SAOIRSE32

News Letter
19 Sept 2008

A CROWN court judge presiding over the Michael Stone trial has refused an application to have two charges of attempting to murder the Sinn Fein leadership thrown out of court.

A defence application was lodged to Mr Justice Deeny on Thursday which claimed there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the charges of attempting to murder both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness when Stone stormed Stormont on November 24, 2006.

The Judge told Belfast Crown Court that after considering legal submissions, he “considered the Crown has produced evidence which may lead the court, as a tribunal of fact, to conclude….that Michael Anthony Stone had done acts which were more than merely preparatory.”

Mr Justice Deeney added: “The final decision on that point awaits the conclusion of the trial but I have applied the tests which are appropriate at this stage and in the circumstances, I reject the application.”

He did, however, accept a defence application that Stone (53), of no fixed abode, did not intent to injure security guard Susan Porter, who sustained a fracture to a bone in her hand whilst stopping Stone entering Parliament Buildings via the revolving doors at the entrance.

Stone had been charged with assaulting Ms Porter occasioning her actual bodily harm but after pointing out that she told the trial she sustained the injury at the very start of the incident, the Judge said there was “no satisfactory evidence” to suggest Stone, upon seeing Ms Porter barring his way, forcefully pushed the door with the intention of injuring her.

The Judge, therefore, returned a ‘not guilty’ verdict on the charge of assaulting Ms Porter.

The trial is due to resume on Monday morning when Stone is expected to give evidence.

News Letter
19 September 2008

LEADING loyalist Jackie McDonald has said he is still willing to take part in talks with nationalists in a bid to move the communities forward.

The south Belfast loyalist, who is widely seen as the leader of the UDA, said he “won’t be found wanting” and is “committed to this sharing process” despite the cancellation of a cross-community discussion at a GAA club in west Belfast on Wednesday night.

Mr McDonald and fellow loyalist Colin Halliday were scheduled to speak at the event at Sarsfields GAC in the heart of nationalist Andersonstown, but it was cancelled by the club after an outcry following Press reports that the two men were to attend.

The function was organised by the Standing Northern Ireland Peace Process (Snipp) group, which is made up of representatives from both sides of the political divide.

Sarsfield said their rooms were booked privately and they were unaware of the exact nature of the event until they read about it in the media.

The club then cancelled the function, claiming they did not want to be at the centre of a major security and media focus.

The club also acknowledged that many of its members, including families of victims of loyalists, were against the event because of the presence of Mr McDonald.

Snipp was set up to try and build links between the two communities and has already held public meetings in Mr McDonald’s loyalist heartland of south Belfast, attended by NIO and Irish government officials.

Last night, the two leaders issued a joint statement on behalf of Snipp, saying they understood the reluctance to engage in the nationalist community, but said they were willing to continue dialogue.

They said: “We very much appreciate the fear and hurt still being felt by many people in the nationalist/republican community because of their experiences during our time of intercommunal conflict.

“This is also very true for many in our own community who also bear the scars of such hurt.