SAOIRSE32

Derry Journal
17 July 2009

A Presbyterian minister with close links to Derry has helped form a new traditionalist movement within the Orange Order, saying that the Order “wasn’t set up to attract tourists”.

Rev Stephen Dickinson, one of the Orange Order’s Grand chaplains, outlined the aims of the Orange Reformation movement - which opposes the institution’s modernising strategy - in a July 12th speech.

The former organist at Ebrington Presbyterian Church and Orange Order ex-deputy grand master said this week that the organisation had been meeting for around a year to discuss launching the movement.

Under the banner ‘Putting Protestantism Back Into Orangeism’, a leaflet handed out at demonstrations said that the movement would focus on spiritual, political, cultural and social aspects of the Order. It set out eleven aims, among which were ‘Restoring the centrality of the Protestant faith’ and ‘Attracting new members into the institution who adhere to the qualifications of an Orangeman’.

During his speech at Ballyclare, Rev Dickinson strongly criticised “clowns” within the Orange Order who believe that July 12th celebrations should be a tourist attraction.

“We’ve got our own clowns, but let me tell you, the Orange Order wasn’t set up to attract tourists.”

He added: “I notice that (Deputy First Minister] Peter Robinson and others have been saying in recent days we’re about cultural tourism. This is about Protestantism, this is about Britishness - it’s not about cultural tourism, Mr Robinson.”

His comments came against a backdrop of attempts to soften the image of the Orange Order and its traditional annual parades.

News Letter
17 July 2009

THE devolution of policing and justice moved closer after talks between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Downing Street yesterday.

Mr Brown agreed a process to address outstanding monetary issues, including the Presbyterian Mutual Society crisis.

Mr Robinson said once a financial deal was in place he would commence a public consultation exercise to ensure there was community confidence for the legislative move.

“Everyone will have an opportunity to have their say and progress will be based on people being comfortable in moving forward,” he said.

The process was hammered out during talks between Gordon Brown and First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at No 10 yesterday.

Stormont ministers have argued that Mr Brown should not only ensure the Executive has enough money to police the future but also address the many issues related to the past, such as the cost of investigating Troubles killings and compensation claims by former officers.

Mr Robinson said the government had to produce the money before devolution could go ahead.

“There are additional inescapable pressures which must be funded in order that the functions to be devolved are properly carried out and the Executive does not have to use a penny of its own resources,” he said.

The Democratic Unionist leader said once a financial deal was in place he would commence a public consultation exercise to ensure there was community confidence for the legislative move. He said he would also consult fully with other political parties at Stormont.

“Everyone will have an opportunity to have their say and progress will be based on people being comfortable in moving forward,” he said.

“I want the whole process to be entirely open and transparent. That is why at every stage I have placed in the public domain any and all agreements I have reached. There are no hidden deals or understandings.”
Sinn Fein deputy leader Mr McGuinness said he was now confident the transfer of powers could be completed before the new year.

“I believe the devolution of policing and justice powers is eminently possible before the end of this year,” he said.
“By September we expect a firm offer in terms of how to deal with outstanding legacy issues that we believe the British government have a responsibility to deal with.”

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey’s had earlier issued a warning to the Northern Ireland Office not to think about making help for the PMS conditional on successful devolution of policing and justice.
That now appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

He said before the meeting: “I am not saying this is happening but my comments are primarily directed at elements in the NIO and Shaun Woodward who might think these elements could be linked as some form of blackmail,” said the Ulster Unionist party leader.

“We do not want a situation where we are told that if we want help with the PMS we must stick our paw up for devolution of policing and justice.”

He said that although he was not claiming this was happening, he was nervous that the finance for policing and justice would be put on the table in autumn, the same time when the PMS working group is due to report its recommendations to the Prime Minister.

Yesterday’s summit came as the Policing Board published its annual report.
Recently retired board chair Sir Desmond Rea said policing was now ready for devolution.

“We are now entering the final phase of the policing change programme with the process now in place to facilitate the transfer of powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly,” he said.
“Policing is ready for the devolution of policing and justice - as is this Board.”

BBC

The Orange Order leadership has rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams for direct talks between the organisations.

Mr Adams said it was time for the two sides to meet to work out a solution to six outstanding contentious parades.

But, Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson, said there was “no prospect” of the leaderships meeting.

Mr Nelson said if Sinn Fein was sincere Mr Adams should first apologise for the murders of Orangemen by the IRA.

Drew Nelson: refuses to talk

“There is no prospect of a meeting with Sinn Fein at any level in my opinion by the leadership of the Orange Order while they continue to justify and glorify the murders of our members,” he said.

“It would be entirely inappropriate to consider meeting with Sinn Fein until Gerry Adams or the leadership of Sinn Fein apologise for the IRA murders of the 275 Orangemen murdered during the Troubles by that terrorist group,” he said.

Mr Adams had urged engagement with the Order in the wake of the violence in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on Monday after a contentious Twelfth of July parade.

The West Belfast MP said Orange culture had a part to play in his vision of a united Ireland but that the six or seven parades which remain an annual source of tension could only be resolved through dialogue.

“They (the Order) talk about being a Christian organisation, about neighbourliness, and I don’t dissent from any of that and I don’t say any of this to undermine the good decent people who were involved in the Orange, but why on earth can’t they come forward and meet us?” he said.

Mr Adams met Portadown Orangemen in 2008, a meeting which was criticised by the Orange leadership.

BBC

A group of 150 loyalists gathered in the Waterside area of Derry on Thursday night, police have said.

The group walked around mainly loyalist housing estates for two hours from about 2000 BST before dispersing.

The police said they monitored the group throughout and no offences were committed and no complaints were made by the public.

Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Martina Anderson has described it as a sinister development.

“In light of the recent statement from the UDA in the Derry area, I am concerned that this is not just a one-off situation and that this organisation is intent on escalating tensions,” she said.

The Ulster Political Research Group said in July they are withdrawing support for the police in Londonderry and north Antrim.

The group, which has links with the UDA, has also withdrawn support for the political institutions after consulting with grass roots loyalists in the area.

News Letter
16 July 2009

DETECTIVES re-investigating the Omagh bombing are trying to identify potential supergrasses in a bid to mount a fresh criminal prosecution, police said yesterday.

Officers are exploring whether individuals they believe had some part in the 1998 Real IRA outrage will turn Crown evidence, Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris told a committee of MPs in Westminster.

“New legislation has come into play since the original offence around what is known as Socap (Serious Organised Crime and Police Act of 2005) where people can be brought in and admit their part in a crime and in turn provide evidence,” he said.

“So we want to explore all of those possibilities before we come to our final determination around the criminal investigation (of Omagh).”
Mr Harris said eight people were fingered by detectives as being suspects in the days after the attack and that was still the police’s opinion 11 years on.

The PSNI’s current head of crime operations informed the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee the eight included the four men found liable for the bombing in a landmark civil case taken by victims’ families last month.

The only man to stand criminal trial for the murders - south Armagh electrician Sean Hoey, 38 - was acquitted in Belfast Crown court two years ago.

Police decided to review all of the evidence in relation to the Omagh attack after two crime scene officers accused of lying in the Hoey trial were cleared by the Police Ombudsman.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, who also briefed the committee yesterday, said the PSNI had already secured a murder conviction as a result of the provisions in Socap that gave weight to evidence provided by another suspect.

He said loyalist killer Steven Brown, also known as Steven Revels, who murdered teenage friends Andrew Robb, 19 and David McIlwaine, 18, in Tandragee nine years ago, would not have been found guilty if were not for evidence provided by Mark Burcombe - a suspect who turned Queen’s evidence.

“We have been very successful already in using that new legislation to our advantage in one of the most appalling cases in the criminal history of Northern Ireland and secured convictions, substantial convictions on killers who previously would have got off, so I think there are some avenues there.”

On the likelihood of a prosecution in the Omagh case, he added: “We should never say it will never end in a prosecution but I do think we need to be utterly honest with the families, as I have been after the Hoey trial and said it’s highly unlikely, but you never know.”

In Belfast High Court last month four men - Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and three other republicans - Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly - were found responsible for the atrocity in a civil action.

BBC
16 July 09

Police in riot gear chased youths who had attacked them with scaffolding poles

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with riotous behaviour and is to appear at Belfast Youth Court on Friday.

The charges are connected to violence in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on Wednesday night.

An 18-year-old man also arrested over the trouble has been released on conditional bail.

Wednesday was the third consecutive night of rioting in the area. About 100 youths gathered at Brompton Park and some threw missiles at the police.

At one point, officers in riot gear chased youths who had attacked them with scaffolding poles.

On Thursday night, Junior Minister Gerry Kelly met with residents at Ardoyne Library to discuss the violence.

Afterwards he said people had voiced their disquiet over the anti-social behaviour but also their continued frustration at Orangemen being allowed to parade through their area.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man arrested on Thursday by detectives investigating a shot fired at police during rioting in the area on Monday has been released unconditionally.

A 28-year-old man arrested on Wednesday remains in custody. Supporters of the arrested man staged a peaceful protest outside Antrim Road police station.

On Tuesday night, police were attacked again in Ardoyne by a crowd throwing petrol bombs and other missiles.

The trouble on Tuesday night was described by Sinn Fein as a “continuation” of the previous evening’s rioting, which the party blamed on dissident republicans.

On Monday night, the trouble left a total of 21 police officers injured.

Blast bombs, fireworks, stones and other missiles were thrown by republicans during the disturbances.

Officers responded with 18 baton rounds and water cannon.

By Margaret Canning
Belfast Telegraph
Friday, 17 July 2009

**Photo gallery onsite

Trouble at Ardoyne shops in north Belfast. Trouble flared in the build up to the parade passing the shops on its way back from the main Belfast march.

A death threat from dissident republicans will not deter Sinn Fein junior minister Gerry Kelly from his work, he has vowed.

The North Belfast assembly member said police did not say who was behind the threat phoned to the Samaritans on Wednesday, but that he was warned to ‘watch his back’.

Mr Kelly said: “While I take this threat seriously, be certain that it will not detract me from my political work or from representing the people of north Belfast.”

He called on republican splinter groups Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Fein, Eirigi and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, to justify what he claimed was their role in three nights of rioting in Ardoyne.

Police came under sustained petrol bomb attack in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast for the second night running

He said the groups were “microgroups” who were “euphemistically called dissident republicans”.

“I am once again calling on spokespeople for the various dissident organisations to explain the rationale for leaving a loaded weapon in the middle of Ardoyne, which was found by children and worse again for firing shots and using pipe bombs in the midst of a riot situation, which is uncontrolled and where you have many children in the vicinity.”

He said the groups came to |Ardoyne early on Monday afternoon and displaced an official protest by residents.

“It is up to them to explain to the community why, for the third successive night, they have encouraged young people, many of them children, to bring havoc and untold disruption and trauma onto the community of Ardoyne.

“It is easy to start a riot, but very difficult to stop it. It becomes a magnet for all sorts of people.”

He said people in the area had become involved, “who are disaffected and at other times of year, threaten the area with area with anti-social behaviour”.

It would require “deep cynicism” to believe that dissidents wished to create a situation of such violence that a child might be killed. “But if you bring weapons into a riot situation, it’s not a controlled situation,” he said.

Aftermath

“With weapons and pipe bombs, then it is a miracle — and I don’t exaggerate here — and that we are sitting here and not dealing with that situation.”

But he also criticised the Orange Order. “Marching up through areas where they are clearly not wanted is a clear provocation”.

Two men arrested after a shot was fired at police on Monday were released unconditionally.

And the home of a Sinn Fein worker in north Belfast was petrol bombed on Wednesday morning, causing minor scorch damage.