1 May 1997 Edition
Collusion claim in Derry
By Eoin O'Broin
Sinn Fein Derry councillor Gearoid O'hEara has challenged the RUC to explain their presence in Shantallow, Derry, shortly before a bomb explosion outside the local Sinn Fein centre in the early hours of Monday 21 April. According to an eyewitness, the area had an unusually high RUC presence.
O'hEara said, ``one resident is adamant that he saw an armoured car containing two RUC members coming from the direction of the Sinn Fein offices, speed along Racecourse Road at Bradley Park approximately two minutes before hearing the explosion''.
He added, ``For the past two weeks the immediate area around the Centre has been almost constantly saturated by RUC and British army personnel. On a number of occasions they openly took particulars and photographed the centre as well as cars belonging to those who staff the offices''.
He challenged the RUC ``to explain why there was such a high concentration of Crown Forces in the immediate vicinity of our offices such a short time before this no warning explosion. Why did they not follow the same procedures which they carry out when republican involvement is alleged''.
O'hEara asked was this because the RUC were already aware of who was responsible.
Sinn Fein Derry councillor Gearoid O'hEara has challenged the RUC to explain their presence in Shantallow, Derry, shortly before a bomb explosion outside the local Sinn Fein centre in the early hours of Monday 21 April. According to an eyewitness, the area had an unusually high RUC presence.
O'hEara said, ``one resident is adamant that he saw an armoured car containing two RUC members coming from the direction of the Sinn Fein offices, speed along Racecourse Road at Bradley Park approximately two minutes before hearing the explosion''.
He added, ``For the past two weeks the immediate area around the Centre has been almost constantly saturated by RUC and British army personnel. On a number of occasions they openly took particulars and photographed the centre as well as cars belonging to those who staff the offices''.
He challenged the RUC ``to explain why there was such a high concentration of Crown Forces in the immediate vicinity of our offices such a short time before this no warning explosion. Why did they not follow the same procedures which they carry out when republican involvement is alleged''.
O'hEara asked was this because the RUC were already aware of who was responsible.