29 January 2004 Edition
UDA target children at GAA club
29 January 2004
A distress flare attached to a gate leading on to the pitch at the Lámh Dhearg GAA club at Hannahstown on the outskirts of West Belfast at the weekend had the potential to kill. The device was found by a GAA official at around 1pm after about 40 children, aged between 10 and 14, had passed unaware through the gate at 11.30am to start a training session. Free article
Controversial decision on PSNI barracks
29 January 2004
Last week's news that the infamous Andersonstown PSNI base in West Belfast is to be put on part-time opening hours has been met with scepticism by local people, whose lives have been dominated by the base for years. Reacting to the news, announced on Thursday 22 January, spokesperson for Coiste na nIarchimí, Caoimhín MacGiolla Mhín, accused the PSNI of foot dragging over the future of the site. Free article
Concern over Maghaberry prison conditions
29 January 2004
Sinn Féín prisons spokesperson Gerry Kelly has said that he is concerned that ordinary prisoners in Maghaberry are being punished simply because they happen to share the same block as the loyalist inmates who damaged the accommodation earlier this month. "Families of prisoners serving sentences in the Bann House wing in Maghaberry have contacted my office concerned that the men who are not part of any protest have been on a lockdown regime for over a week now," said Kelly. Free article
Man charged with sectarian murder bid
29 January 2004
Stuart Dallas appeared at Belfast Magistrates court on Tuesday 27 January charged with the attempted murder of Catholic Paul Denvir (pictured) in a sectarian attack last year. Denvir lost an eye and suffered serious head injuries when he was attacked by a gang of loyalists armed with hammers and machetes as he left the Boundary Bar on the Shore Road on 16 November last year. Free article
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Caution urged at PSNI checkpoints
29 January 2004
Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson for Armagh Siobhan Vallely has accused the PSNI of "following in the footsteps of their predecessors in the RUC" after they were involved in incidents of harassment against young nationalists and republicans in the Newry/Armagh area. Vallely was speaking following an incident outside Newtownhamilton in South Armagh when two young men were stopped at a PSNI checkpoint and were questioned at length on their private lives and the names of relatives. Free article
Irish-language schools on the rise
29 January 2004
Irish-medium education is on the rise in Poleglass, West Belfast, as more parents seek to have their children educated in their native tongue. With the assistance of the Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta development team, representatives of Naiscoil Thaoilinn have been on the streets of the Poleglass area as part of a recruitment and awareness campaign. Free article
Irish-American tour in Monaghan
29 January 2004
A group of approximately 50 people representing the American organisation Noraid are in Ireland this week. Noraid is an organisation which campaigns for a united and peaceful Ireland across the United States. It is comprised of Irish-Americans and indeed many who have no family connection with this country but believe in the right of the Irish people to self-determination. Free article