7 August 2003 Edition

Confusion over Hutchinson abduction claim

7 August 2003

Republicans in north Belfast were sceptical yesterday about the PUP's claims of an apparent attempt to abduct Billy Hutchinson in the city on Wednesday morning. PUP leader David Ervine said he believed nationalists from Ardoyne had been involved in the bid to kidnap the former Assembly member. Free article

Liberians welcomes peacekeepers

7 August 2003

More than 3,000 West African peacekeepers had started arriving to Liberia on Monday 4 August, and they were being welcomed by a population tired of the fighting and massacres that have devastated the country for years. African peacekeepers may yet be the saviours of the Liberians, though when the fighting reached Monrovia in June, the population first looked to the United States, which has long historical ties to Liberia, for salvation. Free article

Butler attack bears hallmarks of collusion

7 August 2003

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said there are serious concerns about collusion in the attempted bomb attack on the home of party councillor Paul Butler on Monday night 4 August. A highly flammable device was thrown from a passing car at the house Butler shares with his partner and three children. Free article

Woman attacked for befriending Catholics

7 August 2003

Members of South Antrim UDA beat and kicked a 31-year-old Protestant mother so hard she lost her unborn baby, because she had Catholic friends. Mary Norris told of the nightmare at around 10.45pm on Sunday night 27 July when seven masked UDA men smashed their way into her Rathcoole home, destroying everything in their way and stealing £800 in savings. Free article

Kennedy avoids court in "Stakeknife" affair

7 August 2003

The attempt to have NIO Security Minister Jane Kennedy face courtroom questions over the 'Stakeknife' spy affair was thrown out by Judge Carswell on Tuesday 6 August at Belfast High Court. Free article

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McCartney targeted by securocrats

7 August 2003

Two cars acting suspiciously in Derry's Fernabbey estate made off at speed when challenged by a Sinn Féin councillor and local residents. Residents said they became aware of the blue Mondeo and silver Astra cars at around 9.30am on Friday 1 August. Locals claimed the Astra had 'some sort of camera' fitted to it and was seen taking photographs of the homes in the estate one of which belong to leading Derry republican Raymond McCartney. Free article

Brophy demands justice

7 August 2003

Sinn Féin North Belfast councillor Gerard Brophy has called for immediate action to be taken after it was revealed the Police Ombudsman's office had to postpone its investigation of a PSNI member who wrongly accused Brophy of rioting because the man concerned is on sick leave. Free article

Appointment of Daphne Trimble criticised

7 August 2003

The West Belfast Economic Forum has criticised the appointment of Daphne Trimble, the wife of former first minister and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, as one of nine new Equality Commissioners by NIO minister Paul Murphy. Free article

1981 Hunger Strike exhibition and talk

7 August 2003

On the 22nd anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike and the subsequent election of Kieran Doherty POW as TD for Monaghan-Cavan, Sinn Féin in Ballybay, County Monaghan, is hosting a major exhibition and talk on the historic events of that summer. The event will be chaired by Ballybay Town Councillor Gene Duffy. Free article

PSNI ignore forensics

7 August 2003

On 22 July last year, Jason O'Halloran was standing with a friend on Rosapenna Street in North Belfast around 11.30 pm. The two were engrossed in conversation when four men drove by in a dark Ford Mondeo car. One of them suddenly opened fire with a handgun. As the friends dived for cover, three of the shots hit O'Halloran, striking him once in both legs and once in the groin. Free article


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