3 December 1998 Edition

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RUC target Felons - again

The Irish Republican Felons Club on the Falls Road in Belfast was raided by the RUC for the second time in two weeks on Tuesday morning.

As local festival groups met along with SF assembly member Sue Ramsey for a Feile an Phobail planning day the RUC arrived under the guise of the new Registration of Clubs Order. They spent 45 minutes checking the telephone box, cigarette machines, pool tables, tills, condom machines and noted the prices of beers and spirits. They also copied details of future events from the noticeboard.

The raid coincided with the appearance in Belfast magistrates court of Felons Club secretary John Bradley on a charge of refusing to answer questions, and members were gathered at the Club to discuss their legal position when the RUC began the raid at 9.15 am.

Dickie Glenholmes, a member of the Felons' Association, accused the RUC of ``unashamedly trying to hound the club out of existence''.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland