrested.