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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)
January 22, 2007
Collusion: Catalogue of Murders
News About Ireland & The Irish
IT 01/22/07 Catalogue Of Murders
BN 01/22/07 Hain Rules Out Public Enquiry Into Collusion
BN 01/22/07 Greens Calls For Independent Collusion Inquiry
SF 01/22/07 Adams Raises Collusion Report With British
SF 01/22/07 Dáil Parties Should Act On O'Loan Report
BN 01/22/07 SDLP Calls For Resignation Of Inspectorate
RT 01/22/07 Survey On US Attitudes To Irish Business Costs
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0122/breaking11.htm
Collusion: Catalogue Of Murder
The following are victims of killings allegedly linked to a
RUC informant.
----
Sharon McKeena
Sharon McKenna - A 27-year-old single Catholic taxi driver
from Newtownabbey, north of Belfast.
She was shot dead by two UVF men while visiting a
Protestant friend, a pensioner recently released from
hospital, in his Shore Road home in north Belfast on
January 17th, 1993.
She was in his home cooking him dinner when she was killed.
She was shot twice at close range from a 12-bore shotgun.
----
Gary Convie, Eamon Fox
Two Catholic workmen from Co Armagh who were shot dead by
the UVF at a building site in the loyalist Tiger Bay area
of Belfast on May 17th, 1994.
Eamon Fox
Gary Convie - The UVF claimed the men were republicans but
their family and police said they were murdered because
they were Catholic.
Mr Fox (44)was married with six children.
Mr Convie (24) had a partner and child.
----
Thomas Sheppard
A Protestant shot dead by the UVF in a bar in the Ballee
estate in Ballymena, Co Antrim, on March 21st, 1996.
Thomas Sheppard - The UVF claimed that the 41-year-old
married man from Coleraine, Co Derry, was a police
informer.
He had a criminal record and was known for his UVF links.
His murder followed a number of UVF arrests in the area and
compromised UVF operations.
----
Rev David Templeton
Died of a heart attack on March 24th, 1997, six weeks after
he was beaten at his home in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, by
UVF members with nail-studded clubs.
David Templeton - Rev Templeton (43) had resigned as minister
of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Greyabbey after it was
reported he was stopped by customs officers when returning
from Amsterdam in possession of a gay pornographic
magazine.
----
Billy Harbinson
Found handcuffed and dumped in an alley in the Mount Vernon
area of north Belfast on May 18th, 1997.
The 39-year-old Protestant from Hopewell Avenue was badly
beaten and sustained severe head injuries. Initially police
said there did not appear to be a sectarian or paramilitary
link to his murder, but it later transpired that he was
killed because he was suspected of informing.
----
Raymond McCord jnr
The 22-year-old Protestant former RAF airman was beaten to
death at Ballyduff Quarry, Newtownabbey, by the UVF.
Raymond McCord Jr His killing triggered the Police
Ombudsman's investigation of the police handling of his
murder inquiry, which now has a wider remit of whether
members of RUC Special Branch colluded with X, the man who
allegedly ordered the killing.
----
David Greer
Shot dead in north Belfast by the UVF on October 28th,
2000, during the UDA/UVF loyalist feud of that period. A
21-year-old UDA member from Robena Court, he was gunned
down at Mountcollyer Street. At his funeral Protestant
minister Rev Tom Greer pleaded for an end to the "wanton
bloodletting". But four more died within a week.
----
Tommy English
Shot dead by the UVF on October 31st, 2000. The 39-year-old
was a former senior UDA figure who was later a member of
its political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party.
Tommy English He was killed in retaliation for the earlier
UDA murder that week of Bertie Rice, a member of the UVF-
linked Progressive Unionist Party.
Information compiled from Irish Times Troubles files, Lost
Lives and other newspaper sources.
*************************
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNEYOJEYAU&rss=rss1
Hain Rules Out Public Enquiry Into Collusion
22/01/2007 - 15:47:45
The British government today ruled out calls for a public
inquiry in the North into allegations that Special Branch
officers colluded in covering up murders by loyalist
informers.
Following the release of a damning report by Police
Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan which claimed Special Branch failed
to act against informers in an Ulster Volunteer Force gang
who may have carried out as many as 15 murders, Northern
Secretary Peter Hain said he hoped it would help bring
those responsible to the courts.
However, he rejected calls from the family of Raymond
McCord Jnr - whose 1997 murder on the outskirts of Belfast
sparked the Ombudsman's investigation - for an independent
judicial inquiry into all allegations of collusion.
"I have heard calls for the setting up of a public inquiry
to look into these terrible events," he said.
"There is nothing at all to suggest that such an inquiry
will uncover any new or additional evidence that has not
already been unearthed by the Police Ombudsman during the
painstaking investigation conducted over the past three
years.
"I know that this is a view shared by Nuala O'Loan.
"And of course the work of the HET (the Police Service of
Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team) is ongoing."
Mr Hain said the Ombudsman's report had shone a light on a
dark and murky period in the history of the North, and he
paid tribute to Mrs O'Loan and her team.
"The serious failings that have been exposed within parts
of the RUC Special Branch at the time of the murder of
Raymond McCord Jnr and for a period thereafter cannot be
justified and no-one should attempt to justify them," he
said.
"They should never have happened.
"Those involved - a small number of officers - failed in
their fundamental duty to protect the community.
"That was in marked and stark contrast to the thousands of
courageous RUC men and women who behaved throughout the
most dangerous and difficult times with professionalism and
integrity."
However, the Northern Secretary said it was important to
remember the policing culture in the North has now changed.
"As the report acknowledges, policing in Northern Ireland
has changed radically since the Patten reforms were
implemented and new robust systems are in place to ensure
that the failures of the past will not and cannot be
repeated," he said.
"The Ombudsman's report strengthens and reinforces these.
"Hugh Orde has accepted in full the recommendations where
they relate to the PSNI. Indeed many have already been
implemented
"The failings set out in this report, serious as they were,
lie in the past and should not cloud our view of policing
today where there has been a fundamental reform of police
intelligence gathering and new arrangements established for
the sharing of information across the PSNI."
*************************
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNEYOJGBID&rss=rss1
Sargent Calls For Independent Collusion Inquiry
22/01/2007 - 19:46:47
Green Party leader and spokesperson on the North Trevor
Sargent TD has today responded to the Police Ombudsman's
report into security force collusion in murders in the
North in the 1990s.
"I am calling for an independent inquiry and Dáil debate on
today's report," he said.
"I am also repeating my call for an Anglo-Irish Summit on
the issue of collusion. Tony Blair has expressed 'regret'
about the collusion uncovered in the Ombudsman's report,
but with his Secretary of State Peter Hain simultaneously
moving to rule out an independent public inquiry into the
matter, such words mean little.
"Inevitably, an important question to be addressed is the
impact of O'Loan's findings on the former chief constable,
Ronnie Flanagan, who served in key roles in Belfast, and
with the Special Branch, before taking over the top job in
the RUC.
"Mr Flanagan continues to serve in an extremely sensitive
position, with Britain's Chief Inspectorate of
Constabularies.
"It is the responsibility of all parties to the process to
ensure that the new policing structures guarantee that such
abhorrent acts can never happen again. Lessons must be
learned from this investigation."
*************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/17507
Gerry Adams Raises McCord Collusion Report With British
Government
Published: 22 January, 2007
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Chief Negotiator Martin
McGuinness this afternoon held an urgent meeting with the
British Secretary of State Peter Hain.
Speaking before the meeting Mr. Adams said: "We met the
British secretary of State to discuss with him the issues
raised by the publication of the Ombudsman's report this
morning. We wanted to establish what the British government
is going to do in relation to the demands of bereaved
families."
Commenting on the O Loan report Mr. Adams said:
"The Ombudsman's report confirms what the families of the
hundreds bereaved by collusion between British state forces
and unionist death squads have been saying for years.
"This report is only the tip of the iceberg. It is clear
from the seniority of those involved within the old RUC who
were involved in this investigation that collusion was a
matter of political and administrative practice which
existed at all levels of the RUC and British government.
"The O'Loan report deals with the impact of collusion in a
relatively small area and over a relatively short period of
time. The fact is that collusion effected every part of the
north and cost lives in the 26 counties. It was
the application of brutal state terror against the
nationalist and republican section of our people and it
also led, as in the case of Raymond McCord Jnr, to the
killing of unionist people.
"In recent years Sinn Féin has negotiated significant
accountability mechanisms within policing. On Sunday we
will discuss a leadership motion arguing that Sinn Fein
should move into the policing arrangements in order
to use these mechanisms to hold policing to account. We
need to ensure that no police officer is ever again able to
abuse their position as was done in the past.
"Clearly some of those involved in collusion are still in
policing. Sinn Fein is determined to drum these human
rights abusers out of policing and we are committed to
supporting bereaved relatives in their ongoing search for
truth
"The role of former Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan is now
also in the spotlight as is the failure of the DPP to take
action against identified RUC members and others who were
involved in collusion.
"The Ombudsman report only scraps the surface of collusion.
There are hundreds and hundreds of families who want the
truth. I would urge any family effected to speak to the
Ombudsman's office and seek similar investigations into
their cases.
"Sinn Féin has briefed successive Irish governments of
these serious issues for decades now. Martin McGuinness is
seeking an urgent meeting with the Irish government to
discuss the implications of this report. The Irish
government has a responsibility to defend the rights of
Irish citizens. This means ensuring that there is no place
in policing institutions for those whop orchestrated the
policy of collusion." ENDS
*************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/17502
Responsibility On Dáil Parties To Act On O'Loan Report - Ó
Caoláin
Published: 22 January, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called
for a special Dáil debate on the Six Counties Police
Ombudsman's report published today that identifies
widespread collusion between the RUC and UVF
paramilitaries. The report, which also deals with the
attack on Deputy Ó Caoláin's constituency office in 1997,
should 'serve as a wake-up call for those parties in the
South who ignored the issue of collusion for decades'.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said: "It is almost a year since the
Dáil, with all-party support, passed a motion calling for
an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor
Pat Finucane. Last November, the Oireachtas Justice
Committee described as 'international terrorism' a series
of attacks in the 26 Counties by British-backed loyalist
death squads.
"Today, the Six Counties Police Ombudsman's report exposes
the fact that UVF units in north Belfast and elsewhere
operated virtually as surrogates for RUC officers.
"The Ombudsman's report also finds that the bomb attack on
my own constituency office in Monaghan in 1997 was, as I
have always argued, an example of collusion. No attempt was
made to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
No effort was made to share the intelligence the RUC had
prior to the attack with the Gardaí.
"Ms O'Loan's report identifies a number of senior officers,
including two retired Assistant Chief Constables, seven
Detective Chief Superintendents and two Detective
Superintendents involved in covering up collusion in the
RUC. Referring to the actions of junior RUC officers, Ms
O'Loan states: '...they could not have operated as they did
without knowledge and support at the highest levels of the
RUC/PSNI.'
"The Taoiseach has repeatedly told the Dáil under
questioning from me that there is no necessity for a summit
with the British Government on the specific issue of
collusion. I would ask him if he can maintain this position
in light of the Ombudsman's report and the growing evidence
that collusion between British crown forces and loyalist
death squads was widespread, systematic, deadly, and went
to the top of RUC command.
"As Ms O'Loan points out: 'There is no reason to believe
that the findings of this investigation are isolated.
Indeed given that many of the failings identified in the
course of the investigation were systemic, this is highly
likely and the implications of this are very serious.'
"I would also ask the other political parties in the Dáil,
who backed the call for an independent inquiry into the
murder of Pat Finucane, what they intend to do in the
aftermath of this report and for a special Dáil debate on
the O'Loan report following the resumption. This report
should serve as a wake-up call for those parties in the
South who ignored the issue of collusion for decades."
CRÍOCH
*************************
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNEYOJOJKF&rss=rss1
SDLP Calls For Resignation Of Inspectorate
22/01/2007 - 17:08:12
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said former Chief Constable of the
RUC Ronnie Flanaghan should resign from his new post as
head of the Inspectorate of Constabulary.
The call follows today's publication of the North's Police
Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan into collusion between the Royal
Ulster Constabulary and loyalist paramilitaries.
“He met with the Police Ombudsman’s investigation but was
unable to assist her investigation,” he said.
“So either he was not in control of a dysfunctional
organisation or he knew full well, but kept the truth
hidden.
“In either event, he should not be heading up the
Inspectorate of Constabulary. He should resign.”
*************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0122/business.html?rss
Survey On US Attitudes To Irish Business Costs
22 January 2007 16:26
Almost 75% of US multinationals operating in Ireland said
their international colleagues believe the cost of doing
business here is too expensive, according to a new survey
from the American Chamber of Commerce.
Half of the 55 companies surveyed said it is becoming more
difficult to get additional investment from their parent
company because of a hike in costs over the past two years.
Three quarters say the cost of doing business is the main
factor affecting the development of their business here -
with transport, telecom, energy infrastructure, Government
policies and European policies other considerations.
However, in the short term the outlook for job creation and
investment by US firms remains upbeat with nearly half
expecting to create more jobs over the next year and a
half.
----
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To January Index
To Index of Monthly Archives
To Searches & Sources of Other Irish News
IT 01/22/07 Catalogue Of Murders
BN 01/22/07 Hain Rules Out Public Enquiry Into Collusion
BN 01/22/07 Greens Calls For Independent Collusion Inquiry
SF 01/22/07 Adams Raises Collusion Report With British
SF 01/22/07 Dáil Parties Should Act On O'Loan Report
BN 01/22/07 SDLP Calls For Resignation Of Inspectorate
RT 01/22/07 Survey On US Attitudes To Irish Business Costs
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0122/breaking11.htm
Collusion: Catalogue Of Murder
The following are victims of killings allegedly linked to a
RUC informant.
----
Sharon McKeena
Sharon McKenna - A 27-year-old single Catholic taxi driver
from Newtownabbey, north of Belfast.
She was shot dead by two UVF men while visiting a
Protestant friend, a pensioner recently released from
hospital, in his Shore Road home in north Belfast on
January 17th, 1993.
She was in his home cooking him dinner when she was killed.
She was shot twice at close range from a 12-bore shotgun.
----
Gary Convie, Eamon Fox
Two Catholic workmen from Co Armagh who were shot dead by
the UVF at a building site in the loyalist Tiger Bay area
of Belfast on May 17th, 1994.
Eamon Fox
Gary Convie - The UVF claimed the men were republicans but
their family and police said they were murdered because
they were Catholic.
Mr Fox (44)was married with six children.
Mr Convie (24) had a partner and child.
----
Thomas Sheppard
A Protestant shot dead by the UVF in a bar in the Ballee
estate in Ballymena, Co Antrim, on March 21st, 1996.
Thomas Sheppard - The UVF claimed that the 41-year-old
married man from Coleraine, Co Derry, was a police
informer.
He had a criminal record and was known for his UVF links.
His murder followed a number of UVF arrests in the area and
compromised UVF operations.
----
Rev David Templeton
Died of a heart attack on March 24th, 1997, six weeks after
he was beaten at his home in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, by
UVF members with nail-studded clubs.
David Templeton - Rev Templeton (43) had resigned as minister
of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Greyabbey after it was
reported he was stopped by customs officers when returning
from Amsterdam in possession of a gay pornographic
magazine.
----
Billy Harbinson
Found handcuffed and dumped in an alley in the Mount Vernon
area of north Belfast on May 18th, 1997.
The 39-year-old Protestant from Hopewell Avenue was badly
beaten and sustained severe head injuries. Initially police
said there did not appear to be a sectarian or paramilitary
link to his murder, but it later transpired that he was
killed because he was suspected of informing.
----
Raymond McCord jnr
The 22-year-old Protestant former RAF airman was beaten to
death at Ballyduff Quarry, Newtownabbey, by the UVF.
Raymond McCord Jr His killing triggered the Police
Ombudsman's investigation of the police handling of his
murder inquiry, which now has a wider remit of whether
members of RUC Special Branch colluded with X, the man who
allegedly ordered the killing.
----
David Greer
Shot dead in north Belfast by the UVF on October 28th,
2000, during the UDA/UVF loyalist feud of that period. A
21-year-old UDA member from Robena Court, he was gunned
down at Mountcollyer Street. At his funeral Protestant
minister Rev Tom Greer pleaded for an end to the "wanton
bloodletting". But four more died within a week.
----
Tommy English
Shot dead by the UVF on October 31st, 2000. The 39-year-old
was a former senior UDA figure who was later a member of
its political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party.
Tommy English He was killed in retaliation for the earlier
UDA murder that week of Bertie Rice, a member of the UVF-
linked Progressive Unionist Party.
Information compiled from Irish Times Troubles files, Lost
Lives and other newspaper sources.
*************************
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNEYOJEYAU&rss=rss1
Hain Rules Out Public Enquiry Into Collusion
22/01/2007 - 15:47:45
The British government today ruled out calls for a public
inquiry in the North into allegations that Special Branch
officers colluded in covering up murders by loyalist
informers.
Following the release of a damning report by Police
Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan which claimed Special Branch failed
to act against informers in an Ulster Volunteer Force gang
who may have carried out as many as 15 murders, Northern
Secretary Peter Hain said he hoped it would help bring
those responsible to the courts.
However, he rejected calls from the family of Raymond
McCord Jnr - whose 1997 murder on the outskirts of Belfast
sparked the Ombudsman's investigation - for an independent
judicial inquiry into all allegations of collusion.
"I have heard calls for the setting up of a public inquiry
to look into these terrible events," he said.
"There is nothing at all to suggest that such an inquiry
will uncover any new or additional evidence that has not
already been unearthed by the Police Ombudsman during the
painstaking investigation conducted over the past three
years.
"I know that this is a view shared by Nuala O'Loan.
"And of course the work of the HET (the Police Service of
Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team) is ongoing."
Mr Hain said the Ombudsman's report had shone a light on a
dark and murky period in the history of the North, and he
paid tribute to Mrs O'Loan and her team.
"The serious failings that have been exposed within parts
of the RUC Special Branch at the time of the murder of
Raymond McCord Jnr and for a period thereafter cannot be
justified and no-one should attempt to justify them," he
said.
"They should never have happened.
"Those involved - a small number of officers - failed in
their fundamental duty to protect the community.
"That was in marked and stark contrast to the thousands of
courageous RUC men and women who behaved throughout the
most dangerous and difficult times with professionalism and
integrity."
However, the Northern Secretary said it was important to
remember the policing culture in the North has now changed.
"As the report acknowledges, policing in Northern Ireland
has changed radically since the Patten reforms were
implemented and new robust systems are in place to ensure
that the failures of the past will not and cannot be
repeated," he said.
"The Ombudsman's report strengthens and reinforces these.
"Hugh Orde has accepted in full the recommendations where
they relate to the PSNI. Indeed many have already been
implemented
"The failings set out in this report, serious as they were,
lie in the past and should not cloud our view of policing
today where there has been a fundamental reform of police
intelligence gathering and new arrangements established for
the sharing of information across the PSNI."
*************************
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNEYOJGBID&rss=rss1
Sargent Calls For Independent Collusion Inquiry
22/01/2007 - 19:46:47
Green Party leader and spokesperson on the North Trevor
Sargent TD has today responded to the Police Ombudsman's
report into security force collusion in murders in the
North in the 1990s.
"I am calling for an independent inquiry and Dáil debate on
today's report," he said.
"I am also repeating my call for an Anglo-Irish Summit on
the issue of collusion. Tony Blair has expressed 'regret'
about the collusion uncovered in the Ombudsman's report,
but with his Secretary of State Peter Hain simultaneously
moving to rule out an independent public inquiry into the
matter, such words mean little.
"Inevitably, an important question to be addressed is the
impact of O'Loan's findings on the former chief constable,
Ronnie Flanagan, who served in key roles in Belfast, and
with the Special Branch, before taking over the top job in
the RUC.
"Mr Flanagan continues to serve in an extremely sensitive
position, with Britain's Chief Inspectorate of
Constabularies.
"It is the responsibility of all parties to the process to
ensure that the new policing structures guarantee that such
abhorrent acts can never happen again. Lessons must be
learned from this investigation."
*************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/17507
Gerry Adams Raises McCord Collusion Report With British
Government
Published: 22 January, 2007
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Chief Negotiator Martin
McGuinness this afternoon held an urgent meeting with the
British Secretary of State Peter Hain.
Speaking before the meeting Mr. Adams said: "We met the
British secretary of State to discuss with him the issues
raised by the publication of the Ombudsman's report this
morning. We wanted to establish what the British government
is going to do in relation to the demands of bereaved
families."
Commenting on the O Loan report Mr. Adams said:
"The Ombudsman's report confirms what the families of the
hundreds bereaved by collusion between British state forces
and unionist death squads have been saying for years.
"This report is only the tip of the iceberg. It is clear
from the seniority of those involved within the old RUC who
were involved in this investigation that collusion was a
matter of political and administrative practice which
existed at all levels of the RUC and British government.
"The O'Loan report deals with the impact of collusion in a
relatively small area and over a relatively short period of
time. The fact is that collusion effected every part of the
north and cost lives in the 26 counties. It was
the application of brutal state terror against the
nationalist and republican section of our people and it
also led, as in the case of Raymond McCord Jnr, to the
killing of unionist people.
"In recent years Sinn Féin has negotiated significant
accountability mechanisms within policing. On Sunday we
will discuss a leadership motion arguing that Sinn Fein
should move into the policing arrangements in order
to use these mechanisms to hold policing to account. We
need to ensure that no police officer is ever again able to
abuse their position as was done in the past.
"Clearly some of those involved in collusion are still in
policing. Sinn Fein is determined to drum these human
rights abusers out of policing and we are committed to
supporting bereaved relatives in their ongoing search for
truth
"The role of former Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan is now
also in the spotlight as is the failure of the DPP to take
action against identified RUC members and others who were
involved in collusion.
"The Ombudsman report only scraps the surface of collusion.
There are hundreds and hundreds of families who want the
truth. I would urge any family effected to speak to the
Ombudsman's office and seek similar investigations into
their cases.
"Sinn Féin has briefed successive Irish governments of
these serious issues for decades now. Martin McGuinness is
seeking an urgent meeting with the Irish government to
discuss the implications of this report. The Irish
government has a responsibility to defend the rights of
Irish citizens. This means ensuring that there is no place
in policing institutions for those whop orchestrated the
policy of collusion." ENDS
*************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/17502
Responsibility On Dáil Parties To Act On O'Loan Report - Ó
Caoláin
Published: 22 January, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called
for a special Dáil debate on the Six Counties Police
Ombudsman's report published today that identifies
widespread collusion between the RUC and UVF
paramilitaries. The report, which also deals with the
attack on Deputy Ó Caoláin's constituency office in 1997,
should 'serve as a wake-up call for those parties in the
South who ignored the issue of collusion for decades'.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said: "It is almost a year since the
Dáil, with all-party support, passed a motion calling for
an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor
Pat Finucane. Last November, the Oireachtas Justice
Committee described as 'international terrorism' a series
of attacks in the 26 Counties by British-backed loyalist
death squads.
"Today, the Six Counties Police Ombudsman's report exposes
the fact that UVF units in north Belfast and elsewhere
operated virtually as surrogates for RUC officers.
"The Ombudsman's report also finds that the bomb attack on
my own constituency office in Monaghan in 1997 was, as I
have always argued, an example of collusion. No attempt was
made to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
No effort was made to share the intelligence the RUC had
prior to the attack with the Gardaí.
"Ms O'Loan's report identifies a number of senior officers,
including two retired Assistant Chief Constables, seven
Detective Chief Superintendents and two Detective
Superintendents involved in covering up collusion in the
RUC. Referring to the actions of junior RUC officers, Ms
O'Loan states: '...they could not have operated as they did
without knowledge and support at the highest levels of the
RUC/PSNI.'
"The Taoiseach has repeatedly told the Dáil under
questioning from me that there is no necessity for a summit
with the British Government on the specific issue of
collusion. I would ask him if he can maintain this position
in light of the Ombudsman's report and the growing evidence
that collusion between British crown forces and loyalist
death squads was widespread, systematic, deadly, and went
to the top of RUC command.
"As Ms O'Loan points out: 'There is no reason to believe
that the findings of this investigation are isolated.
Indeed given that many of the failings identified in the
course of the investigation were systemic, this is highly
likely and the implications of this are very serious.'
"I would also ask the other political parties in the Dáil,
who backed the call for an independent inquiry into the
murder of Pat Finucane, what they intend to do in the
aftermath of this report and for a special Dáil debate on
the O'Loan report following the resumption. This report
should serve as a wake-up call for those parties in the
South who ignored the issue of collusion for decades."
CRÍOCH
*************************
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNEYOJOJKF&rss=rss1
SDLP Calls For Resignation Of Inspectorate
22/01/2007 - 17:08:12
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said former Chief Constable of the
RUC Ronnie Flanaghan should resign from his new post as
head of the Inspectorate of Constabulary.
The call follows today's publication of the North's Police
Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan into collusion between the Royal
Ulster Constabulary and loyalist paramilitaries.
“He met with the Police Ombudsman’s investigation but was
unable to assist her investigation,” he said.
“So either he was not in control of a dysfunctional
organisation or he knew full well, but kept the truth
hidden.
“In either event, he should not be heading up the
Inspectorate of Constabulary. He should resign.”
*************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0122/business.html?rss
Survey On US Attitudes To Irish Business Costs
22 January 2007 16:26
Almost 75% of US multinationals operating in Ireland said
their international colleagues believe the cost of doing
business here is too expensive, according to a new survey
from the American Chamber of Commerce.
Half of the 55 companies surveyed said it is becoming more
difficult to get additional investment from their parent
company because of a hike in costs over the past two years.
Three quarters say the cost of doing business is the main
factor affecting the development of their business here -
with transport, telecom, energy infrastructure, Government
policies and European policies other considerations.
However, in the short term the outlook for job creation and
investment by US firms remains upbeat with nearly half
expecting to create more jobs over the next year and a
half.
----
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