SAOIRSE32

Derry Journal
Via Newshound
28 March 2008

Threatening murals in Derry’s loyalist estates could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to funding from the Arts Council’ ‘Re-imaging programme’.

Earlier this month, the UDA agreed to a notorious wall mural in Belfast - ‘The Grim Reaper’ - being replaced by a portrait of King William of Orange.

The mural was painted 10 years ago on a gable wall in Tavanagh Street in the mainly Protestant Village area of the city.

It is now hoped that Derry loyalists will follow suit.

David Malcolm, a spokesman for the Ulster Political Research Group in Derry, said: “The UPRG and Conflict Transformation Initiative have been meeting with Derry City Council and community groups regarding the Re-imaging project.

“The plan is to try and gain acceptance from the communities to replace paramilitary murals in loyalist areas with community artwork.”

Preliminary discussions have already taken place and one project in New Buildings, which will be used as a model, was completed last year.

Mr Malcolm said: “As further funding becomes available we would hope this initiative will spread to areas including Irish Street, Lincoln Courts and Clooney.

“We have to bring loyalist commmunities on board one at a time. A lot of working class loyalists see these murals as part of their history. It’s a case of changing their attitudes towards the murals, now that we are coming out of conflict, and realising that others see them as threatening.”

Sue Divin, community relations officer with Derry city council, said: “The city council is working with local communities and many have now successfully applied for funding to re-image their local areas. There will be a major launch during Community Relations Week right across the city in May.”

Sent via email 5 days ago

The public hearings of the Inquiry into the 1999 murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson, which began yesterday, can be followed online at http://www.rosemarynelsoninquiry.org/
Daily transcripts are available on the official inquiry website. Supporters of the PFC will be aware of the circumstances surrounding the murder and the allegations of security force collusion in the events. See the PFC report ‘the life and death of a human rights defender’ at http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/rosemary/rosemary.html

(There are no new developments in respect of the promised but not delivered Public Inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.)

PFC [patfinucanecentre.org]

A youth has been stopped from entering Stormont with a five-inch flick knife.

Staff and visitors now have to go through this booth

He was searched on Monday after new security arrangements were put in place at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

They follow the attempt by the loyalist Michael Stone to enter the building a year and a half ago. They include a new search facility outside the building.

The DUP’s Ian Paisley has welcomed the move. He told the assembly: “The fact of the matter is that the arrangements clearly work.”

He added: “I don’t know if it is the first time anyone’s tried it, but the lesson is that if you come to Stormont, you come unarmed and if you are a youth, ditch those offensive weapons.”

The new rules mean that visitors now have to go through a booth before being allowed to enter the building.

A comprehensive security review was ordered after Stone tried to enter Stormont in November 2006.

BBC

The family of a 29-year-old man murdered in County Armagh 10 years ago have made a new appeal for help to find his killer.

Mr Lamph was murdered in Fair Green, Portadown

Father-of-one Adrian Lamph, a council worker, was shot dead by loyalists as he worked in Fair Green, Portadown, on 21 April 1998.

One woman has been convicted of assisting offenders, but Mr Lamph’s killer has not been caught.

A family spokesman said they hoped the appeal would help jog memories.

“Ten years on, we feel it is time that justice was served and those responsible for this horrendous crime are put behind bars,” he said.

“Adrian’s father died recently. He was heartbroken by his son’s murder. His dying wish was that justice would be done.

“We wish to place on record our appreciation for all the hard work and effort made by police, and anyone that knows who murdered Adrian should contact the detectives investigating his murder.”

Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who was in the Church Street, Fair Green, West Street, Jervis Street, Alexander Gardens vicinity and saw any suspicious activity about the time of the murder which took place at 1540 BST.

The gunman was described as wearing dark clothing, a baseball cap and a scarf, believed to be a football type scarf, which was red and blue. He was riding a mountain bike.

Police think this gunman changed clothing and handed over a gun to a man and woman in Fox Street.

BBC

Onsite video

British Army chief Sir Richard Dannett is in Northern Ireland to launch a £2m-a-year service for former UDR and Royal Irish Regiment soldiers.

Former Royal Irish Regiment and UDR soldiers will benefit

It will help 60,000 soldiers and their families adjust to civilian life and cope with the legacy of the Troubles.

More than 270 locally recruited soldiers were murdered and more than 600 left physically disabled.

Project trustee Colonel Mark Campbell, said similar help was needed for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I feel what we’ve developed now is very much best practice… and I would be very keen that those soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and so on can also avail of this service,” he said.

“And I know that that is something the Army is actively looking at.”

The government promised the service as part of a resettlement package after the three home service battalions of the RIR were disbanded last year.

The welfare service, based at Palace Barracks in Holywood, will provide a range of medical care as well as helping more than 60,000 former soldiers adjust to civilian life.

Col Campbell, who was the last commanding officer of the Royal Irish home service battalions, said that soldiers who were recruited and served in Northern Ireland had been in a very stressful position.

“Just over 200 members of the regiment were murdered,” he said.

“The majority of these happened while they were off duty in close association with their families or work colleagues, and therefore the stresses and strains that subjects an individual to are considerable .

“A further 60 members were murdered after they left so even after you left you could not be removed from the stresses and strains associated with being a soldier in this sort of environment.”

The service will also be available to the widows and children of locally recruited soldiers killed during the Troubles.