FRANK McCoubrey, an independent councillor for the Shankill area, yesterday said he felt let down by Lord Justice Nicholson’s decision not to allow John Main out on bail, despite the loyalist politician’s offer to remain with him throughout. Mr Main is charged with attempting to murder police officers and soldiers, possessing a gun and pipe bomb with intent to endanger life, and riotous assembly. Could this be the same John Main who was an assentor for Councillor McCoubrey when he stood in the council elections? Main’s charges relate to the September riots by loyalists, and were recalled by the Chief Constable earlier this week when he told an American audience: “I got feedback from senior republicans behind the scenes saying: ‘We understand what you did, we take no pleasure in the fact that you were shot at and we recognise that you protected our communities but we are incapable or unwilling to say that publicly.'”ADDS: A new report published yesterday by human rights lawyers commission by the Policing Board has also vindicated the PSNI reaction to the riots.
