SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph

By Brian Rowan
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

If it was the IRA it would be very different. But it’s not the IRA. It’s the loyalists on the Shankill.

On that road there is something happening that demonstrates the continuing control and power of the paramilitaries.

The police are monitoring the developing situation.

In the 31 pages of yesterday’s report by the Independent Monitoring Commission, there were the two stories we had expected.

The IRA is going away, but the loyalists are still out there - out there and up to all sorts of the usual activities, including the business of paramilitary justice.

In the IMC assessment, you’ll read that there are senior leadership figures trying to change things.

That’s right. There are.

I know them - know what they’re trying to do.

But I also know that’s not all of the story.

There was an incident last Friday - an incident that falls outside the reporting period of this latest assessment of the monitoring commission - but a story worth telling as an example of what’s still going on.

A senior figure in the UDA was “thumped” by a former Red Hand Commando prisoner.

It was between the two of them, and there’s a complicated explanation about the background to the incident.

But the point is not so much what happened, but what is now expected to happen.

At the highest level of the UDA and Red Hand Commando there has been contact.

The UDA wants the Red Hand Commando to “punish” or ” discipline ” the former prisoner who thumped ‘Mo’ Courtney, a one-time close associate of Johnny Adair.

And what does that tell us? It tells us that the business of paramilitary justice is still part and parcel of the loyalist playground.

The man who wants to even the score is the most senior figure in the UDA on the Shankill Road.

He was involved in recent talks with the British and Irish governments - talks about loyalists wanting to change, wanting to be part of the peace process, not wanting to be left behind.

But they still want scores settled - and settled in the old way.

This is the continuing reality of life on the loyalist street.

It is where the loyalists are stuck.

For all that it was trying to say yesterday about some within loyalism wanting to make things better, there was another message from the IMC.

On the loyalist side, “the pace of movement has been slow”.

It’s a gentle way of putting it.

The fact is they are a long way behind the IRA.

And this waiting for all the political i’s and t’s to be dotted and crossed, is to wait too long.

Why not do something to help the process - to make it work?

And what are they going to do if they don’t like the political outcome?

Is there a threat in the waiting?

The loyalist paramilitary focus needs to be on the bigger picture of the peace process, not on petty inter-organisational rows on the streets of the Shankill.

Those who can make things happen - who have the paramilitary rank to make a difference - need now to use that rank, that leadership.

If they wait much longer, they might find that any loyalist initiative has been so devalued to be dismissed as “so what?”

Derry Journal

30 January 2007

“A gentleman, a true friend and a person of great integrity.” These were all words used to describe former Mayor of Derry John Kerr, who passed away peacefully at the Foyle Hospice on Saturday.

Mr. Kerr (73), was the city’s Mayor in 1995, was one of Derry’s most respected politicians and citizens.

John and Carita Kerr pictured with the letter they received from Bill Clinton

Leading the tributes, former SDLP leader John Hume said the death of John Kerr was a very sad occasion.
“I offer my deepest sympathy to his wife Carita and his family,” he said.
“No doubt they have the sympathy of the whole town, given the outstanding public service he and Carita gave.”
SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey described John Kerr as a true friend and colleague.
“John was a man of total integrity who showed he had great qualities of leadership in the way he conducted the business of the City Council,” he said.
“Through all that he did, the thing that shone through was his tremendous passion for education. He was a good friend to me and I will miss him.”
SDLP Leader and Foyle MP, Mark Durkan also paid tribute to John Kerr.
He said:”I know just how much John was loved by his family and appreciate how deeply they, in particular, will feel his loss.
“John will also be greatly missed by his many friends, including those of us in the SDLP who had the privilege of working with him over the years. He was a hard-working and highly respected councillor, who made a major contribution to life in our city and to public life more widely.
“He had a vision of Derry, not just as a city of learning, but as a city of culture as well. He worked tirelessly, both as a councillor and as Mayor, to advance the cultural life of our city.
“He always fought Derry’s corner and urged the Council to do so.
“He also fought his illness with dignity. He will be sadly mourned and sorely missed by all who knew him.”
‘Personal loss’
Father Michael Canny, Administrator of St. Eugene’s Cathedral, said that when he heard of the death of John Kerr he felt a deep sense of personal and community loss.
“John was truly altruistic,” he said. “Always generously giving of his time and his talents for the good of the community. He was deeply involved in education and always worked tirelessly to ensure the best fabric and education for pupils.
“His sense of civic responsibility was visible for all to see in his work as a councillor and his year as Mayor showed him to be not only a very capable local politician but also a person who could take his place on the bigger political stage.
“Working for the good of the local community in any way he could was the hallmark of his life. Day and night he was available and willing to be of help.
“His life of service should be a source of encouragement to others to follow in his footsteps.
“I extend personal condolences and those of the local community to his wife Carita, sons Robert and James and daughter Marie-Louise. May he rest in peace.”
The Town Clerk and Chief Executive of Derry City Council, Mr. Tony McGurk paid this tribute: “John Kerr was a great ambassador not just for council but for the region and his passing is deeply regretted by members and staff of Derry City Council. We extend our condolences to his family.”
The Mayor, Councillor Helen Quigley added that John Kerr had made an instrumental contribution to the city’s progress over the past 30 years.
“John Kerr will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and our sympathies are with his family at this time,” she said.
John Kerr’s funeral will take place this morning at 10 a.m. in St. Eugene’s Cathedral.
He is survived by his wife Carita, daughter Marie Louise, sons Robert and James, and grandchildren Evie Jane, Catherine and Charlie.

Derry Journal

30 January 2007

The Museum of Free Derry in the heart of the city’s Bogside has now opened its doors and local people are invited to view it’s many fascinating artefacts with the museum offering free admission for one week only, until this Friday, February 2.

Based in the Bogside’s Glenfada Park, The newly renovated Museum of Free Derry has now established itself as a world-class exhibition space and will no doubt attract curious visitors from all over the globe.
Last Thursday’s launch attracted many distinguished guests, including the Mayor, Helen Quigley, Guantanamo Bay internee Moazzam Begg and lawyer for the Guilford Four and Birmingham Six, Gareth Peirce. Many Bloody Sunday relatives came to show their support as well as many other local people directly affected by the Troubles. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also called in briefly as proceedings began.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed on Bloody Sunday, told the ‘Journal’: “The families are delighted, not just the Bloody Sunday families, but all the families connected with the Troubles are really delighted about the museum.
“We’re very, very pleased and very, very proud of it.”
Mr. Kelly said that Lawrence McElhinney, the last surviving parent of Bloody Sunday now aged 83-years-old, unveiled the plague which officially opened the museum. Mr. McElhinney’s son Kevin was murdered in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday, aged only 17-years-old.
Eamonn McCann, Chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust, addressed the guests and spoke of the importance of having such a valuable museum. Derry’s Mayor Helen Quigley gave a speech, welcoming the museum and praising all involved, and Guantanamo Bay internee Moazzam Begg also spoke at the launch.
Mr. Kelly went on: “The launch was packed with victim’s families, internees, funders and other individuals invited to the official launch and the museum was exceptionally well-received.
“The internees at the launch were actually interned at the time of Bloody Sunday. Which is quite symbolic, as the march on Bloody Sunday, was actually about internment,” he added.
Over 25,000 items, documents and unique artefacts make up the vast museum archive, with only a fraction of these on display for the first phase of the museum.
Opening hours are 9.30am until 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, with extended opening days planned during the summer.
In order to keep the museum open and independent, a small admission fee of £3 or £1.50 will be charged.
However, the museum offers free admission until this Friday, February 2, to give the people of Derry a chance to visit and learn more about their history of Free Derry.

Derry Journal

There has been wide spread criticism of the rioting which followed Sunday’s annual Bloody Sunday march.

By Laurence McClenaghan
30 January 2007

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was shot dead by British paratroopers during the 1972 march, accused those young people responsible for the violent scenes “of tarnishing the memory of those who were killed in January 1972.”
Distrurbances were first reported to the PSNI at shortly after 4pm and continued for one and a half hours at Butcher Gate.
Police were called to the scene after numerous stone throwing incidents at the junction of Butcher Street and Nailor’s Row, one vehicle was damaged during the trouble while police arrested two males for riotous behaviour.
A number of petrol bombs were also thrown at police in the vicinity of Society Street and Butcher Gate.
A number of tourists who had marched on the annual parade, were also caught up trying to return to the City Hotel after the speeches had been delivered.
Speaking to the JOURNAL, John Kelly said: “I would prefer not to comment but these people must be informed that they have tarnished the memory of those who died on the original march. The march is a dignified and peaceful means of protest, violence is the last thing we require. We do not want anyone else getting hurt or killed. We are saddened to hear of the trouble and we believe that it undermines the family day out that the march has become.
“Some of the families are simply horrified at the violent scenes witnessed,” concluded Mr. Kelly.
Peter Anderson, Sinn Fein Councillor for the Bogside said: “That those youths who participated in throwing stones and petrol bombs in Fahan Street were not politically motivated.”
Councillor Anderson added, “That this group of youths have, over the past few years, engaged in serious anti-community activity in the Bogside area of the city. If they were not throwing stones in Fahan Street they would be attacking the Fountain or burning cars in the Bogside.
“There was no reason whatsoever for these young people to start bother and put the residents of Fahan Street and the surrounding area through another ordeal of sheer wanton destruction and vandalism.
“It was clear from the numbers who took part, that the vast majority of young people who attended yesterday’s commemoration did not or would not insult the memories of those who died by attacking the very community they came from.”
When asked what parallels he drew between the Sinn Fein Ard Fhies on policing and the community’s apparent disregard for the PSNI, Colr. Anderson was adament: “If anyone thinks that these actions were a reaction to the historic vote being held at the same time then they are sadly mistaken. These young people are void of anything remotely political and should desist from this type of action that only serves to cause hardship to their own community.
SDLP Councillor, Seana Hume, also slammed those responsible and echoed the calls made by Mr. Kelly: “The actions of those who rioted must be condemned, especially on such an important day for the city and the families bereaved on Bloody Sunday. It should be these people we are thinking of at this time not stone throwing youths.
“Further, these scenes are not the vision of the city we are trying to market to tourism, a number of tourists were caught up in the violence and what will they now think of our city.”

BN.ie

01/02/2007 - 08:02:12

PSNI officers came under attack in Derry last night while trying to break up sectarian clashes between rival gangs of youths in the Waterside area of the city.

Around 30 people were involved in the trouble, which saw stones thrown at police as they tried to keep the two sides apart.

One man was arrested, but there were no reports of any major injuries.

BN.ie

01/02/2007 - 08:10:15

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams is due to travel to London today for talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The meeting is expected to focus on upcoming moves to restore devolution in the North following Sinn Féin’s decision to endorse the PSNI in the North.

Mr Blair says he has received commitments from the DUP that it will agree to share power with republicans as a result of the decision.

Also on the agenda at today’s meeting will be the issue of collusion between the British security services and loyalist paramilitaries, which was highlighted in a recent Police Ombudsman’s report.

Mr Adams says he wants to know what happened to 25 files sent to the North’s DPP after a previous inquiry by John Stevens into alleged collusion in the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

The DPP has still not made any decision on whether to bring charges in that case.