5 February 2004 Edition

80 maritime distress flares in UDA hands

5 February 2004

The nautical distress flare used in a sectarian attack on children at the Lamh Dhearg GAA pitch on the outskirts of West Belfast on Sunday 25 January by the UDA was the first one used from a batch of 80 stolen by unionist paramilitaries from business premises in Dunmurry last February. Free article

Antrim Road PSNI heads civilian complaint list

5 February 2004

Newly-released figures from the Police Ombudsman's office show that the PSNI barracks located on the Antrim Road in North Belfast has received more complaints and allegations of mistreatment than any other in the Six Counties. Statistics show that out of 552 allegations of misconduct made between October 2000 and November 2003, a shocking 444 were upheld. Free article

British Government under pressure over Cory Report

5 February 2004

Pressure is mounting on the British Government to publish the Cory Report after the family of assassinated human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson lodged papers at the High Court in Belfast last Wednesday 28 January seeking a judicial review of the British Government's refusal to publish the report. Free article

PSNI accused of media manipulation

5 February 2004

Sinn Féin Councillor Marie Moore has accused the PSNI of "media manipulation" after they carried out a series of house raids and arrests in the Ballymurphy area of West Belfast last Wednesday 28 January. And the Sinn Féin councillor has revealed that just hours after the PSNI briefed journalists that four men arrested in the raids were part of "an IRA punishment squad", all four were released without charge. Free article

Belfast petition for St Paddy's Day funds

5 February 2004

SDLP Mayor of Belfast and Sinn Féin Councillor Tom Hartley joined forces with Irene Sherry of the St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee to launch a petition outside City Hall in Belfast calling for Belfast Council to fund a St Patrick's Day Carnival at the City Hall. Free article

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Catholic man escapes sectarian murder bid

5 February 2004

Sectarian tensions have increased in Newtownabbey and North Belfast, where a young man was lucky to escape with his life after he was attacked by two loyalists armed with a machete or large kitchen knife on Sunday 1 February. Liam Hughes (24), a father of one, was set upon at 7.30am by two men who jumped out of a white Vauxhall Astra car near the Boundary bar on the Shore Road. Free article

A step towards an All-Ireland Agricultural platform

5 February 2004

Despite the current suspension of the Assembly, and the delays in progressing joint Ministerial co-operation in key areas of government, as laid down in the GFA, there was a meeting last week between the Dublin Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, and Britain's Direct Rule Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, Ian Pearson, to discuss crucial all-Ireland agricultural issues. Free article

Bruscar na Tíre

5 February 2004

This week AN DRAOI RUA poses a simple question 'Why do so many people litter this country? Tharla gur bhreathnaigh mé ar an chéad leathanach de 'Foinse' Dé Domhnaigh seo chaite agus chonaic mé griangraf de bhruscar caite ar leataobh ag ceann de na radharcanna is áille in Éirinn. Is dócha go bhfuil an radharc ar Inis Tuaisceart ar cheann de na radharcanna is deise a thiocfadh le duine a fháil ón tír mór i gCiarraí. Free article

Cúige to debate building the party

5 February 2004

Cuige na Sé Condae, which is holding its AGM in Conway Mill in Belfast this coming weekend, will have party building as its main theme. And with this week's review of the Good Friday Agreement dominating the political landscape, the AGM will be addressed by Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, who will update activists on progress. Free article

Stalling on prisoners a scandal

5 February 2004

The delays in repatriating Irish prisoners from Britain to serve their terms closer to their families are "entirely unsatisfactory" says Dr Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland. The Archbishop said it can take three times as long for Irish prisoners to be repatriated as it does for British prisoners to be transferred from elsewhere. Free article


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