SAOIRSE32

Irish Times
2 July 09

THE HIGH Court has fixed a date next October for the hearing of an extradition request for a man wanted in connection with the shooting dead of a British army recruitment officer in Derby more than 17 years ago.

The British authorities are seeking the surrender of father-of-two Declan Duffy (35), from Armagh but with an address at Hanover Street West, Dublin. He is in custody in relation to other matters.

Mr Justice Michael Peart yesterday fixed October 8th to hear the request after being told Duffy’s points of objection against the making of an order for his extradition were completed and ready to be filed.

Remy Farrell, for Duffy, said the issues being raised in opposition related to the delay by the authorities in processing the extradition request. He said another issue was the apparent lack of information in the extradition warrant as to whether the offence at issue came under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.

In a European Arrest Warrant seeking Duffy’s surrender, the British authorities claim that on April 13th, 1992, he murdered Sgt Michael Newman (34), a father of one, in Derby, England. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder between January 1st, 1992, and April 13th, 1992.

The INLA admitted responsibility for Sgt Newman’s killing.

Britain is also seeking the extradition of Anthony Gorman (39), from Armagh but with an address at Bailieboro, Co Cavan, on the same charges. He is on bail pending the hearing of the extradition request.

Irish News
1 July 09

THE Apprentice Boys last night distanced themselves from a loyalist flags dispute that escalated into a shooting.

Up to three shots were fired through the living-room window of a Protestant couple’s home in Ballymena, Co Antrim, after they tried to mediate in a row.

No-one was injured in the attack in the Rossdale area early yesterday.

The shooting is understood to have followed an approach by the woman to people who put up loyalist flags in the mixed housing development.

It is believed that she had asked them whether they had residents’ permission.

DUP councillor John Carson said he “firmly believes” the latest attack on the couple – who belong to a community association – was connected to the putting up of flags in the mixed estate.

Mr Carson said a deal on erecting flags in the area had been brokered last year.

It was agreed that the erection of flags would be low-key, he said.

Among the flags flying close to the couple’s house yesterday was one in support of the Apprentice Boys.

However, the organisation’s general secretary, William Moore, said last night: “The Apprentice Boys doesn’t have a policy of flying flags apart from on our own property.

“We don’t have control over who flies a flag.”

Police have increased patrols in the area and are studying CCTV footage which captured shadowy images of the gunman.

Meanwhile, a man arrested yesterday in connection with the attack was last night released pending further inquiries.

Irish News
1 July 09

LOYALISM ON SHOW: Loyalist flags, including that of the UVF, at Fortwilliam in north Belfast, left, and, centre and right, at the Shore Road entrance to Fortwilliam

THERE have been fears that loyalists are trying to stoke up tensions ahead of the marching season, reneging on previous agreements over flags in contested areas.

Last week there were disturbances in Coleraine after loyalists attempted to place flags close to the nationalist area where father-of-four Kevin McDaid was murdered on May 24.

Since then there have been a number of further incidents with nationalist residents raising concerns that previous arrangements over shared space were now being ignored.

Shots fired at a house in Ballymena have been attributed to an argument over the erecting of flags in a mixed housing development.

Over the past fortnight hundreds of flags have been placed in predominantly nationalist areas of south Belfast.

The Ormeau Road and Finaghy crossroads areas are both bedecked with loyalist flags.

At Fortwilliam in north Belfast, which backs onto the staunchly loyalist Mount Vernon estate, Union, Ulster and UVF flags have appeared in recent days.

In areas where cross-community dialogue has taken place there have in the past been verbal agreements on the issue of flags.

This has included an agreed time-scale as to when flags will be placed along a route and when they will be taken back down again.

Loyalist spokesman Harry Smith, who is a member of the loyalist

Finaghy Crossroads group, last night said the issue was a sensitive one that called for compromise on both sides.

“I personally would like to see a time when unionist/loyalist people fly flags from their homes rather than from lamp-posts as they did in the past,” Mr Smith said.

“In the meantime, though, peace does not just happen over night. It has to be worked at.

“There is a very real fear within the loyalist community that the right to express our culture is being slowly chipped away and eroded.

“Tolerance and respect for one another’s culture must be reciprocated on both sides of the divide.

“In recent years flags have been reduced in south Belfast and following the last Saturday of August work will begin in the area to remove flags from lamp-posts.”

However, Sinn Fein spokesman for the area Vincent Parker said the flags were an annual setback to good relations.

“The majority of the residents in Finaghy don’t want flags erected,” Mr Parker said.

“Some Protestant families have contacted me to tell me they are uncomfortable with flags being erected in an area.

“Local business owners on the Lisburn Road have also said the flags have a negative impact on their trade in the summer months.

“Residents that I have spoken to are sick and tired of these flags being erected every year.”

Scott Jamison
South Belfast News
2nd of July 2009

A local political representative has blasted Belfast City Council after it was revealed loyalist flags have been erected on council-owned property in Finaghy.
Vincent Parker was speaking after the South Belfast News discovered two flags flying over the Finaghy Community Centre – a red hand of Ulster flag and an Ulster independence flag. It is believed the local UDA are behind the banners being placed there.
The Balmoral Sinn Féin representative said the council should take “a long look” at the situation due to the centre’s location – the mixed Geeragh Place, just off Finaghy Road South.
“It is bad enough flags are going up in areas that have people of different backgrounds living there but the fact it is council property makes it even worse.
“The council should take them down immediately because they are intimidating people using the facility.”
Mr Parker said the annual furore over flags in the area set back community elations and increased tensions.
“The simple fact is flags are divisive. I believe they are intended to intimidate. It is not about an expression of any cultural position because if that was the case, they would just be in areas where people want them.
“Nobody here wants them, people just want to live in peace because it is a mixed area but all this does is cause problems.
“Members of the loyalist community have told me speaking out on this issue does not improve community relations but we can’t just ignore flags, they are a reality.
“It seems to be just about territorial marking. If those within loyalist communities were serious about good relations and creating a shared space, they really need to look at the policy of erecting flags, especially in such a shared area as this.”
He said the party had been “inundated” with phone calls of support over the issue.
“Even people who are not Sinn Féin supporters have been calling us and saying they are sick and tired of this issue rearing its head every year.
“We are fed up with it as well. We don’t want to be continually coming back to this. Over nine months progress is made in local community relations but then they are set back every summer.
“Along this road it is a mixed area and the flags should not be there, especially on Belfast City Council property.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Our aim is that all of our facilities should be welcoming to everyone and we are actively engaging with the local community to try to achieve this.”