4 March 2004 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Northern News

Nuala O'Loan

Nuala O'Loan

Charges against PSNI dramatically dropped - Seven PSNI officers walked free from a Belfast court after charges of perverting the course of justice and causing death by dangerous driving were dramatically dropped.

Raymond Boyle (21) died in May 2001 when the stolen car in which he was travelling as a passenger was rammed by a PSNI vehicle. Seven PSNI officers were suspended from duty after an investigation by the Police Ombudsman cast doubt on statements made by the seven at the time. A witness to the incident contradicted the seven's story and forensic evidence supported the eyewitness account.

In court, the prosecution barrister said that he could offer no evidence against the defendants. The case had been taken on the basis of forensic evidence that had subsequently changed. The scientist involved had submitted a new report and the prosecution could no longer present a case.

Presiding Judge Coghlin ordered the jury to find the seven not guilty. However, the Forensic Science Agency immediately rejected the claim that the evidence by one of its officers had caused the case to collapse.

"The FSNI entirely rejects the allegations that there were substantive errors in its scientist's report or that the conclusions drawn by the scientist were incorrect," said a FSNI spokesperson. "The DPP's decision to discontinue the case is not a matter in which the FSNI was involved."

O'Loan justifies plastic bullet use

The Police Ombudsman has declared that PSNI officers were right to fire almost 30 plastic bullet rounds during rioting in East Belfast two years ago.

Nuala O'Loan's probe centred around two nights of serious violence near the Short Strand area in August 2002, when loyalist mobs gathered to attack the small nationalist enclave. In her report, the Ombudsman insisted that officers had shown restraint and had been justified in opening fire.

"There is overwhelming evidence to support the police use of baton rounds at this point," said O'Loan. "All evidence suggests that the baton gunners acted entirely within the relevant guidelines."

The Ombudsman's Office was called in by PSNI boss Hugh Orde to examine one of the worst riots in years. The trouble took place along the peace line which divides the Short Strand community from the rest of predominantly unionist East Belfast.

Nine PSNI officers were injured as they came under attack from blast and petrol bombs, thrown by loyalists, as tensions rose throughout the summer months. At one point a gun was produced. The PSNI also claims it had information that unionist paramilitaries were bringing more weapons to the scene.

"The available evidence supports the conclusion that the discharge of baton rounds in addition to other tactics contributed to eventual order being restored in the area," rueld O'Loan. "It also contributed to the safety of the police officers involved in the operation and the residents living in the area."

However, Sinn Féin Councillor Joe O'Donnell refutes O'Loan's findings and says the PSNI failed to protect the Short Strand community.

"I am very disappointed the Ombudsman has reached this conclusion," he said. "People here will be shocked and disgusted.

"If the PSNI had acted to help the residents of the Short Strand and stopped loyalist mobs from all over East Belfast gathering at the interface, the situation would not have got out of hand to the extent it did. Mrs O'Loan's report is open to serious question, to say the least."

Clara Reilly, of the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets, has also critised the report.

"We totally disagree with the Ombudsman's findings," said Reilly. "A plastic bullet is as lethal as a live round and should be viewed as such."

Detective accused of leaking information from files

Veteran PSNI detective Ned Kelly is expected to face charges of breaching the Offical Secrets Act and the Data Protection Act after he was questioned about passing on the personal details of more than 400 people to a firm of private investigators run by a former RUC member, Jimmy Stewart.

Kelly, who is thought to be in his 40s, had been under surveillance for 15 months and was arrested on 18 February at Strand Road PSNI Barracks in Derry following the investigation, carried out by the Independent Investigations Branch of the PSNI.

Kelly was said to have used a PSNI computer system to access the personal details of private individuals which he then passed on to the Alpha detective agency.

UDA try to abduct taxi driver

The UDA were behind an attempt to abduct a former republican prisoner in South Belfast on Saturday afternoon 28 February, says Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey.

The man who wishes to remain anonymous, told how a group of men tried to pull him out of his taxi on Saturday last as he dropped off a passenger in the upper Ormeau Road area.

He said he recognised one of the attackers as a UDA man. He had to drive up onto the footpath to escape.

Alex MAskey questioned the UDA's commitment to "the so-called ceasefire it said it was extending only last week".

"The UDA is still active," he said.

Girls 'allowed' to use City Hall facilities

Moves by unionist councillors on Belfast City Council to bar the pop band, Girls Aloud, from using City Hall facilities on St Patrick's Day were kicked into touch at the council's monthly meeting on Monday night, 1 March.

A previous decision, made by the Policy and Resources Committee, on the casting vote of Sinn Féin councillor Tom Hartley, to set aside two rooms for use by the popular girl band as changing rooms was in danger of being overturned at Monday's full council meeting.

However, in a move that will incense unionists, Alliance councillors voted alongside Sinn Féin and the SDLP at Monday night's meeting to allow the band the use of the changing facilities.

Controversy has surrounded this year's St Patrick's Day Carnival after unionist councillors refused to fund the popular event. Despite the unionist opposition, the St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee is working hard to raise the £65,000 needed to bring acts such as Girls Aloud to Belfast for the event.

Welcoming Monday night's news St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee spokesperson Irene Sherry said "this is a positive decision".

Sherry went on to say that she hoped that the decision would be reflected at Friday's meeting when council will debate an emergency motion sponsored by Sinn Féin.

The party's councillors are to insist that the Council includes a St Patrick's Day carnival in the council calendar of events for next year. Sinn Féin has used its strength on the council to call a special meeting to consider the future of St Patrick's Day celebrations in the city.

"There must be no repeat of manner in which St Patrick's Day celebrations have been handled by the council this year," said Upper Falls Sinn Féin councillor Michael Browne. "The people of this city want the council to play its part in promoting a proper 17 March celebration. To this end, Sinn Féin will do everything possible to ensure that a St Patrick's Day carnival becomes part of the Belfast City Council programme of events from here on."

Fundraising auction

An auction to raise funds for this year's Carnival will see items of great historical value go under the hammer.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and An Phoblacht are among those who have promised items for the auction to be held this Saturday 6 March in the Devenish Complex on Finaghy Road North, Belfast.

A similar auction was held in 2001 when, under the skilled promptings of auctioneer Andy Moore from Cork, the huge audience parted with the grand sum of £26,500.

Doors open at 8pm and everyone is more than welcome to attend this fundraiser.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland