From: jbm7-AT-tutor.open.ac.uk (Jim Monaghan)
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 10:43:36 -0000
Subject: M-NEWS: IRISH TALKS


 Ireland News Update
 Sunday 15 February 1998


*****
Talks Crisis
*****
As the political Talks prepare to reconvene in Dublin on Monday Feb 16
Unionist politicians have called for the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the
process following the killings of a drug dealer in south Belfast
earlier in
the week and the murder of a prominent member of the UDA the following
day.
Both the media and unionist sources claim that the first shooting, that
of
drugs dealer Brendan Campbell, was carried out by Direct Action Against
Drugs (DAAD) which, it is alleged, is merely a cover name used by the
IRA
when it wishes to move against drug dealers. DAAD carried out a number
of
killings in 1995/96 of alleged drug dealers in the Belfast area.
Following
the second killing, of UDA leader Robert Dougan, the RUC swamped the
Twinbrook area of West Belfast and arrested seven men. Within hours the
RUC
leaked the allegation to the media that the arrested men were IRA
members.
The RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, demonstrating a speed curiously
lacking when it comes to loyalist violence, took less than four days to
then
confirm that the killings were linked to the IRA. As the Irish News
editorial of Feb 14 noted, "There will be considerable surprise that Mr
Flanagan felt able to confirm IRA involvement....in the space of less
than
four days." (The same paper highlighted the plight of Martha Slane whose
Catholic husband John was murdered in March 1997 yet the family are
still
awaiting an official pronouncement from Flanagan as to the identity of
the
killers.)

The continued involvement in the peace process of the third largest
party in
the North, Sinn Fein, is dependent on information supplied by the
organisation least disposed towards that party and with most to lose
should
a peaceful and democratic society be created, the RUC.

*****
Scots Guards
*****
The Scots Guards Association has revealed that it plans to hold a
demonstration in Perth, Scotland, on Feb 28 in support of the two
British
soldiers convicted of the murder of Peter Mc Bride in 1992 in Belfast.
As
reported in the last update the two men were recently granted a further
judicial review of the decision not to refer their cases to the Life
Sentence Review Board until October of this year. The judicial review
will
take place on Feb 16. The latest judicial and political moves are part
of a
campaign by senior military figures and right wing politicians designed
to
win early release for Guardsmen Wright and Fisher. The two have served
only
six years of a life sentence but campaigners argue that shooting an
unarmed
Irish teenager in the back was understandable in the circumstances. The
Mc
Bride family have reacted angrily to comments made by a Major David
Walker
of the Scots Guards Association who told the Dundee Courier newspaper
that
"The regiment would be pleased to have them back. They are still serving
soldiers." In October 1997 the Labour MP Kevin Mc Namara, at the
request of
the Pat Finucane Centre, made inquiries with the Ministry of Defence as
to
the status of the two men. When it emerged that the two prisoners were
still
members of the British Army we released that information to the press.
British Army HQ quickly responded by claiming that moves were underway
to
dismiss the two, five years after their conviction for murder. It now
appears that this was not the case. The Centre will be making further
inquiries. The Centre will join members of the Mc Bride family at the
Judicial Review on Feb 16 in Belfast. We would call on groups and
individuals to picket the Scots Guards demonstration planned for Feb 28
in
Perth, Scotland. Also this week the Independent MP for Hatton, former
war
correspondent Martin Bell, spoke during an Adjournment Debate in the
House
of Commons in favour of the early release of the two Guardsmen. Both
the Mc
Bride family and the Centre have been in contact with the MP and we
remain
convinced that he is ill informed as to the true facts surrounding the
death
of Peter. A meeting between the family and Martin Bell is likely in the
near
future. A fact file on the case is available on our home page.

*****
Unionist Reaction to Bloody Sunday Inquiry
*****
The reaction of unionist politicians to the announcement of a new
inquiry
into Bloody Sunday continues to range from the bitter to the bizarre.
Martin
Smyth, Unionist MP and former Grand Master of the Orange Order, issued a
statement on Feb 6 suggesting that a number of IRA men were actually
shot on
Bloody Sunday but were secretly buried across the border in order to
hide
the involvement of that organisation in the events of that day. The
clear
implication of his appeal for information about these alleged burials
is to
suggest that a large gun battle had in fact taken place. The comments
were
so loopy that the Centre issued a statement calling on Martin Smyth to
seriously consider emigrating to Idaho USA where he could associate with
right wing militias who might share his "bizarre flat earth theories."
Meanwhile the relatives of those murdered on the day have criticised
another
unionist MP, Ken Maginnis, who claimed that they were seeking revenge.
Speaking on behalf of the families Micky Mc Kinney described the
remarks as
'mean and begrudging'.

*****
Criticism of RUC
*****
Speaking before the Select Parliamentary Committee on policing on Feb 5
the
British Inspector of Constabulary, Colin Smith, admitted that senior
officers in the RUC have been reluctant "to take brave decisions and
move
forward." The remarks referred to the almost complete lack of Catholics
within the RUC which is 93% Protestant. Asked how many officers were
anti-Catholic Colin Smith told the Committee that "surveys done in
relation
to racial and sexual harassment are an indication that there is a
significant minority with which there is a problem." In response the Pat
Finucane Centre told the Derry Journal that "senior officers are unable
to
address the problem since they are part of the problem. Sectarianism
within
the RUC is both endemic and structural. One community polices the other
to
safeguard the Union. No amount of internal tinkering within the RUC will
alter that fact." In the statement we again referred to our own
submission
to the Select Committee which calls for an International Commission on
the
Administration to resolve the vexed problems of policing and justice in
this
society. The submission is available under 'Policing' on our home page.
Meanwhile proposals for a review of RUC accountability revealed by the
Secretary of State have been greeted with derision by nationalist
politicians who described the plans as a "PR exercise" (SDLP) and as a
"non-starter" (Sinn Fein). The plan, which is not due to be implemented
until the year 2000, proposes moderate changes to the election of the
Police
Authority (PA). Given that the PA is itself widely seen as a joke the
planned changes are irrelevant in the extreme.

*****
Threats and Intimidation
*****
The Unionist councillor who last week gave notice of his intention to
leave
Derry following threats has now stated that he will not after all be
leaving. The Centre noted at the time (see last update) that Councillor
Davidson had shown a willingness to engage with others and we expressed
our
surprise at the suggestion that the threat, and a spate of others issued
throughout the North, should emanate from republican organisations.
Doubts
have been cast on the authenticity of many of the alleged sectarian
threats
made recently.

*****
Hamill Arrest
*****
The family of murdered Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill have reacted
angrily
to the arrest of the brother of the dead man by the RUC last week. The
solicitor for the family, Rosemary Nelson, described the RUC move as an
"outrage". The arrest is said to be linked to charges of riotous
behaviour
following the Orange parade on the Garvaghy Rd in Portadown last July.
17
people from the area have been arrested following violence sparked by
an RUC
operation described by one South African observer as a reminder of
Sharpsville. In one of a number of incidents documented at the time we
published details of a statement from a photographer who alleged that
one
senior officer, an Inspector, had kicked one man in the face as the man
was
being held by four other officers. No member of the RUC has been charged
following the early morning assault on residents which left many people
injured and traumatised. The latest activities of the RUC in the area
are
bound to further raise tension in the lead-up to the marching season.
In a
related development the Centre has come into possession of a document
produced by the illegal loyalist paramilitary group, the LVF. The
document,
published in October, offers support to the six men, the 'Portadown
Six',
still charged at that time with the murder of Robert Hamill. (Five have
since been released due to 'lack of evidence') The LVF wished them "all
success in your trial. Everyone of us know that the charges against you
are
outrageous..." The article goes on to claim that those charged "have
been
criminalised for defending yourselves against an unprovoked attack." The
'attack' referred to involved a large group of over 20 loyalists setting
upon two couples returning home to the Catholic ghetto in Portadown.
Robert
Hamill was kicked and beaten about the head and died later from his
injuries. Four RUC officers sat 15 yards away in a landrover and
refused to
intervene. They have not been suspended and there are allegations that
one
of the RUC men is acquainted through sports activities with one of those
originally charged with the murder. Those campaigning in support of the
Hamill family took out a half-page advertisement in the Irish News this
week
to publicise the case and the urgent appeal for funds with which to
pursue a
private prosecution. Details of the bank account are available in our
January updates.

*****
LVF-Band Links
*****
The Pat Finucane Centre this week published a statement in a number of
newspapers urging the Apprentice Boys of Derry (see For God and Ulster
on
our home page) to investigate links between the Loyal Sons of Benagh
Flute
Band from Newry and the loyalist paramilitary LVF. The LVF document
referred
to in the previous item also noted that the above band had become the
"first
to be presented with the standard of the LVF" and added, "we trust that
the
band carries the colours with honour, dignity and pride." The Newry band
marched in Derry last August during the Apprentice Boys Closing of the
Gates
ceremony which ended in violence when a number of bandsmen attacked
onlookers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

 View PFC Home Page

  http://www.serve.com/pfc