SAOIRSE32

BBC

Detectives investigating a weekend attack on police officers in County Fermanagh have arrested a man.

Police officers were attacked while on foot patrol

Two police officers were treated for shock and one for minor injuries following Saturday’s attack on a PSNI foot patrol in Lisnaskea.

An attempt was made to fire an improvised rocket-propelled grenade, but it failed to leave the launcher.

The man in his early 30s was arrested by gardai in County Cavan, near the border with Fermanagh.

The arrest in the Republic of Ireland followed searches in the Blacklion area of Cavan and Belcoo in Fermanagh.

Dissident republicans were blamed by the PSNI for the attack.

Police said it was the first time dissidents have used Semtex, a commercial explosive previously used by the Provisional IRA.

Derry Journal
20 August 2008

Visitors to Derry’s quay enjoyed a taste of history yesterday when replica famine ship ‘Jeanie Johnston’ sailed in for an unscheduled stop.

Ongoing repair work at Rathmullan quay made a scheduled stopover at the Co. Donegal dock impossible but Derry’s Port and Harbour Commission was quick to invite the tall ship to the city for a second time.

“It’s great to have the opportunity to let the people of Derry see such a magnificent vessel again,” said Assistant Harbour Master Bill Martin.

The ship’s captain, Dermot Kavanagh, said he was “delighted” to be accommodated in Derry.

“I hope that people from both Derry and Donegal can come here to see the ship.”

The vessel, a copy of a 19th century sailing ship, operates as a sail training vessel, a Famine History Museum, and a corporate entertainment venue.

The ship enjoyed a steady stream of visitors when the top deck was open to the public from 2pm to 5pm yesterday.

Mayor Gerard Diver, said that it was a real privilege to have such a beautiful and historical ship visit the city.

“The Jeannie Johnston represents an era when ships played a vital role for trade and travel and is a fantastic replication of these 19th century sailing ships,” he said. “Our city is thrilled to play host to this wonderful vessel even for this short time and hope that the crew enjoy their brief stay and the warm hospitality of the city while here. We also have the Cruise ship the Christina Regina berthing at Queen’s Quay early on Wednesday morning and boating enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy the sight of these two very different ships docked side by side. It will be an impressive sight.”

20 August 2008

Another three petrol bombs have been thrown into the mainly Protestant Fountain estate in Derry.

Trouble took place in the Fountain area

The devices were thrown from the direction of Upper Bennett Street at about 0005 BST on Wednesday.

It is the fourth incident at the interface area since the weekend.

On Tuesday, a device was thrown into the Fountain, and two days earlier two petrol bombs where thrown from the Fountain into Upper Bennett Street.

Inspector Paul Deacon said: “Police in Foyle remain committed to tackling crime, including that of a sectarian nature.

“We have a strategy in place to deal with incidents at interface areas and this has generally proved successful.

“Police will continue to work with the community to address these issues and will actively follow up on any information passed to us by the public.”

None of the petrol bombs caused any injuries or damage to property.

BBC

Parking attendants have yet to return to west Belfast nearly three weeks after they were withdrawn following threats from dissident republicans.

Talks are ongoing between NCP, the Department of Regional Development and the attendant’s union, Nipsa.

Nipsa’s John Corey said the situation has not changed.

“We do not believe it is right that any chances should be taken with the health and safety of these workers,” he said.

NCP, which operates the service for the DRD, was told of the threat by the PSNI.

Irish Times
19 Aug 2008

A police shoot-to-kill policy against dissident republican terrorists would be accepted by the community in Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley Jnr claimed today.

The DUP Assembly member said people would support the use of lethal force to wipe out the threat posed by groups such as the Real IRA.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP criticised Mr Paisley for his comments this evening.

Mr Paisley’s remarks come after the latest dissident attempt to murder police officers in the region.

On Saturday three Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers escaped injury in a rocket attack in the Co Fermanagh border town of Lisnaskea.

Renegade republicans have been blamed for seven other murder attempts on officers in the last year.

The “shoot-to-kill” issue was highly contentious in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, with the police and British Army, in particular the SAS, accused of implementing it in their efforts to combat terrorism.

Mr Paisley, who is a member of the Policing Board, claimed people would now accept it as necessary to finally crush the dissident threat.

“Sooner or later there will be a murder of a police officer unless the police are able to deploy ruthlessness in tracking down and wiping out these dissident members,” said the North Antrim MLA.

“I believe the community will accept such measures and if dissidents are shot on sight, the community will accept that it is a necessary use of lethal force to prevent dissident republicanism from growing.

“Finally, given the seriousness of this most recent murder attempt, I believe the (Stormont) executive ought to ensure that a full discussion on the security situation must take place with a view to ensuring every encouragement is given to the police and army in the eradication of dissident republicans.”

Yesterday police chiefs revealed that the explosives used in Saturday’s rocket attack contained Semtex originally owned by the Provisional IRA.

Two officers were on patrol on Main Street, Lisnaskea, while a third was in a nearby police vehicle when a man stepped from a white Ford Escort and aimed an improvised rocket launcher at them.

They dived for cover and escaped after suffering shock and minor injuries when the device failed to detonate.

Mr Paisley has called for an inquiry to establish how the dissidents got their hands on the powerful Czech-made explosive and if they have access to more.

Semtex, much of it secured from General Gaddafi’s Libya, was one of the main weapons employed by the IRA when it was active. The Provisionals claimed to have decommissioned its arsenal in 2005.

Mr Paisley said: “There are some crumbs of comfort that the weapons deployment has been botched, or else, more likely, dissidents have been infiltrated and at the last moment the explosives undermined and therefore lives saved.

“However, we cannot always rely upon infiltration and treachery within the ranks of the dissidents to undermine their activity.”

Breaking News.ie
19/08/2008

A police shoot-to-kill policy against dissident republican terrorists would be accepted by the community in the North, Policing Board member Ian Paisley Jnr claimed today.

Paisley Jnr said people would support the use of lethal force to wipe out the threat posed by groups such as the Real IRA.

SDLP policing board member Dolores Kelly described Mr Paisley’s remarks as “dangerous nonsense” while Sinn Féin’s Daithi McKay also hit out at the comments.

“Clearly Ian Paisley Jnr hasn’t learnt anything from the history of the last 40 years,” he said. “This is the type of corner boy approach to politics we have come to expect from Paisley Óg.”

“What unionist leaders, and in particular the DUP, need to demonstrate is they’re prepared to share power with nationalists and republicans on the basis of equality rather than appealing to lowest common denominator.”

The Democratic Unionist Assembly member’s remarks come after the latest dissident attempt to murder police officers in the region.

On Saturday three Police Service of Northern Ireland officers escaped injury in a rocket attack in the Co Fermanagh border town of Lisnaskea.

Renegade republicans have been blamed for seven other murder attempts on officers in the last year.

The “shoot-to-kill” issue was highly contentious during the Troubles, with the police and British Army, in particular the SAS, accused of implementing it.

Mr Paisley claimed people would now accept it as necessary to finally crush the dissident threat.

“Sooner or later there will be a murder of a police officer unless the police are able to deploy ruthlessness in tracking down and wiping out these dissident members,” said the North Antrim MLA.

“I believe the community will accept such measures and if dissidents are shot on sight, the community will accept that it is a necessary use of lethal force to prevent dissident republicanism from growing.

“Finally, given the seriousness of this most recent murder attempt, I believe the (Stormont) executive ought to ensure that a full discussion on the security situation must take place with a view to ensuring every encouragement is given to the police and army in the eradication of dissident republicans.”

Yesterday police chiefs revealed that the explosives used in Saturday’s rocket attack contained Semtex originally owned by the IRA.

Two officers were on patrol on Main Street, Lisnaskea, while a third was in a nearby police vehicle when a man stepped from a white Ford Escort and aimed an improvised rocket launcher at them.

They dived for cover and escaped after suffering shock and minor injuries when the device failed to detonate.

Mr Paisley has called for an inquiry to establish how the dissidents got their hands on the powerful Czech-made explosive and if they have access to more.

Semtex, much of it secured from General Gaddafi’s Libya, was one of the main weapons employed by the IRA when it was active. The IRA claimed to have decommissioned its arsenal in 2005.

Mr Paisley said: “There are some crumbs of comfort that the weapons deployment has been botched, or else, more likely, dissidents have been infiltrated and at the last moment the explosives undermined and therefore lives saved.

“However, we cannot always rely upon infiltration and treachery within the ranks of the dissidents to undermine their activity.”

By Allison Morris
Irish News
**Via Newshound
16/08/08

Deposed UDA ‘brigadier’ Ihab Shoukri is to be released from prison on Monday having served just two months in Maghaberry Prison since being sentenced for paramilitary membership.

The leading loyalist, pictured, was jailed for 15 months in June after pleading guilty to being a UDA member and organising an illegal gathering on behalf of the organisation.

With 50 per cent remission and time previously served on remand he has spent just over two months in jail for his role in organising a paramilitary “show of strength” in a north Belfast bar.

The 34-year-old is expected to move into the loyalist Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey with his girlfriend upon his release from the Co Down jail under the protection of the dissident ‘south-east Antrim brigade’ of the UDA.

Police had swooped on the Alexandra Bar at the junction of York Road and Limestone Road in March 2006 during what was a dress rehearsal for the ‘show of strength’.

A three-page statement claiming that the UDA was a “well oiled killing machine” which was due to be read crowd of around 200 loyalist supporters the following evening was found to be written in Shoukri’s handwriting.

The deposed loyalist was ‘acting brigadier’ of the north Belfast UDA at the time while his brother Andre was serving a nine-year jail

sentence for extortion and blackmailing two managers of Ye Olde Strathmore Inn on the city’s Cavehill Road.

In June 2006 brothers Ihab and Andre Shoukri and close associate Alan McClean were expelled from the UDA after a tense stand off with the organisation’s leadership.

Convicted along with Shoukri was senior loyalist Gary ‘Jock’ McKenzie formerly of Clare Heights, in the Ballysillan area of north Belfast.

McKenzie also pleaded guilty to membership of the UDA and assisting in the organising of a meeting on its behalf.

McKenzie is serving out the remainder of his jail term in Magilligan Prison in Co Derry.

George McHenry (40) of Ardoyne Road and Alan McClean jnr (21), previously of Westland Drive, both in north Belfast, had pleaded guilty to supporting the paramilitary group.

Alexandra Bar owner John Davis (50) of Glebe Manor in Glengormley, Co Antrim, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a meeting on behalf of the illegal organisation.

North Belfast loyalist Samuel ‘Robo’ Robinson was found guilty of a lesser charge of supporting the organisation at a later date after pleading not guilty to the membership charge, he is on remand in Maghaberry jail awaiting sentencing.

Six other loyalists arrested in various states of paramilitary dress during the raid were found not guilty after a magistrate ruled that the bar’s function room was not a public place.

That decision is under review after the Public Prosecution Service questioned the ruling.

Belfast Telegraph

Keeping weapons in a bunker means nothing, says veteran loyalist

By Deborah McAleese
Monday, 18 August 2008

Former UVF boss Gusty Spence has challenged the terror group’s current leadership to put its guns completely beyond use. Spence, who helped found the modern day UVF in 1966, said he believes the organisation’s statement last year that it was putting its weapons “beyond reach” meant “nothing” because it did not amount to full decommissioning.

Gusty Spence says it is his dream to announce the UVF has given up its guns.

In the statement — which was read out by Spence on behalf of the UVF — it was declared that the organisation was renouncing violence and ceasing to exist as a terrorist organisation.

The UVF statement said its weapons would be stored in a number of arms dumps “under the control of the UVF leadership, but not accessible for use by members”.

Spence has now revealed, however, that it had “galled” him to read the statement out as he had wanted complete decommissioning.

“They said a thing in the statement. It even galled me to read it out, but I read it out anyhow, that the arms had been bunkered — beyond reach — and the General (de Chastelain) had been contacted.

“I told them, I said, that means nothing,” he said in a new book on the Northern Ireland peace process — How The Peace Was Won — by security writer Brian Rowan.

In the book, the PUP politician also revealed that just days before the statement was delivered he had urged the UVF leadership to “take the ultimate step” and completely decommission.

“I said, why not take the ultimate step? It wouldn’t only add to the statement.

“It would make the statement. The weapons are finished,” he said.

He said it is now his dream to announce that the UVF has put its guns beyond use.

“Now I look forward, if I am still living, to stand on some podium to say that the UVF have decommissioned their weapons. That would be my dream — that would be, I suppose, the icing on the cake.”

Spence also said that the UVF leadership must have confidence to make an order that all weapons are to be put beyond use.

“If you are the leader, you lead from the front — perhaps maybe after consultation — you have to have the confidence in yourself, the confidence in your men (to say), ‘I’m making a direct order here that UVF arms will be dispensed with — decommissioned, call it what you want. I expect every man to obey that.”

Earlier this month Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness accused loyalists of “rank hypocrisy” on the issue of decommissioning.

Mr McGuinness was speaking at a debate in west Belfast where PUP leader Dawn Purvis said there was no pressure from within the loyalist community for groups like the UVF to destroy their weapons.

He said loyalists were quick to focus on the issue of IRA weapons, but needed to turn their sights within their own community.

The British Government recently warned loyalist paramilitary groups that they would be treated as criminals and would face a police crackdown if they failed to decommission their weapons.