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February 20, 2007

Collusion Debate Next To Policing Conference

News About Ireland & The Irish

BT 02/20/07 Collusion Debate Next To Policing Conference
SF 02/20/07 Sinn Féin Support Truth Recovery
SF 02/20/07 SF Offers Chance To Advance Peace Process
BN 02/20/07 Durkan Challenges Brits On Devolution
BT 02/20/07 DUP Decommission Bus, While Reg Nurtures Talent
BN 02/20/07 Assembly Tories 'Will Designate As Unionists'
BB 02/20/07 Irish Exempt From Prisoner Plans
BB 02/20/07 Politicians Under Web Spotlight
BN 02/20/07 Co Cork Chef Convicted Of IRA Membership
BT 02/20/07 Anthem Row Strikes A Sour Note
BT 02/16/07 Feature: Day Five - The Victims
RT 02/20/07 Marian Finucane's Son Recovering After Attack
RT 02/20/07 JFK Pre-Assassination Footage Released

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2287474.ece

Collusion Debate Held Next To International Policing
Conference

[Published: Tuesday 20, February 2007 - 08:39]

Campaigners highlighting collusion between the police and
loyalists in Northern Ireland are staging a debate on the
issue next door to a prestigious international policing
conference in Belfast.

Police officers from around the world will be in the
Waterfront Hall while in a hotel within a hundred yards,
the families of some of those affected will be demanding
justice.

Collusion, according to the campaigners, is the "Elephant
in the Room" the prestigious policing conference next door
won't be discussing.

The relatives involved include Geraldine Finucane, widow of
murdered solicitor, Pat, and Raymond McCord whose questions
prompted the recent explosive Ombudsman's report.

Also involved is Alan Brecknell, whose English father was
murdered in a gun and bomb attack on a bar in south Armagh
31 years ago.

The debate is co-sponsored by the Northern Ireland's main
human rights campaign groups along with Justice for the
Forgotten representing the relatives of the Dublin/Monaghan
bombings.

© Belfast Telegraph

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http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/17914

Sinn Féin Support Truth Recovery

Published: 20 February, 2007

Commenting on remarks made by the Chairperson of the
Policing Board Des Rea regarding dealing with the past,
Sinn Féin Foyle Representative Raymond McCartney, who is
attending a Policing Conference in the Waterfront Hall,
said:

"Des Rea has not called for a Truth Commission as reported
by some sections of the media. What he has done is repeat a
call he made before the publication of the Corey Report for
a consultation into dealing with the past. Given the timing
just after the O'Loan Report people will be sceptical of
the motivation behind his intervention.

"However on the broader issue Sinn Féin are for Truth
Recovery. We have published proposals on this. We believe
that any process must be victim centred. It must not be
controlled or directed by the British government who are
one of the combatant groups.. It must have an international
dimension. And if we get to that point there must be full
participation by all on an equal basis, including the
British State." ENDS

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http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/17915

Sinn Féin Offer Chance For Voters In North Down To Advance
Peace Process

Published: 20 February, 2007

Sinn Féin Representative in North Down Deaglan Page today
said that his party was offering voters in the constituency
the chance to endorse their record in the Peace Process, in
local communities and across the island.

Mr Page said:

"Sinn Féin is the only all-Ireland party standing in this
election in North Down. We offer a vision of a United and
Independent country. We make no apology's for that.

"A vote for Sinn Féin is a vote endorsing our record in the
Peace Process over the past 15 years. It is also a vote for
a party which has a track record of delivering locally,
nationally and internationally.

"Sinn Féin is seeking to lay down a marker here in North
Down for future electoral battles. There are no no-go areas
for Sinn Féin. We are confident in our message and in our
strategy to get us there. We are prepared to discuss and
debate the future of this island with anyone. That is why
we are standing in all 18 constituencies in this election.

"We have been out canvassing in the constituency and there
is a real sense that people want to see the political
institutions put back in place and see local politicians
tackling issues like Water Charges, Rates increases and
cuts in Health and Education. There can be no room for
further excuses from the DUP." ENDS

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNIDIDKFSN&rss=rss1

Durkan Challenges British Government To Proceed With
Devolution

20/02/2007 - 12:02:59

The SDLP leader has challenged the British government to go
ahead and devolve power next month irrespective of whether
or not the DUP and Sinn Féin agree to share power.

Mark Durkan was speaking at the party's assembly candidates
launch in Belfast.

Mr Durkan claimed the DUP were cooking up what he called a
'plan C' that is neither the Northern Assembly's devolution
or dissolution.

"They're ignoring the British government's deadline of
March 26," he said. "They hear it but they sneer at it,
wanting yet more negotiations."

"If the two governments devolved anyway, it would put it up
to the DUP to share power. Failing that everyone would know
who was to blame."

Hitting out at Sinn Féin, he said: "It only cared about its
own interests, not the people's."

"The SDLP listens instead of boasting or preaching."

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/article2287514.ece

DUP Decommission A Bus, While Sir Reg Nurtures Fresh Talent

[Published: Tuesday 20, February 2007 - 09:09]
Analysis by Noel McAdam

A major part of the DUP election machine has gone off the
road. For the party's famous battle bus has been busted.

Many a traditional route the bedecked single decker has
taken in campaigns past.

And who could forget the famous fuss-on-the-bus when
travelling DUP-ers landed right outside Ulster Unionist HQ?

But now, like significant sections of the deal which could
eventually mean devolution, it has been parked.

Party sources deny that for leader Ian Paisley and others
the novelty of the Big Bus Coming To Town has worn off.

"You should never be too predictable in your elections,"
one senior candidate said.

"And we have other things we want to spend the money on."

Never one to miss a quip, SDLP leader Mark Durkan found
himself applying the old often-used adage that elections
aren't beauty contests.

"Having seen some of our posters, we should be grateful for
that," he said.

Sir Reg Empey could have been accused of shamelessly
seeking the youth vote with a squad of youngsters running
round his party's manifesto launch at the Waterfront Hall.

But in fact it was half-term and some Ulster Unionist
candidates and party workers, including a grandad or two,
had no alternative but to bring the kiddies.

Some, already showing political skills - shouting, running
and refusing to ask questions - could soon be candidates
themselves.

As Campaign Craic disclosed last week, the DUP broke all
land-speed records when it changed the venue for a party
press breakfast, after it was discovered that a cross-
dressers' conference was sharing the same original
location.

Deputy leader Peter Robinson wanted no dirty linen in
public.

"It was bad enough being accused by opponents of trying to
steal David Trimble's clothes," he said. "We didn't want to
be accused of stealing Daphne's as well."

Mr Robinson is something of an old romantic.

The DUP director of elections gently scolded assembled
party colleagues and media figures that he hoped they had
greeted their wives first thing on Valentine's Day with
roses.

Had he? "Two dozen," said Iris, beaming.

It's not unusual for politicians to come on keen about
grants. In fact, they tend to be one of those topics that
makes them most enthusiastic.

Gerry Adams, however, may be breaking new ground in
suggesting the Government should fund an Ian Paisley
interpretative centre.

To help, he said, "make sense of the ambiguous indications
from the DUP about whether they will share power with
republicans".

It would, of course, be in bad taste to add, 'boom, boom'
to such a snappy line.

© Belfast Telegraph

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6377037.stm

Irish Exempt From Prisoner Plans

Most Irish nationals are to be exempt from plans to deport
foreign prisoners from Britain, the government has said.

Since last April, all nationals from European Economic Area
countries jailed for two years or more in the UK have been
considered for deportation.

This has led to deportation action against a number of
Irish nationals.

However, on Monday UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne
announced an exception for Irish citizens due to Britain's
close ties with the Republic.

"Irish citizens will only be considered for deportation
where a court has recommended deportation in sentencing or
where the secretary of state concludes, due to the
exceptional circumstances of the case, the public interest
requires deportation," Mr Byrne said.

Irish prisoners whose cases are not considered exceptional,
whose sentences have expired and who are currently in
custodial detention awaiting deportation will be released
over the next week.

The Irish minister for foreign affairs, Dermot Ahern, has
welcomed the announcement.

"Following discussions between the two governments, this is
a very satisfactory result, which reflects the close ties
between our peoples, the Common Travel Area and the
excellent state of relations between both Governments.

"This will come as a great relief to individual prisoners
and their families," Mr Ahern said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2007/02/19 17:58:11 GMT
© BBC MMVII

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=CWSNIDQLAUGB&rss=rss1

Assembly Tories 'Will Designate As Unionists'

19/02/2007 - 16:00:32

Conservative Party members in the North will designate
themselves as unionists if elected to the Assembly, David
Cameron revealed today.

He arrived in the seaside town of Bangor to boost the
North's Tories' bid for their first Assembly seat. Mr
Cameron said that while the party was very much in favour
of the United Kingdom, it wanted to break away from the
tired divided politics of the province.

Mr Cameron was responding to a challenge from Ulster
unionist leader Reg Empey to state if Conservatives would
designate themselves at Stormont as unionist or non-
aligned.

“The Conservative Party is the strongest supporter of the
United Kingdom and in all parts of the United Kingdom
remaining within the United Kingdom,” he said.

“I think that obviously the Ulster Unionists are rattled
and rather desperate from what they were saying today and I
think that speaks volumes.

“Of course it is up to the candidate to decide what to do.
Having spoken to our candidates I am very sure if they have
to designate they will designate themselves as unionist.

“Of course they will. But you know, we ought to be getting
away from this whole idea that you have to designate, that
you have to be so sectarian in approach.

“One of the reasons we are standing is to say to people in
Northern Ireland politics doesn’t have to be like this. It
should be about the quality of your school, the quality of
your hospitals, the choice you get in public services,
supporting the rule of law, backing the free enterprise
system.

“That is what politics ought to be about instead of
designating what sort of politician you are going to be
when you’re walking through Parliament’s doors.”

The Conservative leader visited a doctor’s surgery in
Bangor along with his Northern Ireland spokesperson David
Livington and the party’s Assembly candidate in North Down,
James Leslie.

Mr Leslie is a former Ulster Unionist junior minister in
the last Stormont power sharing government who defected to
the Tories last year.

Earlier Reg Empey said it would be nonsense for the Tories
as a party of the union to designate themselves at Stormont
as a non-aligned party as their 2003 Assembly Election
manifesto suggested.

The Ulster Unionist leader also strongly rejected claims
that designating as unionist was a sectarian move, arguing
instead that unionism embraced all religions and ethnic
groups.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6377221.stm

Politicians Under Web Spotlight

Northern Ireland's politicians are to be grilled later on
their plans for the future.

Members of the DUP, UUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance will
be taking questions in a BBC News Interactive election
webcast from 1500 GMT.

Many questions have been sent in by internet users for the
politicians, ranging from education to water rates.

There is still time to raise the issues which matter to you
with the panel, before Northern Ireland voters go to the
polls on 7 March.

To ask a question, simply fill out the form below, enter
your details and press submit.

Then watch the webcast live from 1500 GMT on the BBC
Northern Ireland news website and the Vote 2007 website.
After that it will be available to watch on demand.

Go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6377221.stm

To ask your questions

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2007/02/20 10:45:16 GMT
© BBC MMVII

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http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0220/bullmand.html?rss

Co Cork Chef Convicted Of IRA Membership

Tuesday, 20 February 2007 13:40

A 32-year-old chef from Co Cork has been convicted of
membership of an illegal organisation by the Special
Criminal Court.

Don Bullman from Fernwood Crescent in Wilton, was arrested
during a garda investigation into IRA money laundering
after the 2004 Northern Bank robbery.

He was found with a washing powder box with over €94,000
inside it, after he was arrested outside Hueston Station in
Dublin in February 2005.

He has been remanded on bail until sentencing on 14 March.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2287476.ece

Anthem Row Strikes A Sour Note

[Published: Tuesday 20, February 2007 - 08:42]
By Bryan Gray

The arrival of the England rugby team in Dublin this
weekend has sparked a heated debate over the playing of God
Save The Queen at GAA headquarters.

Saturday's Six Nations international between Ireland and
England at Croke Park will carry added significance for
many beyond the usual fierce sporting rivalry.

Following the inaugural match with France, the clash will
be the first time a UK 'home' nation has played rugby at
Croke Park.

The presence of England will also ensure that God Save The
Queen will be played at the venue prior to kick-off for the
very first time.

The issue is already the source of highly charged debate.
One former Kerry player has demanded a collection of all-
Ireland medals belonging to him and his late father be
removed from the GAA museum in protest.

JJ Barrett, who won the title with his county in 1962,
believes the English should forego the playing of God Save
The Queen as a reciprocal gesture in response to Ireland's
alternative anthem, Ireland's Call.

The ground itself has direct links to the violent history
between the two nations. Hill 16, the stadium's terrace,
was originally constructed from the rubble of Dublin city
centre following the 1916 Easter Rising.

The Hogan Stand is named after Tipperary footballer Michael
Hogan, one of 14 civilians killed in 1920 by British
Auxiliaries inside the ground in an event now referred to
as 'Bloody Sunday'.

God Save The Queen has been played at previous Ireland-
England games at Lansdowne Road, now closed for significant
redevelopment.

The GAA has been at pains to point out it has "no issues
whatsoever" with the playing of the anthem. When contacted
by the Belfast Telegraph, an Ulster GAA Council spokesman
said the matter was an "issue for Croke Park".

Former Irish rugby international turned peacemaker, Trevor
Ringland, believes respect for the formalities prior to the
game will send out a significant message.

He said: "Aside from the fact that it is procedure before
rugby matches, if we're looking at what people voted for in
1998, this is all about a maturing of the relationship
between the peoples of these islands.

"Through acceptance, we are recognising that Irishness
accepts Britishness and Britishness accepts Irishness.

"It is a step towards reconciliation and will be an
important gesture."

Mr Ringland believes the controversy is clouding the
occasion but did not hold back when referring to the small
matter of the game itself.

"Having shown tolerance to our English counterparts, I then
hope we get stuck into them."

UTV sports pundit and Belfast Telegraph columnist, Adrian
Logan, who is familiar with Croke Park, said he expected
the Irish to treat their visitors with the typical
hospitality shown to guests.

"If you invite a guest into a room, you show them courtesy
and respect. I hope this will prevail on Saturday.

"The Irish National Anthem is played at Twickenham so I do
not see a problem. I just hope when the formalities are
over, we can give them a good whipping!" he said.

Shoud the anthem be played? We asked people on the streets

WHEN the Belfast Telegraph took to the streets of Belfast,
we found views sharply divided over the controversy of
playing God Save The Queen at Croke Park.

On the Falls Road in west Belfast many people spoke of
their difficulties.

Feargal Mac Ionnrarchtaigh (25) a GAA fanatic, believes the
anthem issue is very "contentious" given the history of the
arena. He said: "The abolition of Rule 41 to allow other
sports to be played at Croke Park was a controversial but
practical decision. However, the anthem issue is more
controversial. I would be very wary of the consequences of
the anthem being played. There is a certain history
attached to Croke Park. The actual words of the anthem are
inappropriate I think, because of the history and the
past."

Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhein (24) has difficulty with the match
itself. He said: "Given the fact there are not normal
relations between the two countries, I have major
difficulties, given the words of the anthem and the
associated history."

Caroline Nolan (42) from west Belfast called for an
alternative anthem for the English team given the
circumstances. She said: "In the interests of fairness and
recognition of the new era, they could possibly come up
with a compromise along the lines of Ireland's Call."

Aodhan O'Conghaile (30) a keen rugby player from Holywood,
believes it is time to move beyond the petty arguments. He
said: "I think we should give England the same courtesy we
give to any other visiting country. It's only fitting that
we do it. It's time we moved on given everything that's
gone on in the past."

Thomas McDonnell (43) from Springhill was forthright in his
opinion that God Save The Queen should not be played. He
said: "Plain and simple, it should not be played at any
Irish ground."

Unsurprisingly in east Belfast there was more support for
the playing of God Save The Queen. Jim Henderson (67) from
the Ravenhill Road said: "If the Ireland team went to
England, the Irish anthem would be played. Likewise with
the French and the Italians when they go to Croke Park. I
think it's time we forget about the past and just get on
with it."

Matthew McNeice (64) from the Newtownards Road, who worked
as a labourer at Croke Park many years ago, believes the
matter will cause conflict. He said: "I reckon if they do
play it, there will be trouble. Look at what happened
during the last football international at Lansdowne Road,
when the game had to be abandoned."

Jackie Blair (58) from the Ravenhill area wondered what all
the controversy was about. She said: "It doesn't matter
what other country is playing, the national anthem of that
country is played before the competition starts. Why
shouldn't it be?"

Ellen Murphy (59) from the Ballygowan Road said: "I don't
really care, it does not worry me. Life is too short and
there are more problems we should be focusing on. I have no
qualms at all."

Gordon Morrow (60) from Gilnahirk looked forward to the
move being reciprocated on this side of the border. He
said: "I think it is great to see it. People should not be
worried about where national anthems are played. It is a
means of welcoming people to your country and we need to
accept that. I personally look forward to seeing and
hearing the Soldier's Song at Windsor Park in the future."

Clark Caughey (20) a student from the Sydenham area
believed the matter was peripheral to the main event. He
said: "God Save The Queen is England's National Anthem so
there should not be a problem with it. People should just
accept it and get on with their lives."

© Belfast Telegraph

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/features/daily-features/article2275596.ece

Feature: Day Five - The Victims

[Published: Friday 16, February 2007 - 14:16]

In September 1981, Michael Paterson was aged 24, newly
married and an RUC officer, when he lost both arms in an
IRA rocket attack in Belfast which also killed a colleague.
Now, he's a top psychologist who treats former security
forces personnel traumatised by horrific experiences during
the Troubles. Here, Dr Paterson (49), who lives in Belfast
with wife Hazel and children Natalie (19), Soraya (17),
Tamsin (14) and Byron (10), tells Judith Cole why he's not
bitter about what happened

I had only been in the police for two and a half years when
my career came to an abrupt end in an IRA attack that
killed my colleague and left me seriously injured.

On September 28, 1981, I was on mobile patrol in west
Belfast when our Land Rover was hit by an RPG 7 rocket. My
colleague, Alex Beck, was killed. I lost both my arms and
one leg was smashed up. I hadn't been afraid of anything
happening to me - I wouldn't have joined the police
otherwise. Incidents like that happened to other people.

I'd had friends who were in the police and who enjoyed
their work immensely, but when I talked about joining at
the age of 18 my mother said 'Oh no, you'll be killed', so
I didn't.

Terrible shock

By the time I was 21, I'd decided that I would just go
ahead and do what I wanted ... I should have listened to my
mother!

Of course, the attack was a terrible shock for her. It
happened just before 10.30am, My wife, who I had married
just three weeks earlier, was told around lunch time, and
my mother was told early afternoon. I regained
consciousness at 6.20pm and was in good form.

I knew at the scene of the incident that I'd lost both
arms, and when I came round in hospital I could see my leg
was in traction. I knew I'd fractured my femur, because as
I sat in the Land Rover my left foot was turned in at right
angles - I knew from First Aid training that meant the
femur was broken.

To rebuild my arms, one was fitted with a prosthetic, and
the other with a hi-tech hook device attached just below
the elbow.

Our four children, who were born after the incident, have
never known any different. They just know me as dad. One of
my children was asked by a school friend 'What happened to
your daddy's hands?'. 'Oh, he lost them in a bomb,' she
said very matter of factly.

I suppose I was always a positive person and over the
course of the following year, as I recovered, I thought
about what I would be able to do. In 1981, I began studying
for two A levels, and then went to the University of
Ulster, graduating with a first class honours degree in
psychology in 1987.

After that, I completed a PhD at Queen's University,
Belfast, in 1990. I worked for a year as a government
statistician before studying for another doctorate in order
to become a clinical psychologist. I had a special interest
in the trauma suffered by policemen and women in the line
of duty, and a deep desire to help these people.

I trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR), a specialised treatment for trauma, and began
practising in 1998. I work with police officers, ex-
military personnel and civilians who have been traumatised
in the Troubles.

It was through EMDR that I was finally able to let go of my
own trauma, 17 years after the incident I was caught up in.
Although I never suffered post- traumatic stress, the
impact of the event had become locked within my central
nervous system. I had some images which were still vivid
and uncomfortable, and I had a huge knot in my stomach when
I spoke about the incident. But, because of EMDR, these
feelings have left me.

Vision

I'm now seen as an expert in EMDR and have travelled to the
USA to train other psychologists. Some years ago, I met the
psychiatrist Dr Paul Miller and shared with him the vision
I had: to use my skills to help more people than I could
manage on my own. He had a similar vision, and so we
invited others to work with us and established our
organisation, TMR Health Professionals.

During the course of my job, I've worked with former police
officers and combat veterans who have suffered all kinds of
trauma. Usually, in a case in which a person has
experienced single trauma, three sessions suffice to get
them through it. For multi incident trauma, on the other
hand, 12 sessions might be needed.

Major psychological trauma can occur when people are
exposed to an event in which there has been threat to
themselves or others, and the response has involved fear,
helplessness or horror. They could have been involved in
the event themselves, or they could have witnessed it.

And it doesn't have to be visual - someone who has seen
dead bodies can persistently see, hear or smell what they
have experienced. Someone I treated had a memory of their
child dying in a fire and the child's screams were haunting
him.

Some people have nightmares about what happened or
'dissociative flashbacks' in which they feel they're
physically back in the traumatic situation.

Others can experience numbness: a former police officer I
saw told me that when his daughter was going off to
university he felt it was like saying goodbye to a
stranger. Even though he loved her dearly, he felt numb.

There can be avoidance of different things which are a
reminder of the trauma. I've worked with former police
officers who avoid passing police cars in the street or
going to shopping centres because they know there will be
ex-colleagues there.

Bomb blasts

One particular policeman had an aversion to Christmas.

In the early days of the Troubles, he had been involved in
a number of bomb blasts which, in the early 1970s, occurred
on a regular basis, resulting in scenes of death and
destruction.

Because of the type of explosive that was used at that
time, an almond smell was released into the air. The
officer made the association between that smell and his
wife putting marzipan on her Christmas cake. That turned
him off Christmas cake, which is associated with Christmas,
and so Christmas then became associated with bombs.

Some people have lost limbs, which can be horrific in
itself.

But the worst thing is when they perceive the attack to
have been personal. In my case, the attack was against the
police vehicle; it wasn't against me personally. But the
trauma suffered by those who had a gunman coming to their
door to shoot them, or a bomb placed under their car, has a
much bigger impact.

Another area I work on is the helplessness and
vulnerability experienced by those who see themselves as
defective because they weren't able to save a friend.

This impacts on the person's sense of who they are, and I
have worked with police officers who felt helplessness
where they couldn't save a colleague, or who experienced a
sense of vulnerability when they were under fire.

I feel privileged to be able to do something positive to
help others and it's very challenging and fulfilling work.

Although I'm not bitter about what happened to me, because
I've put it behind me, I was put to the test in 2002 when I
was invited to the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Co
Wicklow, as a psychologist supporting those with a security
forces background. There were former republican and
loyalist prisoners there, and I had the opportunity to tell
my story and to listen to others'.

Security

I became more involved with the centre and went on a trip
to South Africa with a group of prisoners and people with a
security forces background. We camped for five days in the
bush, which created some very interesting situations.
During the night a fire was lit and someone stood guard to
deter wild animals. It meant that at some point a former
loyalist prisoner was standing guard protecting me, or a
former republican prisoner, or a former prison officer -
who had guarded republican and loyalist prisoners - was now
being guarded by ex-prisoners.

Barriers were broken down and we started to see each other
as individuals rather than ideologies. We were speaking to
people on first name terms and got to like them as people,
while not necessarily agreeing with their ideologies.

Another aspect of my work has been completing a pilot
project during the past two years in the Northern Health
Board area in which we placed link workers in GP practices
to treat trauma relating to the Troubles.

This was funded by the board's trauma advisory panel and is
now being seen as an example of best practice.

People traumatised by the Troubles were identified by GPs
and referred them to a therapist, and it was discovered
that as a result the patients were using less prescription
medication and generally had improved health.

Direction

I believe that the situation in Northern Ireland is moving
in the right direction - but not fast enough for my liking.
The politicians are playing cat and mouse - but it is
progressing, which is positive.

Some people I've spoken to with a security forces
background found it very difficult to see Martin McGuinness
as Minister for Education, responsible for their children,
and Bairbre de Brun as minister responsible for their
health and that of their families. Some were angry about
it, while others said it was a bitter pill to swallow - but
they were able to do it.

I thought that if it was the price of progress, so be it.

We will certainly keep our trauma speciality going - there
will always be people suffering trauma, whether Troubles-
related, or other types of trauma like fear of flying,
anxiety disorders or depression.

Clearly, there are many stories still untold. Some people
certainly want to be heard and be recognised, and if their
stories could be a matter of public record it could be very
powerful.

For more information on TMR Health Professionals, tel: 9066
1110 or visit www.trauma-stress.co.uk

© Belfast Telegraph

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http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0220/clarkej.html?rss

Finucane's Son Recovering After Attack

Tuesday, 20 February 2007 10:54

The son of Marian Finucane is understood to be recovering
at home after three men broke into the RTÉ broadcaster's Co
Kildare home yesterday and assaulted him.

20-year-old Jack Clarke was beaten up at the family home in
Kilteel, just outside Naas, in the early hours of yesterday
morning.

It is believed the men were unarmed but they remained in
the house for up to an hour before fleeing on foot with a
small amount of cash and two mobile phones.

Mr Clarke received treatment for head injuries and bruising
at Naas General Hospital but was discharged last night.

The break-in happened just hours after Ms Finucane had left
the country on holiday.

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http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0220/jfk.html?rss

JFK Pre-Assassination Footage Released

Tuesday, 20 February 2007 11:51

Forty seconds of film shot moments before President John F
Kennedy's assassination has been released by a museum in
Dallas.

The silent 8mm footage, shot by amateur photographer George
Jefferies, shows a close up of Jacqueline Kennedy in vivid
colour waving to the crowd.

It also reveals the president's overcoat bunching up while
riding in the motorcade. Conspiracy theorists often point
out that the bullet wounds in his body and coat do not
match.

The film was donated by Mr Jefferies and his son-in-law
Wayne Graham to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas.

Curator Gary Mack says this film offers the best view of
Mrs Kennedy in the motorcade he has ever seen. It was taken
90 seconds before the shots were fired.

President Kennedy's assassination in 1963 inspired a long
list of conspiracy theories - and the Hollywood movie JFK -
which speculate he was killed by his own government, the
'military-industrial complex', the Mafia or communist Cuba.

The Sixth Floor Museum made the footage available on its
website. http://www.jfk.org/ (Poster’s Note: Click the pic
to see the film.)

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