SAOIRSE32

Derry Journal
5 Nov 2008

Following the release of a new report indicating that 8,000 construction jobs have been lost or are under threat in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin Foyle Assembly member Raymond McCartney said the decision by the DUP to stall for the past year on the Long Kesh site was directly contributing to job losses in the construction industry.

“The CEF (Constructors Employers Federation) Report indicates that 8,000 construction jobs have been lost or are under threat. This at a time when the DUP continue to stall on the issue of the Long Kesh site,” Mr. McCartney commented.

The Long Kesh site consists of hundreds of acres and initially there is the potential for hundreds if not thousands of construction jobs, Mr McCartney said.

“Firstly Edwin Potts failed to act. Now Gregory Campbell alienates sporting bodies and ordinary nationalists with almost every single public pronouncement he makes. No doubt the DUP will cry crocodile tears over the situation faced by the construction industry while at the same time failing to acknowledge that they have directly contributed to this situation because of their inaction,” he added.

Breaking News.ie
06/11/2008

The chairman of the Saville Inquiry has revealed that his report into the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 will not be completed for at least another year.

The inquiry’s final report was expected to be completed by the end of this year and published in early 2009.

The tribunal has spent several years and at least £180m (€222m) investigating the fatal shooting of 13 civilians by British soldiers during a civil rights march in Derry in January 1972.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, says the latest delay is causing added frustration and anger among the victim’s families.

BBC
4 Nov 2008

Security surrounding the homecoming parade for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in Belfast cost more than £300,000, it has emerged.

There had been fears of violence ahead of the event on Sunday, however, trouble was minimal.

The Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said police worked with community leaders to ensure tensions “did not boil over”.

Sir Hugh was speaking at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster.

The PSNI estimated that there were around 30,000 people at the parade, either supporting or protesting against it.

“From a policing perspective it was a massive effort,” said Sir Hugh.

“Obviously the Parades Commission made determinations, which I think is in terms of best practice, a good way of dealing with these issues, where you have competing rights.

‘Equal praise’

“Huge effort by senior police officers and junior police officers before the event to network, communicate and discuss with many key community players, who actually deserve equal praise on this, led to an awful lot of agreement and mutual understanding.”

About 250 members of the armed forces took part in the homecoming parade, including soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment, Irish Guards, Royal Dragoon Guards and the Territorial Army.

A number of protest events, including one organised by Sinn Féin, were also held in different parts of the city.

BBC
4 Nov 2009

The terms of an inquiry into the murder of a Portadown man 11 years ago will not be extended, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has decided.

Robert Hamill, 25, was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in the town in 1997. No-one was convicted of the killing.

Robert Hamill was beaten to death in Portadown, County Armagh

His family wanted the DPP to answer questions on the police investigation.

A High Court judge had told Mr Woodward in July to reconsider, but he said on Wednesday that widening the inquiry’s terms was not in the public interest.

It was claimed that armed RUC officers in a Land Rover near the scene failed to intervene.

The inquiry will consider whether or not the RUC “could or should have done more” to avert Mr Hamill’s death.

It will also examine whether RUC officers at the scene could have done more to identify, or facilitate the prosecution of those who carried out the attack.

Oral hearings at the inquiry will begin in January, almost four years after it opened.

Sinn Féin assembly member John O’Dowd criticised Mr Woodward’s decision.

“How can Shaun Woodward state that the extension of the remit of the inquiry to allow evidence to be heard from the DPP on the killing of Robert Hamill is not in the public interest? It beggars belief,” he said.

BBC

Four police stations in County Fermanagh are to be recommended for closure.

A public consultation was carried out on proposals to close stations in Kesh, Belcoo, Belleek and Newtownbutler earlier this year.

If the Policing Board approves the recommendations it will leave the county with three police stations - down from 13 three years ago.

The remaining stations would be in Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Irvinestown.