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Breaking News.ie
06/09/2008

Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey called today for early talks with his SDLP counterpart over his proposal that mandatory power-sharing between nationalists and unionists at Stormont should be ended.

SDLP chief Mark Durkan claimed in a keynote speech in Oxford last night that the time was approaching when rules introduced to protect nationalists in the North’s government should be removed.

Empey said he would be interested in early talks with Mr Durkan on his suggestion.

“The present arrangements were brought in to encourage everybody to participate in devolution, and now that has happened there is an opportunity to move on and consider alternatives,” he said.

The present impasse at Stormont between the DUP and Sinn Féin, and the failure of the Executive to do business in recent months, illustrated the need to review how the Executive was constructed, he added.

Empey said: “With growing confidence throughout the community, the time may be right to consider more acceptable and democratic forms of government as part of the Assembly’s review process.”

Mr Durkan told an audience in Oxford that a system of designation was necessary to get devolution up and running.

But he added: “As we move towards a fully sealed and settled process, we should be preparing to think about how and when to remove some of the ugly scaffolding needed during the construction of the new edifice.”

Mr Durkan went on: “The possibilities for political realignment with new or changing party offerings in the future could be stunted by permanent reliance to the present degree on designation.

“If we are serious about a truly shared future then we have to allow for truly shared politics where parties can - and have to - appeal across the traditional divides.

“Protections of rights, interests and identities will still be needed but not only for, or only as, either unionists or nationalists.”

Meanwhile, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward predicted the DUP and Sinn Féin would resolve the differences between them over the devolution of policing and justice.

“I am optimistic, because what this really comes back to is whether the politicians want to make it work.

“I believe they do,” he told Radio Ulster’s ‘Inside Politics’ programme.

BBC

A man in his 50s who was arrested in the Dundalk area on 4 September over the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn has been released without charge.

Paul Quinn was beaten to death in October 2007

Mr Quinn was beaten to death at farm buildings near Castleblayney in County Monaghan last October.

Eleven people have been held by Gardaí and the PSNI investigating his death.

His family said the IRA killed the 21-year-old after he had defied an order to leave the country. Sinn Fein denies any republican involvement.

BBC
5 Sept 2008

Children who suffered as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster have been banned from visiting Northern Ireland for medical treatment.

The Belarussian government made the decision to introduce a worldwide ban after a girl who was visiting the US for treatment refused to return home.

Photo of children and more information from: Belarusian Chernobyl Tragedy

Maureen Brady from Derry has looked after Belarussian girls for the last two summers.

“The children deserve to have these benefits, it’s a matter of health.”

The Chernobyl children have become a familiar sight in the north west, and the rest of the country, over the summer as thousands travel to Ireland each year for recuperation.

Paul Carlisle, the chairman of the Chernobyl Children’s Project Foyle said he was shocked when he heard the news.

“It was quite a surprise, I got an e-mail stating the government had banned children from travelling for rest and recuperation.”

Mr Carlisle said he has questioned the decision by the Belarussian government to stop them from travelling when the objective is to help sick children

“Our organisation works so hard, not just to bring the children here but to raise money for orphanages, equipment and activities that we send out there.”

Maureen and her husband Vinny said they decided to become a host family after friends got involved with the scheme.

“We can’t actually believe this is happening,” Vinny said.

“It’s just very sad because what we as a family get out of it is immense, but what the children get in terms of healthcare and a little bit of happiness is just tremendous.”

Many families were affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986

In 2004 a similar worldwide ban was put in place but restrictions were lifted after various governments, including the Irish stepped in.

Adi Roache, chief executive of The Chernobyl Children’s Project International (CCPI), has brought thousands of Belarussian children to Ireland through the organisation since 1991.

Ms Roache has requested that the Irish foreign minister look into the issue to seek an exemption.

Fermanagh Herald
**Via Newshound
2 Sept 2008

Sinn Féin Fermanagh South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has condemned a death threats against Sinn Féin Councillors in Fermanagh issued to the Fermanagh Herald this week by a group calling itself ‘the Real UVF’.

The statement, which was dictated to a member of staff, read: ‘On the basis of recent attacks in Lisnaskea and Roslea, Sinn Fein members in these areas may consider themselves legitimate targets.

‘The Real UFF destroyed their offices in Lisnaskea as a warning to them in the past. Believe me it was them who did it.

‘They are going to show their strength in the future in terms of manpower and ordinance’.

Ms Gildernew called on unionist political leaders in the county to challenge those responsible for such threats and to do more to demonstrate that they respect the rights of Nationalists and their elected representatives to live free from sectarian intimidation and attack.

“Those issuing these threats have nothing to offer our communities and will not deter Sinn Féin from pursing our objectives of Irish Unity.

“These sick threats against a team of Councillors who work tirelessly for their constituents in Fermanagh should be condemned by people from across the political spectrum. I would challenge Unionist representatives to speak out and intervene directly.

“There is a responsibility on the political leaders of Unionism in Fermanagh to demonstrate that they respect the rights of nationalists and their elected representatives.”

Newry Democrat
**Via Newshound
3 Sept 2008

NEWRY and Mourne Council is to write to the Parades Commission, calling for the South Down Defenders’ annual band competition on Newry’s Belfast road to be investigated.

The decision to contact the commission was taken following complaints by Sinn Fein councillors Brendan Curran and Charlie Casey at Tuesday’s council meeting. The contentious band competition, a fundraising event organised by Newry based South Down Defenders Flute Band has been held in the city for the past 29 years.

The two-hour-long parade’s original route from Basin Walk, up the Belfast Road and Windsor Hill was banned 10 years ago. It now begins at Ardmore Police Station, taking in Windsor Hill, Sandy Street and the Belfast Road.

But Newry Sinn Fein councillor Brendan Curran claimed local residents have had enough of the annual ‘kick-the-Pope’ event and wanted it banned.

“They are sick of loyalist bands representing the UVF and UFF paramilitaries marching around in circles until they are dizzy and fall down drunk,” he said.

The councillors claimed that a recent doortodoor survey carried out in the area had shown 92 per cent of residents wanted an end to the event.

THE UUP’s Danny Kennedy accused Mr Curran of launching a bitter sectarian rant, more suited to the political gutter than a council chamber.

“If I was living in a nationalist area, and Sinn Fein came to my door doing a survey, I wonder what I would feel obliged to say,” he quipped. “The wider Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist communities in Newry have a right to express themselves and to celebrate their culture.

“This kind of attitude shows that these councillors believe there is no place for them in the Newry area.” Kilkeel councillor Willie Burns said Mr Curran’s comments should be regarded as sinister and disturbing by the Protestant minority in Newry.

“There is no paramilitary involvement or falling down drunk,” he insisted. “This competition is a family event that I myself bring my children and grandchildren to watch. “If it was what councillor Curran has described, it would certainly not be somewhere I would take children.

“This is an insult to the culture of the Protestant community.” UKIP councillor Henry Reilly demanded any correspondence sent to the Parades Commission would explicitly state it was against his wishes.

A spokesperson for the South Down Defenders has described criticisms of the event as completely outrageous. He said local residents looked forward to the competition and came out to enjoy the fun. “This is an important date in our calender with members from through-out Newry joining together to provide a family event, ” he said.

GERRY MORIARTY, Northern Editor
Irish Times
5 Sept 2008

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams has stated “categorically and definitively” that the IRA has left the stage as the DUP and Sinn Féin yesterday held “useful” talks to try to break the political stalemate threatening the Northern Executive.

Following Wednesday’s Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report stating that the IRA army council was no longer “operational or functional”, First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness led DUP and Sinn Féin delegations in talks.

They met for two hours at Stormont Castle yesterday in what was said to be a cordial atmosphere and agreed a brief, relatively positive statement afterwards: “The Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin met this morning and discussed a range of issues. We had a useful exchange and will be having further meetings in the coming days and weeks.”

The continuing negotiations will address such issues as the transfer of policing and justice, the Irish language, educational reform, and the Maze prison site.

They are being held against an effective deadline of next Thursday week when the Executive is due to meet. It has not met since mid-June because Mr McGuinness has blocked Executive meetings pending resolution of the outstanding issues, primarily policing and justice.

The talks are also being held against a background of warnings by Sinn Féin that it would walk out of the Executive if police and justice powers are not devolved and by Mr Robinson that there will be “serious consequences” if the Executive does not meet on September 18th. While the DUP welcomed the IMC report, Mr Robinson added that unionists needed “to be convinced by the republican leadership that the IRA is out of business for good”.

Before travelling to Dublin yesterday, Mr Adams said the IMC report confirmed that the IRA was “out of the equation”. He was asked on BBC Radio Ulster’s Morning Ulster programme whether he could speak for the republican leadership and say the IRA was out of business for good.

“Well, I can’t,” he replied. “All I know is that the IRA left the stage some time ago.” Mr Adams then added: “I am saying categorically and definitively that the IRA - and it’s what everybody knows - has left the stage. Sin é. The IRA is no longer part of this, we should not be concerned about it.”

On the same programme, DUP Minister for Finance Nigel Dodds indicated that his party required confirmation directly from the republican leadership that the IRA army council was redundant.

“For Gerry Adams to say, ‘well you know the IRA are off the stage’, if that’s the case what’s the problem then with saying that they’re disbanded, they’re gone for good?” he asked.

Mr Dodds denied the DUP was obsessed with the IRA. He said Sinn Féin was obsessed with devolving policing and justice. The DUP had a concern about the army council - and “good progress” was being made - but there was also an issue of determining when there would be public confidence for the devolution of policing and justice.

Belfast Telegraph
6 Sept 2008

Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable has claimed a massive arsenal of weapons and ammunition destined for criminal gangs in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic was large enough to start a war.

Sir Hugh Orde also said that the international operation has foiled murders, kidnappings and other violent crimes.

A total of 230 guns, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and thousands of euro in cash and drugs have been seized.

Four men were arrested; one of them has since appeared in court charged with drug offences.

Two others have since been released without charge, and the fourth remains in garda custody.

In Holland, three men and a woman remain in custody in connection with the same investigation.

BBC
5 Sept 2008

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson has met the leaderships of the loyalist paramilitary UVF and UDA.

The meeting comes amid government pressure on loyalist paramilitaries to decommission their weapons.

The DUP is also demanding the IRA ‘army council’ is disbanded before policing and justice powers can be devolved.

The DUP leader said the UDA and UVF’s response to the talks was “positive”. He said they discussed making violence and criminality “a thing of the past”.

“These meetings represent an opportunity to engage and discuss the process of transition from paramilitary organisations to people playing a full part in a peaceful and democratic Northern Ireland,” he said.

“All participants in these discussions acknowledged that the priority is to strengthen political stability, create economic and social prosperity and improve the wellbeing of the unionist and loyalist community.

“For our part we are determined to give leadership and encouragement to all those who want to play a part in a peaceful and prosperous future Northern Ireland and who are working to leave the ways of the past behind.”

The talks took place on Thursday in Belfast, with Mr Robinson leading a DUP delegation including deputy leader Nigel Dodds and MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Sammy Wilson.

According to BBC NI home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney, the DUP has often been accused of failing to exert pressure on loyalist paramilitaries to decommission weapons.