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News about the Irish & Irish American culture, music, news, sports. This is hosted by the Irish Aires radio show on KPFT-FM 90.1 in Houston, Texas (a Pacifica community radio station)
September 11, 2005
Bomb Factory Found After Night of Riots
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News about Ireland & the Irish
IO 09/11/05 Bomb Factory Found After Night Of Riots
BB 09/11/05 NI Sees 'Worst Rioting In Years'
BB 09/11/05 Loyalist Violence 'Is Appalling'
BB 09/11/05 Harryville Priest Calls Off Mass
TC 09/11/05 Exhausted Firefighters Remember 9/11 Victims
SL 09/11/05 Sunday Life Comment: Anarchy On Our Streets
TC 09/11/05 New Generation Blooded In Sectarian Hatred
UT 09/11/05 Belfast Attack Victim In 'Stable' Condition
SL 09/11/05 Top Loyalists Lock Horns In Village Clash
SL 09/11/05 Loyalist: Why I Turned 'Grass
SL 09/11/05 Loyalist Feud Victim's Family Launch Website
NH 09/11/05 Top Lawyer Calls For Repeal Of Inquiries Act
RT 09/11/05 Colombia To Serve Extradition Papers
SL 09/11/05 300 Provos Can Keep Their Guns
SL 09/11/05 UVF's Tartan Wing Kilt Off
******************************************
Masked loyalists stand near a burning bus in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after clashes that saw police and soldiers attacked during a bitterly contested Orange Order parade. (Photo: AP)
http://breaking.tcm.ie/story.asp?j=82386216&p=8z38659x&n=82386687&x=
Bomb Factory Found After Night Of Riots
11/09/2005 - 14:04:25
A bomb factory was discovered as part of the follow-up
security operation in the aftermath of violence in Northern
Ireland which left 32 police officers injured, Chief
Constable Hugh Orde revealed today.
Seven weapons were also recovered in north Belfast, where
some of the worst rioting took place last night.
The trouble erupted after a disputed Orange Order march was
re-routed in the west of the city.
Mr Orde said the Orange Order must bear substantial
responsibility for the disorder and claimed the action by
his officers was proportionate to the violence.
He said: "This violence was completely organised and the
heroic actions of my officers prevented it escalating."
******************************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4234626.stm
NI Sees 'Worst Rioting In Years'
The situation in Belfast and other parts of County Antrim
is quiet after some of the worst rioting for years.
Trouble broke out after the disputed Protestant Orange
Order Whiterock Parade. Police returned live fire after
being targeted by automatic weapons.
A man injured by a blast bomb is in a critical condition in
hospital.
Secretary of State Peter Hain condemned the violence.
"Attempted murder cannot in any way be justified," he said.
He will meet NI's police chief on Monday.
Mr Hain said the rioting and attacks on the police and Army
were totally unacceptable.
"There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law.
All those with influence in the community, including the
Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this
violence and give their full support to the PSNI.
"I will be meeting the chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde,
tomorrow to receive a full report."
Sir Hugh said the Orange Order bore substantial
responsibility for the rioting and attacks on his officers.
The Orange Order described his remarks as "inflammatory".
It said police actions were "brutal and heavy-handed".
In Belfast, police and Army came under gun attack from
loyalist paramilitaries on a number of occasions and they
returned live fire.
Police said youths blocked a road in east Belfast on Sunday
morning.
They put up a barricade at the junction of the Albertbridge
Road and Templemore Avenue, but the road has now reopened.
At this stage, all we would say is that if what we saw
today was policing, it was policing at its worst
Orange Order
Ballymena is calm after serious rioting on the Larne Road.
Petrol bombs were thrown at the police and violence spread
to Ahoghill, where youths gathered in the centre of the
village, setting cars on fire, damaging houses and throwing
fireworks at police.
Overnight, loyalist rioters attacked police with homemade
bombs, guns and bricks, injuring at least six officers.
Cars were hijacked and roads were also blocked in
Ballyclare, Glengormley, Rathcoole, Larne and
Carrickfergus, as the violence spread.
In a statement, the Orange Order said it would not be
speaking to the media until it had evaluated what had
happened.
"While the Orange Order has noted the chief constable's
intemperate, inflammatory and inaccurate remarks, we have
decided to take a more responsible line and will not be
drawn into a similar knee-jerk reaction," it said.
"At this stage, all we would say is that if what we saw
today was policing, it was policing at its worst."
Officers injured
Sir Hugh Orde said his officers, and the Army troops called
in to help them contain the violence over the Whiterock
parade, were "heroes".
He said they had been attacked with petrol bombs and blast
bombs in outbreaks of rioting.
Gunmen had opened fire on police and they had returned
fire. At least six officers were injured and one civilian
was shot.
"I have seen members of the Orange Order in their sashes
attacking my officers. I have seen them standing next to
masked men.
"That is simply not good enough," Sir Hugh said.
"The Orange Order must bear substantial responsibility for
this. They publicly called people on to the streets."
"I think if you do that, you cannot then abdicate
responsibility."
Meanwhile, civilians were also affected by road closures
that brought chaos for hours.
The parade was re-routed to avoid the mainly nationalist
Springfield Road area.
DUP leader Ian Paisley has criticised the Parades
Commission for "refusing to consider other proposals" on
the disputed Orange Order march from he and UUP leader Sir
Reg Empey.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there had been "a
concerted effort to attempt to draw young nationalists and
republicans into the trouble".
The party said responsibility for the violence lies with
comments made by the unionist leaders.
Sir Reg denied making any statements which he said could be
construed as encouraging disorder. He condemned the
trouble, but also criticised some of the police tactics.
Meanwhile, the SDLP has called on all political leaders and
community representatives to restore calm on the streets.
Security minister Sean Woodward said he was appalled by
what had happened overnight.
He said thugs were to blame for the violence on the streets
and he praised the police for their handling of the
situation.
The minister said extra resources to back up the police
would be a matter for the chief constable.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/11 08:58:26 GMT
© BBC MMV
******************************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4234950.stm
Loyalist Violence 'Is Appalling'
Security Minister Shaun Woodward has said he was appalled
at loyalist violence in Belfast and County Antrim
overnight.
The disturbances erupted out of widespread loyalist
protests over a disputed Orange Order parade in Belfast.
Hundreds were involved.
Mr Woodward praised the police for their handling of the
situation.
"There can be no justification whatsoever for the
disgraceful violence and disorder we have seen," he said.
"The attacks on both police and soldiers, some of whom have
been seriously injured, are to be utterly condemned.
"In protecting the community from violence they have paid a
heavy price."
SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said what happened
was seriously damaging to the political process.
"The Orange Order must stand up today and tell the truth
about its involvement in spurring up tensions and
encouraging scenes of devastation," he said.
"The Orange Order continues to claim to be against
terrorism yet they don't hesitate to associate with
murderous paramilitaries when and where it suits them."
DUP leader Ian Paisley criticised the Parades Commission
for what he said was its refusal to consider other
proposals about the march from himself and Ulster Unionist
leader Sir Reg Empey.
"The Parades Commission are to blame for the mess that has
been created," he said.
"The commission treated elected representatives with
contempt by its refusal to even call us to put our case. We
were refused the opportunity to give greater detail."
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said responsibility for the
violence lay with comments made by the unionist leaders.
"Thus far, due to the discipline of nationalists and
republicans, things have remained fairly calm," he said.
"However, there is a concerted attempt under way to draw
young nationalists and republicans into conflict at
interface areas across Belfast."
Sir Reg denied making any statements which he said could be
construed as encouraging disorder.
He condemned the trouble, but also criticised some of the
police tactics.
"While I'm always sympathetic to police, I am shocked at
some of the tactics being used," he said.
"I have personally witnessed women, who had been trying to
prevent stoning, being pushed to the ground for no
justifiable reason."
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Harry Uprichard said he was
"appalled by the widespread rioting that has spread across
Belfast and beyond and shocked by its violence and
ferocity".
"Anyone with influence should use it to diffuse tension and
do all they can to return calm to our communities.
"All involved should use only peaceful and lawful methods
to create a climate in which the many concerns and worries
about freedom to express culture, to achieve justice and
equality and about human rights can be dealt with
constructively."
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said he was very
distressed to hear of the rioting and urged community
leaders to restore calm.
"The safety of people and the security of their property is
being severely threatened. I hope that calm will be
restored to these communities by community leaders engaging
in constructive talks."
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/11 10:49:12 GMT
© BBC MMV
******************************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4234706.stm
Harryville Priest Calls Off Mass
Morning Mass has been cancelled at Harryville Catholic
church in Ballymena.
Parish priest Fr Paul Simons said it "was for the best,
particularly after the violence in the area on Saturday
night".
SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan said homes recently vacated
by Catholics were again attacked on Saturday night.
He said an elderly Catholic man living in the Brookvale
estate was "terrified" when a lorry was burned near his
home.
Harryville church has been the target of a number of
sectarian attacks recently.
Fr Simons said he changed the venue for Mass to another
church in case parishioners' cars were hijacked or roads
blocked.
"It is better to be safe than sorry," he said.
Saturday evening Masses in Harryville church were cancelled
over the summer in a bid to reduce tension in the area with
services resuming at the beginning of September.
The church was attacked three times in recent weeks when
paint was thrown over the building and grounds.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/11 11:40:39 GMT
© BBC MMV
******************************************
http://breaking.tcm.ie/story.asp?j=11894688&p=yy89474z&n=11894802&x=
Exhausted Firefighters Remember 9/11 Victims
11/09/2005 - 13:18:01
Firefighters exhausted from dealing with loyalist rioting
in Belfast today stood in silent tribute to 9/11 terrorist
attack victims in New York.
On the fourth anniversary of the devastating strike on New
York's twin towers, crews were flat out dealing with
burning vehicles hijacked across the city.
A unit from Whitla Street Station's last call-out was to
extinguish a lorry filled with chicken produce seized and
set alight at Mount Vernon, north Belfast.
Afterwards the nine-man team stayed amid the smouldering
wreckage to commemorate the firefighters killed at the
World Trade Centre.
Station Officer Gary Thompson said: "People forget about
the past too easy, and the effects terrorism has in all its
forms."
Mr Thompson and his colleagues worked through the night
dealing with chaos on the streets caused by loyalists who
went on the rampage after a controversial Orange Order
parade.
"We never stopped from when we went in until this morning.
A lot of other incidents we couldn't attend because the
area couldn't be cleared."
Mr Thompson added that his crew decided their own memorial
to the 9/11 attack should take place amid the debris they
had just dealt with.
"We're standing with a backdrop of cars strewn across the
road and a burnt out lorry," he said.
"We just thought it would be appropriate to do this at the
fire ground, especially for all the firefighters that lost
their lives four years ago."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660961
Sunday Life Comment: Anarchy On Our Streets
11 September 2005
BELFAST this morning looks more like Baghdad or Basra than
part of the UK.
The city was plunged into virtual anarchy yesterday as
loyalist and republican rioters took to the streets.
The disgraceful scenes are a stark reminder of just how
fragile the current state of the peace process is.
What began as a disputed Orange parade descended into
mayhem as the security forces came under sustained attack.
The Parades Commission, which was set up to deal with
contentious marches, has - perhaps inevitably - become part
of the very problem it was intended to solve.
Of course, the issues at stake haven't changed in
generations.
The loyal orders believe the Queen's highway should be
theirs to walk as of right; nationalist residents feel
their areas are under constant siege.
While the central issues may not have changed, other
factors certainly have.
Population shift is just one example of social change that
can skew timeless arguments.
What was traditional in one generation may not apply to
another.
That said, some people will go a long way to take offence.
The Short Strand - scene of some of the bitterest clashes
yesterday - is a long way from the Whiterock. So, too, is
Shaftesbury Square.
But, whatever the outcome of the post-mortem into
yesterday's shameful scenes, the role of the Parades
Commission as an honest broker is bound to come under
renewed scrutiny.
In one sense, of course, it has proved to be a unifying
force.
For it appears incapable of satisfying either unionist or
nationalist aspirations.
Whether that will spare the commission a root-and-branch
overhaul is anyone's guess.
But it would be ironic if the only common ground between
Orangemen and residents is that each feels equally ill-
served by a body which has yet to fulfil the ideals of its
founders.
******************************************
http://breaking.tcm.ie/story.asp?j=190109407&p=y9xyyxz7x&n=190110350&x=
Ahern: New Generation Being Blooded In Sectarian Hatred
11/09/2005 - 14:18:23
A new generation in the North is being blooded in sectarian
hatred, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said
today.
In the aftermath of the worst loyalist rioting for several
years, Mr Ahern claimed the mayhem was deliberately
orchestrated to intimidate nationalists who now feared for
the future.
He strongly urged people with influence to unequivocally
condemn the violence and work towards building bridges
between communities.
Mr Ahern, who visited Belfast last week, said the SDLP and
Sinn Féin had been concerned about potential violence after
the Orange Order's Whiterock March was re-routed away from
a nationalist area by the Parades Commission.
"It's an extremely worrying turn of events," he said today.
"What happened last night was a huge effort to intimidate
nationalist communities, who fear very much for the future.
"What we really don't need at this moment in time is more
incitement."
Tensions remained high across Northern Ireland after the
violence, which erupted in west Belfast and then spread to
the north and east of the city as well as to Ballymena,
Antrim, Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballyclare, Glengormley and
Ahoghill.
Paramilitary gunmen opened fire on police and soldiers and
cars were being hijacked and set alight so regularly that
roads were closed and motorists urged to stay at home.
Mr Ahern, who said he will be fully briefed on the rioting
by his officials tomorrow, said evidence that children as
young as five years old getting involved in violence did
not augur well for the future.
"Children and teenagers are becoming brutalised by
involving themselves in these riots. A new generation is
being blooded in sectarian hatred.
"A new generation is being spawned by this type of
incitement," he told RTÉ Radio.
He said it was a positive development that some parents of
children involved in violence were bringing them to be
spoken to by the PSNI.
Mr Ahern said he had no doubt that the riots were an
orchestrated event.
He said that PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde's comments that
the Orange Order must shoulder substantial blame for the
violence should be heeded.
"He has an incredible impartiality and for him to say
something like this, somebody who was on the ground, what
he says has to be taken seriously.
The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said he was
very distressed to hear of the rioting and urged community
leaders to restore calm.
"I was very distressed and certainly worried to hear of
these developments.
"I hope that common sense and reason can prevail.
"The safety of people and the security of their property is
being severely threatened."
Dr Brady, the Primate of All-Ireland, added: "I hope that
calm will be restored to these communities by community
leaders engaging in constructive talks."
******************************************
http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=64870&pt=n
Belfast Attack Victim In 'Stable' Condition
A 29-year-old man, who was attacked by a gang of up to 10
men in east Belfast in the early hours of yesterday
morning, is now in a 'stable' condition in hospital.
Paramedics gave emergency treatment after he was found
lying on a river walkway at the junction between the
Protestant Albertbridge Road and the catholic Short Strand
enclave just after 2am.
He was taken to hospital with head injuries. At the time,
his condition was described as critical.
Police said the gang who attacked the man all wore either
peach, pink or yellow tops.
The gang, all thought to be heavily tanned, were seen
running up the nearby Ravenhill Road after the assault.
Urging witnesses to contact detectives, a police service of
Northern Ireland spokesman added: "No motive has been
established but a sectarian motive has not been ruled out."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660959
Top Loyalists Lock Horns In Village Clash
By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005
THE Co Down village celebrating local hero David Healy's
winning goal against England has been rocked by a row
between two loyalist heavyweights.
For a feud has erupted in Killyleagh between a senior
member of the Red Hand Commando and north Belfast UDA boss
Andre 'The Egyptian' Shoukri.
Loyalist sources claim Shoukri clashed with convicted
bomber Malcolm Healy, during a visit to Killyleagh, last
weekend.
The pair were involved in a heated row after Shoukri
accused Healy and three pals of causing £2,000 worth of
damage to an associate's car.
It is believed the vehicle was damaged in revenge after a
pal of Malcolm Healy's was attacked by Shoukri's associate,
who recently moved into the village.
The top UDA man and his henchmen visited Healy's home last
Saturday, ordering him and his gang to each hand over £500.
They told the bomber they would be returning for the cash,
but the RHC terrorist opted to hand over the cash there and
then.
Healy, who was jailed for his part in the bombing of the
Anchor Inn in Killyleagh in 1975, is believed to be the
RHC's leader in the village.
Irene Nicholson, a 37-year-old Protestant, died in the
blast.
Malcolm Healy is regarded as one of Co Down's top
loyalists.
Both the UDA and RHC are understood to have investigated
the incident, which is the talk of the Co Down village.
Shoukri has been keeping a low profile in his north Belfast
stomping ground, but has been making regular visits to
Killyleagh.
Said a source: "Shoukri wasn't afraid to go to Healy's door
and ask for the money for the car after he was approached
by his relative.
"He told Malcolm Healy he would be back, but Healy had the
money in the house and handed it over without any
hesitation.
"Shoukri then went to see the other boys and they handed
over the cash straight away.
"Healy is a top loyalist down here and a lot of people are
unhappy about Shoukri throwing his weight around.
"Shoukri's associate has recently moved to the area and the
last thing local people need are gangs of UDA men running
about."
A spokesman for the UDA-linked Ulster Political Research
Group said: "It's not like Andre to call to people's doors
and I don't know anything about this."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660941
Why I Turned 'Grass
By Ciaran McGuigan in Leeds
11 September 2005
THIS is the terrified loyalist who turned supergrass in a
bid to have his own brother caged for the murder of a close
friend.
Dessie Truesdale is on the run in England - fearing a
bullet from both mainstream UDA and Johnny Adair's
henchmen.
The convicted drug dealer - once Adair's personal DIY man -
met us last week under the shadow of Leeds United's stadium
to tell his extraordinary story.
He sobbed as he recalled hearing the news that his pal
Jonathan Stewart was gunned down by UFF hitmen, sent by
Adair, at a Christmas 2002 party.
The murder hurt him even more because Stewart was engaged
to his niece, Natalie Truesdale, the daughter of the man he
eventually implicated for the murder.
Charges against his brother Ian were eventually dropped and
Dessie found himself out in the cold - rejected by his
family and a UDA target.
Ian Truesdale has consistently denied any involvement in
Stewart's murder, claiming he was "framed" by his "spy"
brother.
But defiant Dessie says he has no regrets about lifting the
lid on his brother's murky drugs empire.
Said Dessie: "I cry every night for him (Jonathan) and for
the waste of a young life and for my young niece."
But he added: "I don't care if it kills me. I want justice
for Jonathan, and to see the people responsible for his
murder rot in jail."
Dessie Truesdale turned informer and told police of the
events leading to the killing.
In explosive police statements, he told how crack-dealing
Ian Truesdale feared a battle for control of the drugs
trade in north and west Belfast.
Dessie claimed his brother - loyal to Adair - believed that
Jonathan Stewart supplied information that led cops to raid
his other brother, William's Tate's Avenue Belfast home on
Christmas Day to seize hundreds of Ecstasy tablets and a
large quantity of cannabis.
He claims that raid sealed Jonathan Stewart's fate and
triggered the bloody loyalist feud that went on to claim
four more lives.
Dessie Truesdale came out of hiding to tell Sunday Life
how:
•He pushed drugs for Adair's C Company for a year as a
"favour" to his brother Ian.
•He went onto the Witness Protection Programme after giving
murder squad detectives a statement about the Stewart
murder.
He said: "I've lost everything. The only thing I've got now
is my life, and even that, that's not worth f*** all.
"But I am still determined to get justice for Jonathan
Stewart.
"That's why I made the statements in September 2003."
Jonathan Stewart was gunned down at a party in a house at
Manor Street in the early hours of December 27, 2002.
The trial of Wayne Dowie, the man accused of pulling the
trigger, collapsed in Belfast earlier this year.
Charges against Ian Truesdale were dropped more than a year
ago.
After the charges were withdrawn, drug-dealing Ian
Truesdale - who is currently in jail in Liverpool for
supplying heroin and crack cocaine - claimed he had been
"set up", adding: "I am a victim here... This informer
colluded with the police and UDA leadership to get me
locked up."
However, Dessie Truesdale claims that Jonathan Stewart was
a drug dealer working for his brother Ian, and Adair had
him gunned down because it was feared that Stewart was
trying to stage a drugs trade 'coup'.
Said Dessie: "When I went to Ian's house on Boxing Day he
was accusing Jonathan Stewart of touting to the police.
"At half-past-seven that night Jonathan Stewart rang up Ian
and said he was going to pack it in, he wasn't going to
sell the drugs for him any more because it was too
dangerous.
"That made Ian even more suspicious of Jonathan.
"He was worried that Jonathan Stewart was going to steal
his drugs business because he knew all the addresses and
people who were buying.
"So he went to Johnny Adair to tell him he had a problem
with Jonathan Stewart - and we all know how Johnny Adair
likes to deal with problems."
A tearful Dessie added: "Jonathan was a close friend of
mine.
"What do you do when you find out your mate has been killed
over the head of your brother's drugs business.
"What I am doing is not touting, as far as I'm concerned,
it's turning from a criminal to law-abiding person again."
My gay sex romps with Mad Dog's pal
A LOYALIST supergrass bedded a close pal of Johnny 'Mad
Dog' Adair to infiltrate the former UFF chief's inner
circle.
Dessie Truesdale last night revealed how he had gay romps
with one of Adair's trusted lieutenants, as he feared that
'C' Company hitmen were going to target him.
His fling with the senior UDA thug lasted for a couple of
months, between November 2002 until the murder of Jonathan
Stewart by 'C' Company in December that year.
The romps were later re-ignited after Truesdale and his
lover both fled to England in 2003.
Said Truesdale: "I'm bisexual. And I wanted to know what
was going on inside Adair's organisation, so I knew what I
had to do. Bed X."
Truesdale named the man, but, for legal reasons, we have
called him X.
"X is bisexual too, and it was him that came on to me, but
I went along with it, because I was worried that they were
going to target me or someone close to me and I wanted to
be warned in advance if that was going to happen.
"The relationship happened in November, whenever Jonathan
Stewart warned me that Jonathan Adair was planning to do
something on me.
"X was mates with Johnny Adair and I thought that would
keep me safe and feed me information about what was
happening.
"X knew about me (being bisexual) and he was the one who
came on to me."
Truesdale added: "We went up to the Giant's Ring and I told
him what I thought about Jonathan Adair and he said, 'Don't
worry, Dessie, I'll look after you and blah blah blah'.
"Johnny Adair doesn't know this, but he will now.
"It lasted for a couple of months and then I did it with
him again in Bolton, when he got his house."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660940
Loyalist Feud Victim's Family Launch Website
By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005
A WEBSITE was launched yesterday in a bid to raise
awareness about the murder of innocent loyalist feud victim
Craig McCausland.
The 20-year-old's heartbroken family hope the site -
http://www.justiceforcraig.com/ - will prompt people to
provide crucial information about the killing.
The dad-of-one, whom police have confirmed had no links to
any paramilitary group, was murdered by a UVF gang in July.
Police believe he may have been targeted in a case of
mistaken identity.
The north Belfast man was the second of four people
murdered by the UVF during its feud with the LVF.
A number of messages have already been sent to the website
by people offering their support.
They include one from a man who claims to be a former UVF
prisoner, who has expressed his disgust at the killing.
The site also provides details on the murder of Craig's
mother, Lorraine, who was beaten to death by a UDA mob in
1987.
This latest development comes after Craig's family, who met
with Belfast city councillors last week, vowed to step up
their quest for justice over the coming months.
Craig's devastated cousin, Nichola McIlvenney, pleaded with
people to support the campaign.
She said: "We will not give up until Craig's killers are
brought before the courts and we hope the website can help
us in this fight."
******************************************
http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/arts2005/sep10_repeal_Inquiries_Act__PDonovan.php
Top Lawyer Calls For Repeal Of Inquiries Act
(by Paul Donovan, the Irish Post)
A lawyer who represented the Birmingham Six and Judith Ward
has called for the repeal of the Inquiries Act which has
effectively removed the right to have a fully constituted
public inquiry.
Michael Mansfield QC told an audience gathered at City Hall
to debate impunity that public inquiries had effectively
ended with the passing into law of the Bill.
The Act means that all ongoing inquiries, such as those
into the death of solicitor Rosemary Nelson and nationalist
Robert Hamill, came under the new legislation.
Under the Bill all inquiries are now under control of the
Government Minister concerned – who controls funding, terms
of reference and decisions over whether to publish the
outcomes.
Mr Mansfield said: "The Inquiries Act needs to be repealed
because it denies truth and accountability. "Public
inquiries are one of the few ways that the families can
make themselves heard. Public inquiries gave families the
right to say things in their own words and be heard.
"They helped the grieving process and enabled some sort of
closure to come about."
The meeting also heard the families of two soldiers who
died at Deepcut Barracks and in Northern Ireland called for
an independent investigations process to examine the
activities of the British army. "The operation of impunity
means that officers are getting away with murder," said
Geoff Gray, the father of private Geoff Gray, who died at
Deepcut barracks in Surrey. Liz Green – whose son Corporal
Anthony Green was killed in Northern Ireland by another
soldier – called for impunity to be ended for the military.
She recalled how the soldier who killed her son was back in
the army after two years and had now been promoted. "As a
family we feel terribly let down by the system – the
commanding officer is as much to blame for the death of my
son as the soldier who pulled the trigger," she said.
September 11, 2005
******************************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0911/colombia.html
Colombia To Serve Extradition Papers
11 September 2005 14:36
The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has said that the Colombian
Foreign Minister is to serve papers seeking the extradition
of the three Irish men convicted of training FARC rebels,
within days.
Mr Donaldson has spent the past week in Colombia meeting
with security chiefs and the country's vice president, as
well as victims of FARC.
Mr Donaldson said the Irish Government should use
International law to extradite the men and the absence of
an extradition treaty should not prevent this.
It was revealed last month that James Monaghan, Niall
Connolly and Martin McCauley were back in Ireland, having
fled from Colombia last December after being sentenced to
17 years in jail for training rebel guerrillas.
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660945
300 Provos Can Keep Their Guns
By Sunday Life reporter
11 September 2005
UPWARDS of 300 IRA members may be allowed to retain their
weapons for personal protection - even after complete
decommissioning.
The keep-your-guns deal was hammered out with London and
Dublin months before the Provisionals announced an end to
their armed campaign in July.
At the time of the "historic" statement, the IRA's Army
Council declared that all volunteers had been ordered to
dump arms with immediate effect.
But according to sources, the agreement reached would allow
more senior members to carry personal weapons for
protection against dissident groups violently opposed to
decommissioning.
The numbers involved may, however, come as a shock to both
governments and is likely to spark outrage among unionists.
For the list is not just restricted to those who guard
leading Sinn Fein politicians like Gerry Adams and Martin
McGuinness, or to those who hold the rank of officer
commanding.
A senior republican source told Sunday Life: "The IRA is a
very structured organisation and it would be impossible to
put an accurate figure on the numbers permitted to retain
guns.
"The deal on disarmament would have foundered if such a key
arrangement was not in place."
Both governments have always insisted that any issue
relating to arms is a matter for General John de Chastelain
and his decommissioning team.
But one NIO source did admit: "There is and remains a
genuine concern about dissidents and a few personal
protection weapons would be seen by most as a small price
to pay for the dismantling of the IRA's war machine."
Speculation continues to grow that complete IRA
decommissioning will take place within weeks, paving the
way for fresh political talks on devolution.
slnews@belfasttelelgraph.co.uk
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660972
UVF's Tartan Wing Kilt Off
By Sunday Life reporter
11 September 2005
UVF bosses in Scotland have been ordered to attend a
special meeting later this month - fuelling speculation
that the terror group's tartan wing will be stood down.
Loyalist sources revealed the meeting is to be held in the
Airdrie area, where the group is strong.
It is understood the main topic for discussion will be the
future of the UVF in Scotland.
Glasgow sources said there had been increasing dissent
within the UVF in Scotland recently over the terror group's
lack of direction and long-term strategy.
Divisions had also appeared over the Belfast leadership's
ongoing bid to wipe out the rival LVF gang.
"It's literally crunch time for the UVF in Scotland," said
the well-placed source.
"No one knows what is going to happen. But rumour is rife
that a decision has been made to stand down the Scottish
units to take the heat off the UVF in Belfast."
However, the sources said any decision to stand down the
UVF's Scottish units would meet fierce opposition.
They said Scotland had always been a lucrative source of
finance for the UVF's prisoner and welfare funds.
"Over the years, strong links have been established between
units here and those in mid-Ulster and the Shankill," the
source said.
"Standing down rank-and-file UVF men in Scotland simply to
take the heat off a few senior men in Belfast won't go down
well in those areas. It will be viewed as betrayal."
Later this month, members of the Scottish UVF will travel
to Portadown to take part in a memorial parade to honour
murdered mid-Ulster commander Richard Jameson.
Last night a UVF source in mid-Ulster confirmed they would
oppose any moves to disband the paramilitary group's units
in Scotland.
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News about Ireland & the Irish
IO 09/11/05 Bomb Factory Found After Night Of Riots
BB 09/11/05 NI Sees 'Worst Rioting In Years'
BB 09/11/05 Loyalist Violence 'Is Appalling'
BB 09/11/05 Harryville Priest Calls Off Mass
TC 09/11/05 Exhausted Firefighters Remember 9/11 Victims
SL 09/11/05 Sunday Life Comment: Anarchy On Our Streets
TC 09/11/05 New Generation Blooded In Sectarian Hatred
UT 09/11/05 Belfast Attack Victim In 'Stable' Condition
SL 09/11/05 Top Loyalists Lock Horns In Village Clash
SL 09/11/05 Loyalist: Why I Turned 'Grass
SL 09/11/05 Loyalist Feud Victim's Family Launch Website
NH 09/11/05 Top Lawyer Calls For Repeal Of Inquiries Act
RT 09/11/05 Colombia To Serve Extradition Papers
SL 09/11/05 300 Provos Can Keep Their Guns
SL 09/11/05 UVF's Tartan Wing Kilt Off
******************************************
Masked loyalists stand near a burning bus in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after clashes that saw police and soldiers attacked during a bitterly contested Orange Order parade. (Photo: AP)
http://breaking.tcm.ie/story.asp?j=82386216&p=8z38659x&n=82386687&x=
Bomb Factory Found After Night Of Riots
11/09/2005 - 14:04:25
A bomb factory was discovered as part of the follow-up
security operation in the aftermath of violence in Northern
Ireland which left 32 police officers injured, Chief
Constable Hugh Orde revealed today.
Seven weapons were also recovered in north Belfast, where
some of the worst rioting took place last night.
The trouble erupted after a disputed Orange Order march was
re-routed in the west of the city.
Mr Orde said the Orange Order must bear substantial
responsibility for the disorder and claimed the action by
his officers was proportionate to the violence.
He said: "This violence was completely organised and the
heroic actions of my officers prevented it escalating."
******************************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4234626.stm
NI Sees 'Worst Rioting In Years'
The situation in Belfast and other parts of County Antrim
is quiet after some of the worst rioting for years.
Trouble broke out after the disputed Protestant Orange
Order Whiterock Parade. Police returned live fire after
being targeted by automatic weapons.
A man injured by a blast bomb is in a critical condition in
hospital.
Secretary of State Peter Hain condemned the violence.
"Attempted murder cannot in any way be justified," he said.
He will meet NI's police chief on Monday.
Mr Hain said the rioting and attacks on the police and Army
were totally unacceptable.
"There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law.
All those with influence in the community, including the
Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this
violence and give their full support to the PSNI.
"I will be meeting the chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde,
tomorrow to receive a full report."
Sir Hugh said the Orange Order bore substantial
responsibility for the rioting and attacks on his officers.
The Orange Order described his remarks as "inflammatory".
It said police actions were "brutal and heavy-handed".
In Belfast, police and Army came under gun attack from
loyalist paramilitaries on a number of occasions and they
returned live fire.
Police said youths blocked a road in east Belfast on Sunday
morning.
They put up a barricade at the junction of the Albertbridge
Road and Templemore Avenue, but the road has now reopened.
At this stage, all we would say is that if what we saw
today was policing, it was policing at its worst
Orange Order
Ballymena is calm after serious rioting on the Larne Road.
Petrol bombs were thrown at the police and violence spread
to Ahoghill, where youths gathered in the centre of the
village, setting cars on fire, damaging houses and throwing
fireworks at police.
Overnight, loyalist rioters attacked police with homemade
bombs, guns and bricks, injuring at least six officers.
Cars were hijacked and roads were also blocked in
Ballyclare, Glengormley, Rathcoole, Larne and
Carrickfergus, as the violence spread.
In a statement, the Orange Order said it would not be
speaking to the media until it had evaluated what had
happened.
"While the Orange Order has noted the chief constable's
intemperate, inflammatory and inaccurate remarks, we have
decided to take a more responsible line and will not be
drawn into a similar knee-jerk reaction," it said.
"At this stage, all we would say is that if what we saw
today was policing, it was policing at its worst."
Officers injured
Sir Hugh Orde said his officers, and the Army troops called
in to help them contain the violence over the Whiterock
parade, were "heroes".
He said they had been attacked with petrol bombs and blast
bombs in outbreaks of rioting.
Gunmen had opened fire on police and they had returned
fire. At least six officers were injured and one civilian
was shot.
"I have seen members of the Orange Order in their sashes
attacking my officers. I have seen them standing next to
masked men.
"That is simply not good enough," Sir Hugh said.
"The Orange Order must bear substantial responsibility for
this. They publicly called people on to the streets."
"I think if you do that, you cannot then abdicate
responsibility."
Meanwhile, civilians were also affected by road closures
that brought chaos for hours.
The parade was re-routed to avoid the mainly nationalist
Springfield Road area.
DUP leader Ian Paisley has criticised the Parades
Commission for "refusing to consider other proposals" on
the disputed Orange Order march from he and UUP leader Sir
Reg Empey.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there had been "a
concerted effort to attempt to draw young nationalists and
republicans into the trouble".
The party said responsibility for the violence lies with
comments made by the unionist leaders.
Sir Reg denied making any statements which he said could be
construed as encouraging disorder. He condemned the
trouble, but also criticised some of the police tactics.
Meanwhile, the SDLP has called on all political leaders and
community representatives to restore calm on the streets.
Security minister Sean Woodward said he was appalled by
what had happened overnight.
He said thugs were to blame for the violence on the streets
and he praised the police for their handling of the
situation.
The minister said extra resources to back up the police
would be a matter for the chief constable.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/11 08:58:26 GMT
© BBC MMV
******************************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4234950.stm
Loyalist Violence 'Is Appalling'
Security Minister Shaun Woodward has said he was appalled
at loyalist violence in Belfast and County Antrim
overnight.
The disturbances erupted out of widespread loyalist
protests over a disputed Orange Order parade in Belfast.
Hundreds were involved.
Mr Woodward praised the police for their handling of the
situation.
"There can be no justification whatsoever for the
disgraceful violence and disorder we have seen," he said.
"The attacks on both police and soldiers, some of whom have
been seriously injured, are to be utterly condemned.
"In protecting the community from violence they have paid a
heavy price."
SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said what happened
was seriously damaging to the political process.
"The Orange Order must stand up today and tell the truth
about its involvement in spurring up tensions and
encouraging scenes of devastation," he said.
"The Orange Order continues to claim to be against
terrorism yet they don't hesitate to associate with
murderous paramilitaries when and where it suits them."
DUP leader Ian Paisley criticised the Parades Commission
for what he said was its refusal to consider other
proposals about the march from himself and Ulster Unionist
leader Sir Reg Empey.
"The Parades Commission are to blame for the mess that has
been created," he said.
"The commission treated elected representatives with
contempt by its refusal to even call us to put our case. We
were refused the opportunity to give greater detail."
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said responsibility for the
violence lay with comments made by the unionist leaders.
"Thus far, due to the discipline of nationalists and
republicans, things have remained fairly calm," he said.
"However, there is a concerted attempt under way to draw
young nationalists and republicans into conflict at
interface areas across Belfast."
Sir Reg denied making any statements which he said could be
construed as encouraging disorder.
He condemned the trouble, but also criticised some of the
police tactics.
"While I'm always sympathetic to police, I am shocked at
some of the tactics being used," he said.
"I have personally witnessed women, who had been trying to
prevent stoning, being pushed to the ground for no
justifiable reason."
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Harry Uprichard said he was
"appalled by the widespread rioting that has spread across
Belfast and beyond and shocked by its violence and
ferocity".
"Anyone with influence should use it to diffuse tension and
do all they can to return calm to our communities.
"All involved should use only peaceful and lawful methods
to create a climate in which the many concerns and worries
about freedom to express culture, to achieve justice and
equality and about human rights can be dealt with
constructively."
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said he was very
distressed to hear of the rioting and urged community
leaders to restore calm.
"The safety of people and the security of their property is
being severely threatened. I hope that calm will be
restored to these communities by community leaders engaging
in constructive talks."
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/11 10:49:12 GMT
© BBC MMV
******************************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4234706.stm
Harryville Priest Calls Off Mass
Morning Mass has been cancelled at Harryville Catholic
church in Ballymena.
Parish priest Fr Paul Simons said it "was for the best,
particularly after the violence in the area on Saturday
night".
SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan said homes recently vacated
by Catholics were again attacked on Saturday night.
He said an elderly Catholic man living in the Brookvale
estate was "terrified" when a lorry was burned near his
home.
Harryville church has been the target of a number of
sectarian attacks recently.
Fr Simons said he changed the venue for Mass to another
church in case parishioners' cars were hijacked or roads
blocked.
"It is better to be safe than sorry," he said.
Saturday evening Masses in Harryville church were cancelled
over the summer in a bid to reduce tension in the area with
services resuming at the beginning of September.
The church was attacked three times in recent weeks when
paint was thrown over the building and grounds.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/11 11:40:39 GMT
© BBC MMV
******************************************
http://breaking.tcm.ie/story.asp?j=11894688&p=yy89474z&n=11894802&x=
Exhausted Firefighters Remember 9/11 Victims
11/09/2005 - 13:18:01
Firefighters exhausted from dealing with loyalist rioting
in Belfast today stood in silent tribute to 9/11 terrorist
attack victims in New York.
On the fourth anniversary of the devastating strike on New
York's twin towers, crews were flat out dealing with
burning vehicles hijacked across the city.
A unit from Whitla Street Station's last call-out was to
extinguish a lorry filled with chicken produce seized and
set alight at Mount Vernon, north Belfast.
Afterwards the nine-man team stayed amid the smouldering
wreckage to commemorate the firefighters killed at the
World Trade Centre.
Station Officer Gary Thompson said: "People forget about
the past too easy, and the effects terrorism has in all its
forms."
Mr Thompson and his colleagues worked through the night
dealing with chaos on the streets caused by loyalists who
went on the rampage after a controversial Orange Order
parade.
"We never stopped from when we went in until this morning.
A lot of other incidents we couldn't attend because the
area couldn't be cleared."
Mr Thompson added that his crew decided their own memorial
to the 9/11 attack should take place amid the debris they
had just dealt with.
"We're standing with a backdrop of cars strewn across the
road and a burnt out lorry," he said.
"We just thought it would be appropriate to do this at the
fire ground, especially for all the firefighters that lost
their lives four years ago."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660961
Sunday Life Comment: Anarchy On Our Streets
11 September 2005
BELFAST this morning looks more like Baghdad or Basra than
part of the UK.
The city was plunged into virtual anarchy yesterday as
loyalist and republican rioters took to the streets.
The disgraceful scenes are a stark reminder of just how
fragile the current state of the peace process is.
What began as a disputed Orange parade descended into
mayhem as the security forces came under sustained attack.
The Parades Commission, which was set up to deal with
contentious marches, has - perhaps inevitably - become part
of the very problem it was intended to solve.
Of course, the issues at stake haven't changed in
generations.
The loyal orders believe the Queen's highway should be
theirs to walk as of right; nationalist residents feel
their areas are under constant siege.
While the central issues may not have changed, other
factors certainly have.
Population shift is just one example of social change that
can skew timeless arguments.
What was traditional in one generation may not apply to
another.
That said, some people will go a long way to take offence.
The Short Strand - scene of some of the bitterest clashes
yesterday - is a long way from the Whiterock. So, too, is
Shaftesbury Square.
But, whatever the outcome of the post-mortem into
yesterday's shameful scenes, the role of the Parades
Commission as an honest broker is bound to come under
renewed scrutiny.
In one sense, of course, it has proved to be a unifying
force.
For it appears incapable of satisfying either unionist or
nationalist aspirations.
Whether that will spare the commission a root-and-branch
overhaul is anyone's guess.
But it would be ironic if the only common ground between
Orangemen and residents is that each feels equally ill-
served by a body which has yet to fulfil the ideals of its
founders.
******************************************
http://breaking.tcm.ie/story.asp?j=190109407&p=y9xyyxz7x&n=190110350&x=
Ahern: New Generation Being Blooded In Sectarian Hatred
11/09/2005 - 14:18:23
A new generation in the North is being blooded in sectarian
hatred, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said
today.
In the aftermath of the worst loyalist rioting for several
years, Mr Ahern claimed the mayhem was deliberately
orchestrated to intimidate nationalists who now feared for
the future.
He strongly urged people with influence to unequivocally
condemn the violence and work towards building bridges
between communities.
Mr Ahern, who visited Belfast last week, said the SDLP and
Sinn Féin had been concerned about potential violence after
the Orange Order's Whiterock March was re-routed away from
a nationalist area by the Parades Commission.
"It's an extremely worrying turn of events," he said today.
"What happened last night was a huge effort to intimidate
nationalist communities, who fear very much for the future.
"What we really don't need at this moment in time is more
incitement."
Tensions remained high across Northern Ireland after the
violence, which erupted in west Belfast and then spread to
the north and east of the city as well as to Ballymena,
Antrim, Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballyclare, Glengormley and
Ahoghill.
Paramilitary gunmen opened fire on police and soldiers and
cars were being hijacked and set alight so regularly that
roads were closed and motorists urged to stay at home.
Mr Ahern, who said he will be fully briefed on the rioting
by his officials tomorrow, said evidence that children as
young as five years old getting involved in violence did
not augur well for the future.
"Children and teenagers are becoming brutalised by
involving themselves in these riots. A new generation is
being blooded in sectarian hatred.
"A new generation is being spawned by this type of
incitement," he told RTÉ Radio.
He said it was a positive development that some parents of
children involved in violence were bringing them to be
spoken to by the PSNI.
Mr Ahern said he had no doubt that the riots were an
orchestrated event.
He said that PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde's comments that
the Orange Order must shoulder substantial blame for the
violence should be heeded.
"He has an incredible impartiality and for him to say
something like this, somebody who was on the ground, what
he says has to be taken seriously.
The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said he was
very distressed to hear of the rioting and urged community
leaders to restore calm.
"I was very distressed and certainly worried to hear of
these developments.
"I hope that common sense and reason can prevail.
"The safety of people and the security of their property is
being severely threatened."
Dr Brady, the Primate of All-Ireland, added: "I hope that
calm will be restored to these communities by community
leaders engaging in constructive talks."
******************************************
http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=64870&pt=n
Belfast Attack Victim In 'Stable' Condition
A 29-year-old man, who was attacked by a gang of up to 10
men in east Belfast in the early hours of yesterday
morning, is now in a 'stable' condition in hospital.
Paramedics gave emergency treatment after he was found
lying on a river walkway at the junction between the
Protestant Albertbridge Road and the catholic Short Strand
enclave just after 2am.
He was taken to hospital with head injuries. At the time,
his condition was described as critical.
Police said the gang who attacked the man all wore either
peach, pink or yellow tops.
The gang, all thought to be heavily tanned, were seen
running up the nearby Ravenhill Road after the assault.
Urging witnesses to contact detectives, a police service of
Northern Ireland spokesman added: "No motive has been
established but a sectarian motive has not been ruled out."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660959
Top Loyalists Lock Horns In Village Clash
By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005
THE Co Down village celebrating local hero David Healy's
winning goal against England has been rocked by a row
between two loyalist heavyweights.
For a feud has erupted in Killyleagh between a senior
member of the Red Hand Commando and north Belfast UDA boss
Andre 'The Egyptian' Shoukri.
Loyalist sources claim Shoukri clashed with convicted
bomber Malcolm Healy, during a visit to Killyleagh, last
weekend.
The pair were involved in a heated row after Shoukri
accused Healy and three pals of causing £2,000 worth of
damage to an associate's car.
It is believed the vehicle was damaged in revenge after a
pal of Malcolm Healy's was attacked by Shoukri's associate,
who recently moved into the village.
The top UDA man and his henchmen visited Healy's home last
Saturday, ordering him and his gang to each hand over £500.
They told the bomber they would be returning for the cash,
but the RHC terrorist opted to hand over the cash there and
then.
Healy, who was jailed for his part in the bombing of the
Anchor Inn in Killyleagh in 1975, is believed to be the
RHC's leader in the village.
Irene Nicholson, a 37-year-old Protestant, died in the
blast.
Malcolm Healy is regarded as one of Co Down's top
loyalists.
Both the UDA and RHC are understood to have investigated
the incident, which is the talk of the Co Down village.
Shoukri has been keeping a low profile in his north Belfast
stomping ground, but has been making regular visits to
Killyleagh.
Said a source: "Shoukri wasn't afraid to go to Healy's door
and ask for the money for the car after he was approached
by his relative.
"He told Malcolm Healy he would be back, but Healy had the
money in the house and handed it over without any
hesitation.
"Shoukri then went to see the other boys and they handed
over the cash straight away.
"Healy is a top loyalist down here and a lot of people are
unhappy about Shoukri throwing his weight around.
"Shoukri's associate has recently moved to the area and the
last thing local people need are gangs of UDA men running
about."
A spokesman for the UDA-linked Ulster Political Research
Group said: "It's not like Andre to call to people's doors
and I don't know anything about this."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660941
Why I Turned 'Grass
By Ciaran McGuigan in Leeds
11 September 2005
THIS is the terrified loyalist who turned supergrass in a
bid to have his own brother caged for the murder of a close
friend.
Dessie Truesdale is on the run in England - fearing a
bullet from both mainstream UDA and Johnny Adair's
henchmen.
The convicted drug dealer - once Adair's personal DIY man -
met us last week under the shadow of Leeds United's stadium
to tell his extraordinary story.
He sobbed as he recalled hearing the news that his pal
Jonathan Stewart was gunned down by UFF hitmen, sent by
Adair, at a Christmas 2002 party.
The murder hurt him even more because Stewart was engaged
to his niece, Natalie Truesdale, the daughter of the man he
eventually implicated for the murder.
Charges against his brother Ian were eventually dropped and
Dessie found himself out in the cold - rejected by his
family and a UDA target.
Ian Truesdale has consistently denied any involvement in
Stewart's murder, claiming he was "framed" by his "spy"
brother.
But defiant Dessie says he has no regrets about lifting the
lid on his brother's murky drugs empire.
Said Dessie: "I cry every night for him (Jonathan) and for
the waste of a young life and for my young niece."
But he added: "I don't care if it kills me. I want justice
for Jonathan, and to see the people responsible for his
murder rot in jail."
Dessie Truesdale turned informer and told police of the
events leading to the killing.
In explosive police statements, he told how crack-dealing
Ian Truesdale feared a battle for control of the drugs
trade in north and west Belfast.
Dessie claimed his brother - loyal to Adair - believed that
Jonathan Stewart supplied information that led cops to raid
his other brother, William's Tate's Avenue Belfast home on
Christmas Day to seize hundreds of Ecstasy tablets and a
large quantity of cannabis.
He claims that raid sealed Jonathan Stewart's fate and
triggered the bloody loyalist feud that went on to claim
four more lives.
Dessie Truesdale came out of hiding to tell Sunday Life
how:
•He pushed drugs for Adair's C Company for a year as a
"favour" to his brother Ian.
•He went onto the Witness Protection Programme after giving
murder squad detectives a statement about the Stewart
murder.
He said: "I've lost everything. The only thing I've got now
is my life, and even that, that's not worth f*** all.
"But I am still determined to get justice for Jonathan
Stewart.
"That's why I made the statements in September 2003."
Jonathan Stewart was gunned down at a party in a house at
Manor Street in the early hours of December 27, 2002.
The trial of Wayne Dowie, the man accused of pulling the
trigger, collapsed in Belfast earlier this year.
Charges against Ian Truesdale were dropped more than a year
ago.
After the charges were withdrawn, drug-dealing Ian
Truesdale - who is currently in jail in Liverpool for
supplying heroin and crack cocaine - claimed he had been
"set up", adding: "I am a victim here... This informer
colluded with the police and UDA leadership to get me
locked up."
However, Dessie Truesdale claims that Jonathan Stewart was
a drug dealer working for his brother Ian, and Adair had
him gunned down because it was feared that Stewart was
trying to stage a drugs trade 'coup'.
Said Dessie: "When I went to Ian's house on Boxing Day he
was accusing Jonathan Stewart of touting to the police.
"At half-past-seven that night Jonathan Stewart rang up Ian
and said he was going to pack it in, he wasn't going to
sell the drugs for him any more because it was too
dangerous.
"That made Ian even more suspicious of Jonathan.
"He was worried that Jonathan Stewart was going to steal
his drugs business because he knew all the addresses and
people who were buying.
"So he went to Johnny Adair to tell him he had a problem
with Jonathan Stewart - and we all know how Johnny Adair
likes to deal with problems."
A tearful Dessie added: "Jonathan was a close friend of
mine.
"What do you do when you find out your mate has been killed
over the head of your brother's drugs business.
"What I am doing is not touting, as far as I'm concerned,
it's turning from a criminal to law-abiding person again."
My gay sex romps with Mad Dog's pal
A LOYALIST supergrass bedded a close pal of Johnny 'Mad
Dog' Adair to infiltrate the former UFF chief's inner
circle.
Dessie Truesdale last night revealed how he had gay romps
with one of Adair's trusted lieutenants, as he feared that
'C' Company hitmen were going to target him.
His fling with the senior UDA thug lasted for a couple of
months, between November 2002 until the murder of Jonathan
Stewart by 'C' Company in December that year.
The romps were later re-ignited after Truesdale and his
lover both fled to England in 2003.
Said Truesdale: "I'm bisexual. And I wanted to know what
was going on inside Adair's organisation, so I knew what I
had to do. Bed X."
Truesdale named the man, but, for legal reasons, we have
called him X.
"X is bisexual too, and it was him that came on to me, but
I went along with it, because I was worried that they were
going to target me or someone close to me and I wanted to
be warned in advance if that was going to happen.
"The relationship happened in November, whenever Jonathan
Stewart warned me that Jonathan Adair was planning to do
something on me.
"X was mates with Johnny Adair and I thought that would
keep me safe and feed me information about what was
happening.
"X knew about me (being bisexual) and he was the one who
came on to me."
Truesdale added: "We went up to the Giant's Ring and I told
him what I thought about Jonathan Adair and he said, 'Don't
worry, Dessie, I'll look after you and blah blah blah'.
"Johnny Adair doesn't know this, but he will now.
"It lasted for a couple of months and then I did it with
him again in Bolton, when he got his house."
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660940
Loyalist Feud Victim's Family Launch Website
By Stephen Breen
11 September 2005
A WEBSITE was launched yesterday in a bid to raise
awareness about the murder of innocent loyalist feud victim
Craig McCausland.
The 20-year-old's heartbroken family hope the site -
http://www.justiceforcraig.com/ - will prompt people to
provide crucial information about the killing.
The dad-of-one, whom police have confirmed had no links to
any paramilitary group, was murdered by a UVF gang in July.
Police believe he may have been targeted in a case of
mistaken identity.
The north Belfast man was the second of four people
murdered by the UVF during its feud with the LVF.
A number of messages have already been sent to the website
by people offering their support.
They include one from a man who claims to be a former UVF
prisoner, who has expressed his disgust at the killing.
The site also provides details on the murder of Craig's
mother, Lorraine, who was beaten to death by a UDA mob in
1987.
This latest development comes after Craig's family, who met
with Belfast city councillors last week, vowed to step up
their quest for justice over the coming months.
Craig's devastated cousin, Nichola McIlvenney, pleaded with
people to support the campaign.
She said: "We will not give up until Craig's killers are
brought before the courts and we hope the website can help
us in this fight."
******************************************
http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/arts2005/sep10_repeal_Inquiries_Act__PDonovan.php
Top Lawyer Calls For Repeal Of Inquiries Act
(by Paul Donovan, the Irish Post)
A lawyer who represented the Birmingham Six and Judith Ward
has called for the repeal of the Inquiries Act which has
effectively removed the right to have a fully constituted
public inquiry.
Michael Mansfield QC told an audience gathered at City Hall
to debate impunity that public inquiries had effectively
ended with the passing into law of the Bill.
The Act means that all ongoing inquiries, such as those
into the death of solicitor Rosemary Nelson and nationalist
Robert Hamill, came under the new legislation.
Under the Bill all inquiries are now under control of the
Government Minister concerned – who controls funding, terms
of reference and decisions over whether to publish the
outcomes.
Mr Mansfield said: "The Inquiries Act needs to be repealed
because it denies truth and accountability. "Public
inquiries are one of the few ways that the families can
make themselves heard. Public inquiries gave families the
right to say things in their own words and be heard.
"They helped the grieving process and enabled some sort of
closure to come about."
The meeting also heard the families of two soldiers who
died at Deepcut Barracks and in Northern Ireland called for
an independent investigations process to examine the
activities of the British army. "The operation of impunity
means that officers are getting away with murder," said
Geoff Gray, the father of private Geoff Gray, who died at
Deepcut barracks in Surrey. Liz Green – whose son Corporal
Anthony Green was killed in Northern Ireland by another
soldier – called for impunity to be ended for the military.
She recalled how the soldier who killed her son was back in
the army after two years and had now been promoted. "As a
family we feel terribly let down by the system – the
commanding officer is as much to blame for the death of my
son as the soldier who pulled the trigger," she said.
September 11, 2005
******************************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0911/colombia.html
Colombia To Serve Extradition Papers
11 September 2005 14:36
The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has said that the Colombian
Foreign Minister is to serve papers seeking the extradition
of the three Irish men convicted of training FARC rebels,
within days.
Mr Donaldson has spent the past week in Colombia meeting
with security chiefs and the country's vice president, as
well as victims of FARC.
Mr Donaldson said the Irish Government should use
International law to extradite the men and the absence of
an extradition treaty should not prevent this.
It was revealed last month that James Monaghan, Niall
Connolly and Martin McCauley were back in Ireland, having
fled from Colombia last December after being sentenced to
17 years in jail for training rebel guerrillas.
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660945
300 Provos Can Keep Their Guns
By Sunday Life reporter
11 September 2005
UPWARDS of 300 IRA members may be allowed to retain their
weapons for personal protection - even after complete
decommissioning.
The keep-your-guns deal was hammered out with London and
Dublin months before the Provisionals announced an end to
their armed campaign in July.
At the time of the "historic" statement, the IRA's Army
Council declared that all volunteers had been ordered to
dump arms with immediate effect.
But according to sources, the agreement reached would allow
more senior members to carry personal weapons for
protection against dissident groups violently opposed to
decommissioning.
The numbers involved may, however, come as a shock to both
governments and is likely to spark outrage among unionists.
For the list is not just restricted to those who guard
leading Sinn Fein politicians like Gerry Adams and Martin
McGuinness, or to those who hold the rank of officer
commanding.
A senior republican source told Sunday Life: "The IRA is a
very structured organisation and it would be impossible to
put an accurate figure on the numbers permitted to retain
guns.
"The deal on disarmament would have foundered if such a key
arrangement was not in place."
Both governments have always insisted that any issue
relating to arms is a matter for General John de Chastelain
and his decommissioning team.
But one NIO source did admit: "There is and remains a
genuine concern about dissidents and a few personal
protection weapons would be seen by most as a small price
to pay for the dismantling of the IRA's war machine."
Speculation continues to grow that complete IRA
decommissioning will take place within weeks, paving the
way for fresh political talks on devolution.
slnews@belfasttelelgraph.co.uk
******************************************
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=660972
UVF's Tartan Wing Kilt Off
By Sunday Life reporter
11 September 2005
UVF bosses in Scotland have been ordered to attend a
special meeting later this month - fuelling speculation
that the terror group's tartan wing will be stood down.
Loyalist sources revealed the meeting is to be held in the
Airdrie area, where the group is strong.
It is understood the main topic for discussion will be the
future of the UVF in Scotland.
Glasgow sources said there had been increasing dissent
within the UVF in Scotland recently over the terror group's
lack of direction and long-term strategy.
Divisions had also appeared over the Belfast leadership's
ongoing bid to wipe out the rival LVF gang.
"It's literally crunch time for the UVF in Scotland," said
the well-placed source.
"No one knows what is going to happen. But rumour is rife
that a decision has been made to stand down the Scottish
units to take the heat off the UVF in Belfast."
However, the sources said any decision to stand down the
UVF's Scottish units would meet fierce opposition.
They said Scotland had always been a lucrative source of
finance for the UVF's prisoner and welfare funds.
"Over the years, strong links have been established between
units here and those in mid-Ulster and the Shankill," the
source said.
"Standing down rank-and-file UVF men in Scotland simply to
take the heat off a few senior men in Belfast won't go down
well in those areas. It will be viewed as betrayal."
Later this month, members of the Scottish UVF will travel
to Portadown to take part in a memorial parade to honour
murdered mid-Ulster commander Richard Jameson.
Last night a UVF source in mid-Ulster confirmed they would
oppose any moves to disband the paramilitary group's units
in Scotland.
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