THE hypocrisy of the loyal orders was once again exposed last Saturday, 29 August, when members of the Royal Black Preceptory paraded past Ardoyne behind the UVF-linked Pride of Ardoyne flute band. In its mission statement the Royal Black Preceptory (RBP) portrays itself as a Christian organisation that exists to give its members the opportunity to "study holy scripture in order to understand the Christian faith and demonstrate its relevance for today's society in order to demonstrate their personal faith in Jesus Christ, their commitment to regular Christian worship and all aspects of charitable living". Free article

THE PSNI's firing of plastic bullets during disturbances in the Short Strand area of Belfast this week is being challenged by local Sinn Féin spokesperson Niall Ó Donnghaile. A number of people were injured after plastic bullets were fired into crowds of young people, involved in what has been dubbed 'recreational violence' on Monday night. But Ó Donnghaile also condemned trouble that flared between rival gangs of nationalist and loyalist youths at the Albertbridge Road interface. Free article

THE families of two IRA Volunteers killed in a shoot-to-kill operation over 20 years ago are taking their case to the European Court of Human Rights. Martin McCaughey and Dessie Grew were shot dead by the British undercore soldiers in Loughgall, County Armagh, in October 1990. No attempt was made to arrest either man despite the fact that both were unarmed. Dessie Grew was shot 48 times and Martin McCaughey 12 times close to a farm building near Lislasley. It later emerged that an IRA arms dump within the building had been under surveillance and the RUC had prior intelligence that the two men were due to visit. Over two decades later, inquests into the deaths have yet to be held. Free article

THE family of a man killed by loyalists in 1998 may sue the PSNI over failures identified by the Police Ombudsman. A report by the policing watchdog revealed that no record exists to confirm whether key exhibits from the murder scene were seized or examined. Fergal McCusker (28) had only recently returned from the United States when he was abducted by loyalists who took him to the rear of the Fairhill Youth Club where he was shot dead. Free article

AN international human rights adviser is to investigate the circumstances in which up to four children were shot and injured by plastic bullets fired by the PSNI during disturbances in north Belfast. The children were injured during riots following a controversial Orange Order parade in Ardoyne in July. Free article

Aer Lingus got its 11th chief executive in 16 years this week as losses at the airline grew to €93 million for the first six months of 2009. Christoph Mueller takes up his post in an environment where short term knee jerk media reactions fuelled by the airline's senior management immediately focused on more job and wages cuts at the airline rather than looking at the global issues of what is happening in world aviation right now and what is the best way forward for the Irish aviation sector. Free article

TALKS have been held at the Labour Relations Commission between SIPTU representatives of more than 30 striking striking dockers at Dublin Port and management at Marine Terminals Ltd (MTL) this week. Although limited progress was made at Monday's seven-hour session of talks, it was enough to make SIPTU Regional Secretary Christy McQuillan hopeful of a resumption of negotiations by Thursday (as An Phoblacht goes to press) or no later than next Monday. Now in its ninth week, the dispute flared when new management instituted a plan involving jobs cuts and significant changes in work conditions and employment terms, leading to fears of casualisation. Free article

Coca-Cola picket hit by car and Green Isle sackings lead to action Free article