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October 27, 2005
What future for CRJ after SF accept policing?
Thoughts, prompted by a recent edition of the Politics Show, from the Broom of Anger blog on the role of organisations like Community Restorative Justice after any prospective acceptance of policing by Sinn Fein. Given level playing field Republicans should back police Interesting interview with the South African minister for intelligence Ronnie Kasrils in Daily Ireland. In it he draws parallels between his own party, the ANC, and Sinn Fein. He also urges that party to engage professionally and ethicly once it is satisfied there is a level playing field on policing. The question remains as to how and when the party will read that the playing field to be 'level'. Legislation to effectively pardon 'on the runs' appears to be in train, but acceptance of former paramilitaries in the new police force does not. Following the money... THE controversy over the handling of a PSNI contract has been raising eyebrows of late, including the High Court judge who called for an investigation into alleged corruption. It's so serious, even the DUP's Sammy Wilson wants external investigators too look into matters, a position more favoured by nationalists (but readily explained by the fact that the company owner is a DUP councillor). Paranoia reigns, but with the PSNI investigating itself, will we really find out if there were any backhanders or not? [more] October 21, 2005
Green Party et al seek bandwagon
The Irish Times has a short report noting that Irish government Minister of State in the Dept of Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy told the Dáil that Irish Workers' Party President Sean Garland, currently on bail in Northern Ireland pending extradition proceedings to the US on counterfeit charges, had contacted Irish officials in the intergovernmental secretariat in Belfast since his arrest. [more] October 17, 2005
Fraud squad to investigate police
As I noted previously here, police had initially responded to a High Court judge's call for a criminal investigation into the events which led to a breach of contract by announcing that an independent expert would be appointed to review and report on the process of addressing the issues arising from the case. Today the police appeared to change their minds and, as the BBC report, have stated that the fraud squad will conduct a criminal investigation.. and they will be advised by an external independent expert. Bradley: time for dissidents to 'wrap up their tent' Dennis Bradley, vice Chair of the Policing Board and a victim of a brutal beating in a bar in Derry last month, has called on dissident republicans still on a 'war footing', to pack it in and 'go away'. He has said that he will continue to visit the Brandywell area of the city saying, "I have no intention of staying away from the Brandywell. If other people have a difficulty with that, come and tell me. But don`t get a 16-year-old to use a baseball bat to hit me or anyone else." October 14, 2005
Empey's empty threat?
So, the UUP leader Reg Empey has threatened to boycott the NI Policing Board should Secretary of State, Peter Hain, appoint two independent members to the positions which would otherwise be taken by Sinn Féin representatives, arguing that "This is a crisis in the making, we will not serve on a quango.". Hmm.. there are some problems with that statement, and potentially with any attempt to replace SF appointees with independents. The first one being, technically, it's already a quango. [more] October 13, 2005
Criminal investigation V Independent report
The Policing Board, to be reconstituted in April, is said to be seeking an urgent report from the chief constable after a High Court judgement which could cost the public £1 million. That's in contrast with the criminal investigation into alleged corruption which the Belfast High Court judge in the breach of contract case had called for. [more] October 10, 2005
Manchester businessman denies link to Thomas Murphy
As noted previously, The Sunday Times' initial report on the ARA/CAB investigation predicted an absence of a paper trail directly connected to Thomas 'Slab' Murphy. At a press conference today, one of the two businessmen whose homes and offices were raided in Manchester, Dermot Craven, said "I have never met this man, spoken to him or carried out any business dealings with him. There is no connection with Thomas Murphy." However, he admitted he has met, spoken with and done business with Thomas Murphy's brother Frank. [more] October 08, 2005
Irish Workers Party president facing extradition to US
Back in 1996 the US General Accounting Office discussed efforts to combat international counterfeiting of US currency, in particular the high quality counterfeit known as the superdollar. Last year the BBC's Panorama programme alleged that Sean Garland President of the Irish Worker's Party [formerly the Official IRA] was involved in its distribution in an investigation which highlighted North Korea's, and the former Soviet Union's, involvement in the operation. On Friday, at the party's ard fheis in Belfast, he was arrested, and today has been released on bail pending his potential extradition to the US on counterfeiting charges. October 07, 2005
Softly, softly, catchy provie..?
ARE thse nasty old securocrats sticking the boot in?! After the indignity of seeing one senior IRA leader (Retd.) splashed all over the papers today, it looks like another - the man believed by some to be the mastermind behind the Northern Bank raid - will be making headlines tomorrow. Did the State wait until they had the IRA in the bag before a crackdown on alleged republican criminality? Sinn Fein must back the police... Dermot Ahern has been speaking at the SDLP's seminar on cross border co-operation. Amongst other things he has called for Sinn Fein to give its support to the police in advance of going to see Dennis Bradley, vice Chair of the Policing Board. Raids took place in Manchester and Dundalk While Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy defends the reputation of the multi-millionaire farmer from County Louth, the BBC name him, Thomas Murphy, as the UK's richest smuggler on their Underworld Rich List - as running an oil and cigarette smuggling empire - and the Irish Times reports that, in addition to the Assets Recovery Agency raids in Manchester we noted yesterday, the Criminal Assets Bureau raided 7 properties in Dundalk [more] October 06, 2005
ARA searches properties in Manchester
The Sunday Times reported the inquiry, by the Criminal Assets Bureau, into a property portfolio in Manchester, at the start of the week, pointing out that there was likely to be an absence of a paper trail back to the suspected target of the inquiry, Thomas [Slab] Murphy - who lost a libel case against the Sunday Times in 1998 after The Sunday Times revealed his involvement in IRA bombing campaigns in Britain. Today the BBC are reporting that raids have taken place in Manchester connected to that inquiry. The Assets Recovery Agency have released a short statement on their inquiry into a property portfolio they estimate is worth £30million. [more] October 05, 2005
Northern Ireland's culture of caution
Malachi O'Doherty has moved to the Irish Times for an occasional contribuion. He kicks off today with a quote from Slugger (subs needed). Or rather one of our commenters remarks on the assault on Denis Bradley: "I have to say that I condemn the attack, but from a man of Bradley's intelligence, I would ask what was he doing there in the first place." [more] September 30, 2005
Garda coming to a PSNI station near you
Officers of the Garda Síochána will be serving in Northern Ireland within weeks in non-operational posts and PSNI Officers will be serving in the Republic with an aim to bestow full police powers and operational roles on both next year. Considering both the Garda Síochána and PSNI are currently engaged in recruitment drives with the former recently having an advert in the Belfast Telegraph stating "serve your community and make a difference." is it not time to address the Irish language requirement for the Garda Síochána? Is it not after all a mockery that you will presumably be able to serve in the Republic as a PSNI Officer on secondment without the Irish language requirement yet be unable to apply directly to the Garda Síochána? [more] September 22, 2005
IMC report on UVF/LVF published
So, just to confirm what was already understood, the sixth IMC report has been made public [pdf file], dealing specifically with the UVF and LVF activities during this summer which resulted in the government re-specifying the UVF, although it's worth remembering that it was a decision that Peter Hain took only after the recent rioting, but not on receiving the IMC report.. before the rioting, - and it's a decision [and report] that doesn't include the UDA. [more] September 21, 2005
ASA freezes South Armagh assets
The Assets Recovery Agency as been criticised for going after loyalists and widows only. It seems that has changed with the seizure some substantial assets in Camlough, Newry and Warrenpoint. Press release below: [more] Vice-Chairman of Policing Board attacked The vice-chairman of the Policing Board, Denis Bradley, was attacked last night, while watching a football match in a bar in Derry with his son, by a masked man wielding what has been described as a cut-down baseball bat. The reality, and ongoing problem, is that certain groups continue to believe they can commit such attacks with impunity. Btw, the only arrest, so far, is for disorderly behaviour in relation to the attacks on police investigating the assault. September 18, 2005
The Northern Bank robbery - it hasn't gone away
We'll have to wait until Thursday to actually see the Channel 4 Dispatches investigation into The Big Heist - as they refer to the Northern Bank robbery - an investigation carried out by journalist and author Kevin Toolis. But several of the Sunday papers carry reports on the allegations contained in the programme - Sunday Times, Sunday Independent, Sunday Business Post and the Sunday Life. Interestingly they each focus on slightly different aspects of the programme. [more] September 15, 2005
Further riots in Belfast
Following a series of searches and arrests earlier today, and arrests during the disruption to traffic from road blocks, further rioting has broken out in north Belfast tonight. Although seemingly not on the scale of previous nights, there is one line, in particular, I want to highlight in the BBC report, and it was part of the report before the rioting started Police cleared many protests off main roads, but were told they faced paramilitary attack if they tried to move women and children protesters.The featured interview in today's Belfast Telegraph, although anonymous, is an even more interesting read when those threats are taken into consideration. September 14, 2005
"aggressive and arrogant"
That's the Grand Master of the Orange Order, Robert Saulters verdict on the three nights of violence. Good to see a recognition of the problem from that source.. Eh? He wasn't referring to the rioters?.. he was referring to the police?!? *sheesh* and he thinks the Order are blameless?!? *sheesh* [again] Oh, and I'll just draw your attention to this snippet at the end of the BBC report - The North and West Belfast Parades and Cultural Forum, a loyalist umbrella group, blamed the trouble on the government and the Parades Commission and said further actions "are being planned by our community".Sorry. No time for dessert, Mr Hain.. violence does not pay.. According to Peter Hain, that is.. After months, and months, and months, of dithering, Secretary of State Peter Hain has formally [eventually? - Ed] accepted that the UVF ceasefire is non-existent, a move he described last week as a quick procedural fix.. of course, it would be more than procedural if it was followed up by arrests and charges against members of said specified organisations.. but that would require Peter Hain et al to be on the side of law and order.. ANYway.. he has a dinner to attend.. In the meantime his "door is open to loyalist representatives to find out what their agenda is".. sheesh. Update Sort of.. Here's Peter Hain's statement September 12, 2005
the abdication of responsibility
The coverage of US special envoy to NI, Mitchell Reiss's comments on the weekend violence has focused, understandably, on his criticism of unionist political leaders, or rather "the abdication of responsibility by many unionist political leaders". But his other comments are equally noteworthy - "No political party, and certainly no responsible political leadership, deserves to serve in a government unless it cooperates and supports fully and unconditionally the police, and calls on its supporters to do so. After refusing to specify the UVF and LVF during the long summer months of continuing assassinations, attacks and general criminality.. our part-share Secretary of State, Peter Hain, has signalled that a quick procedural fix is required. Of course, it could just be a case of being seen to do something.. after the fact, that is.. but let's not neglect what was arguably one reason for his reluctance to act. As Gonzo noted previously, there is a September 11, 2005
a more responsible line?
There are a couple of threads already up on the violence in Belfast and elsewhere last night, but it's worth highlighting the comments today of Chief Constable Hugh Orde, whose officers came under sustained attack from petrol bombs, blast bombs and gunfire, as reported here by the BBC.. and the reaction from the Orange Order to those comments. [more] September 10, 2005
Policing plan confirmed...
AS predicted on Slugger, the Government has said it is to introduce "community support officers" to Northern Ireland, and has ruled out people with terrorist convictions joining the police. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how Sinn Fein reacts to them, and how its position evolves. Are locally-recruited community police units the vehicles that will eventually take republicans into policing? September 07, 2005
Hain dithers over decision on UVF After yesterday's IMC ad hoc report on the non-existent cease-fires, and a meeting today with SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Peter Hain's comments, no official press release yet, are reported by the BBC and more fully by the Press Association, "My concern is to stop the murder and this awful violence which has just stained communities in Belfast and elsewhere. You do not necessarily do that by quick procedural fixes." - At the risk of repeating myself.. again.. a quick-fix??? September 06, 2005
Will Hain actually do anything?
UTV are reporting that the IMC have confirmed to Secretary of State, Peter Hain, who seems to be back from his holidays, that the UVF were responsible for 4 murders over the summer months.. as I've been noting over those same summer months, this shouldn't be any surprise to Hain as the IMC have been saying that "the UVF remained active and violent and that it continued to be involved in organised crime" for some time.. whether Hain will finally respond by specifying that organistion is another matter. Two reports on the recent rioting in Belfast may suggest otherwise. [more] September 02, 2005
Orde says no to Provo Police...
CHIEF Constable Hugh Orde and Policing Board chairman Des Rea both insisted yesterday that people with terrorist convictions will not be allowed to join the police. |
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