8 October 1998 Edition
Felons harassment continues
By Laura Friel
Bigotry and revenge are the motives behind the ongoing RUC campaign of harassment against West Belfast's Felons Club, says chairperson Liam Shannon.
The club is one of the oldest in the city and is a social and cultural centre not only for republican ex-prisoners but for many in the community. In what can only be described as `orchestrated intimidation' the RUC staged a synchronised operation in which all committee officials of the Felons were visited at their homes. At exactly 7pm Thursday 29 September, heavily armed RUC squads arrived at the homes of nine members of the Felons where they issued cautions concerning a number of petty irregularities in relation to the registration of clubs. Members of the Felons believe the campaign of harassment has been part of a vendetta against the club by a particular RUC Inspector.
``A year after this started there have been no serious charges against any members of the club but the RUC have dug themselves in so deep they cannot crawl out,'' says Liam, ``they have invested so much time, energy and money into pursuing the Felons they are desperately trying to find some way of justify it.''
Bigotry and revenge are the motives behind the ongoing RUC campaign of harassment against West Belfast's Felons Club, says chairperson Liam Shannon.
The club is one of the oldest in the city and is a social and cultural centre not only for republican ex-prisoners but for many in the community. In what can only be described as `orchestrated intimidation' the RUC staged a synchronised operation in which all committee officials of the Felons were visited at their homes. At exactly 7pm Thursday 29 September, heavily armed RUC squads arrived at the homes of nine members of the Felons where they issued cautions concerning a number of petty irregularities in relation to the registration of clubs. Members of the Felons believe the campaign of harassment has been part of a vendetta against the club by a particular RUC Inspector.
``A year after this started there have been no serious charges against any members of the club but the RUC have dug themselves in so deep they cannot crawl out,'' says Liam, ``they have invested so much time, energy and money into pursuing the Felons they are desperately trying to find some way of justify it.''