2 June 2005 Edition

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News In Brief

Immunity - Ombudsman not consulted

The Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, was not consulted by the Rosemary Nelson inquiry team about their proposal to offer immunity to the RUC/PSNI officers likely to be implicated in the killing. Established following the Patten report, the Ombudsman's primary task is to investigate complaints against the RUC and PSNI.

The failure to consult O'Loan became public after the inquiry's procedures document was published last week. In the document, the tribunal panel said that immunity from prosecution and disciplinary action would be given to members of the RUC and PSNI.

Sinn Féin members' homes attacked

The homes of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and other party members in West Belfast were targeted in ball bearing attacks on Wednesday night 25 May.

The homes of West Belfast Assembly member Fra McCann and the party's Equality manager Chrissie McAuley were also attacked within hours of each other.

Panes of glass in McCann's Falls Road home were broken during the attack at around 11pm.

Old people's home stoned

Elderly citizens escaped uninjured after a gang of loyalist youths from the Fountain Estate in Derry attacked their sheltered accommodation with stones in a sectarian attack on Thursday 26 May.

No one was injured but residents inside Alexander House in Bishop Street, on the edge of Derry City centre, were terrified at the intensity of the stoning.

Fears of further sectarian attacks during the loyalist marching season have intensified as the city gears up for the biggest Twelfth demonstration it has witnessed in 13 years.

The venue for this year's County Derry demonstration is Derry City and the Orange Order is refusing to enter into dialogue with the Bogside Residents' Group, which has been central in brokering deals around loyalist marches in the city involving the Apprentice Boys.

Homophobic attacks in Derry

A Derry-based gay support group has warned that it will not be long before a gay person is killed, following a number of attacks on the members of the gay community over the weekend. David McCartney of the Rainbow Project was speaking after two attacks were carried out in the Bogside and Waterside areas of the city.


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