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http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Man-39critical39-after-Northern-Ireland.5162607.jp
Published Date: 10 April 2009
A MAN was fighting for his life in hospital today after being gunned down in Northern Ireland.
The 25-year-old man, who is in a critical condition, was shot three times in an attack in north Belfast that police are treating as attempted murder.
He was sitting in a car with two friends in Brookfield Place in the republican Ardoyne area at around 9.30pm last night when three to four masked men appeared.
One opened fire through the driver's window, hitting the man in the abdomen and both legs.
Detectives said they have not yet established a motive for the attack.
The victim underwent emergency surgery overnight.
One of the other men in the car sustained a graze wound to his leg while the other was uninjured.
Sinn Fein junior minister at Stormont and north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said the attackers had set out to kill.
"I want to condemn this incident outright, those responsible for this attack are not representative of this community in any way, they have no support and they offer our people nothing but further distress in the time ahead," he said.
"This young man has been left critically injured and it is clear that this was an attempt to take this young person's life.
"The people of Ardoyne and wider north Belfast have suffered enough, particularly our young people."
People in Northern Ireland continue to be subject to paramilitary-style 'punishment' attacks despite the end of the Troubles.
However, SDLP north Belfast MLA Alban Maginness questioned whether this was such an incident as the victim's wounds were not confined to the arms and legs.
"This is a serious development because it seems to have been more than a punishment attack as the man was shot in the abdomen," he said.
"First of all, I appeal to anyone who may know anything about the circumstances of this attack to get in touch with the police. But we must do more.
"The people of Ardoyne were at the sharp end of the troubles for decades and they suffered greatly.
"We have many difficult problems to deal with in the area, but the one thing we can be absolutely sure of is that those who carry out these shootings have no solutions to offer.
"They don't want solutions, they want to keep communities in turmoil so they can exercise control.
"They can only harm the community and they must be isolated in the community.
"They must realise that they will face our police and our courts and end up spending long periods in our jails. And when they are eventually released, they will have to come back into a much better and happier community which has long forgotten them and only has contempt for what they stood for and what they did to those they would probably claim are their own people."
-----
10/04/2009 - 13:38:30
Dissident republicans are being blamed for the shooting of a man in Belfast.
The man is in intensive care after being shot three times in the north of the city last night.
He is in his 20's and was shot in both legs and body.
A bullet entered his side and lodged in his abdomen.
He is critically ill in hospital.
http://www.belfastmedia.com/home_article.php?ID=1654
Andersonstown News Thursday 10th of April 2009
OVER80 community groups and politicians in West Belfast have come together after last week’s hijackings and bomb hoaxes to call on dissident republicans to desist from similar actions in the future.
The unprecedented move comes after a series of bomb scares paralysed the West of the city for most of last week, disrupting thousands of people’s lives.
Explaining the reason behind the letter sent to the Andersonstown News, Gerry McConville, Director of the Falls Community Council, said: “Following last week’s wave of bomb scares and general disruption to the community in West Belfast, community groups have come together to vent their anger.
“We are calling on whoever is responsible for this disruption to desist from this activity immediately.
“There is general anger among ordinary people at this meaningless disruption which has only served to inconvenience local people and has resulted in the disruption of our children’s education. Whose agenda does this serve?”
The letter itself...
We, the undersigned, wish to make clear our absolute opposition to the hijackings, bomb hoaxes and disturbances that have occurred in West Belfast over the past few weeks.
These actions are pointless and futile and serve no cause. We call on those responsible to immediately halt these attacks on the West Belfast community.
Ba mhaith linn, na hainmneacha atá leis seo thíos, soiléiriú go bhfuil go hiomlán dubh in éadan na bhfuadach feithiclí, na buamaí bréige agus na corraíolacha a tharla le roinnt leatha anuas ar fud Bhéal Feirste.
Níl ciall ná fiúntas ar bith leis na gníomhartha seo. Iarraimid orthu siúd atá freagrach as na hionsaithe náireacha seo ar phobal Iarthar Bhéal Feirste stopadh leo láithreach.
Falls Community Council
Aine McCabe, West Belfast DPP independent member
Alex Attwood MLA, SDLP
Antrim GAA County Board
Ardmonagh Family & Community Group
Bairbre de Brún MEP, Sinn Féin
Ballymurphy Residents’ Association
Beechmount Residents’ Association
Belfast and District Trades Union Council
Belfast Mayor Cllr Tom Hartley, Sinn Féin
Blackie River Community Group
Bobby Storey, Chairperson Belfast Sinn Féin
Breige Brownlee, Saint James’ Sinn Féin representative
Brooke and Moor Park Residents’ Association
Caoimhín Mac Giolla Mhín, Andersonstown Sinn Féin representative
Chalky Residents’ Association
Cherry/Aspen Residents’ Association
Clonard Residents’ Association
Colin Neighbourhood Partnership
Community Restorative Justice Andersonstown
Community Restorative Justice Colin
Community Restorative Justice Falls
Community Restorative Justice Ireland
Cllr Angela Nelson, Sinn Féin
Cllr Arder Carson, Sinn Féin
Cllr Charlene O’Hara, Sinn Féin
Cllr Chrissie Mhic Giolla Mhín, Sinn Féin
Cllr Fra McCann MLA, Sinn Féin
Cllr Gerard O’Neill, Sinn Féin
Cllr Janice Austin, Sinn Féin and West Belfast DPP member
Cllr Máire Cush, Sinn Féin and West Belfast DPP member
Cllr Michael Browne, Sinn Féin
Cllr Paul Butler MLA, Sinn Féin
Cllr Paul Maskey MLA, Sinn Féin
Cllr Tim Attwood, SDLP
Credenhill, Forest Park and Netherlands Residents’ Association
Cumann Spoirt an Phobail
Danny Morrison, writer
Fáilte Feirste Thiar (West Belfast Tourism Group)
Falls Residents’ Association
Féile an Phobail (West Belfast Festival)
Firststeps Childcare Centre
Gerry Adams MP MLA, Sinn Féin
Gransha Residents’ Association
Greater Glenveagh Residents’ Association
Harry Connolly, West Belfast DPP independent member
Jennifer McCann MLA, Sinn Féin
Juniper and Jasmine Residents’ Association
Lagmore Community Forum
Liz Groves, West Belfast DPP independent member
Margaret Walsh, SDLP and West Belfast DPP independent member
Moyard Residents’ Association
Newhill Youth & Community Centre
N.I. Fire Brigade Union
Patrick Adams, West Belfast Sinn Féin Chairperson
Pól Deeds, Andersonstown Sinn Féin representative
Poleglass Residents’ Forum
Riverdale Residents’ Association
Rosie McCorley, West Belfast DPP independent member
Saint Mary’s Residents’ Association
Sliabh Dubh Residents’ Association
Springhill/Springmadden Residents’ Association
Sue Ramsey MLA, Sinn Féin
Suffolk Community Development Association
Tar Anall
Turf Lodge Residents’ Association
Upper Andersonstown Community Forum
Upper Falls Community Safety Forum
Upper Lenadoon Residents’ Association
Upper Springfield Community Safety Forum
Upper Springfield Development Company Limited
Upper Springfield Resource Centre
West Belfast Partnership Board
West Belfast Taxi Association
West Belfast Traders’ Forum
Whiterock Children’s Centre
Whiterock/Westrock Residents’ Association
http://www.belfastmedia.com/news_article.php?ID=3040
Andersonstown News Thursday 10th of April 2009
Dissident republicans are planning to disrupt a controversial Orange Order parade in the hope of bringing more mayhem to the streets.
At the end of June the Orange Order will seek to march along part of the Springfield Road during the annual Whiterock parade. Their requested route will take them past nationalist homes close to Workman Avenue.
The disputed parade has previously been the catalyst for serious violence.
In 2005 loyalists went on the rampage, opening fire on police and causing millions of pounds worth of damage after they were banned from walking a section of the Springfield Road.
Since then community leaders on both sides of the interface have fostered good relations and a fragile calm has prevailed. But following the recent increase in dissident republican violence, security sources fear paramilitaries could use the parade to bring fresh chaos to the streets.
“We’ve had intelligence suggesting dissidents, the Continuity IRA in particular, are going to target controversial parades, and Whiterock has been one of those mentioned,” said a PSNI source.
“What form this targeting will take we don’t know. It could be bomb scares, hijackings or something even more sinister. Dissidents are obviously hoping to provoke a response from loyalists.”
Application
The Orange Order has yet to file an application with the Parades Commission for the Whiterock parade, however it is understood the date sought for this year’s march is June 27.
Although conceding that there could be the “potential” for trouble, senior republicans say they are not overly worried.
“There is always the potential for trouble, but you don’t talk it up,” said Seán Murray, Chairman of the Springfield Residents’ Action Group,
“I don’t foresee any major problems at this stage.”
But the increased dissident threat has led a senior Shankill Road Orangeman to call for cool heads.
“We are always mindful of people opposed to our parades, and that goes for mainstream republicans as well as dissidents,” said DUP councillor William Humphrey.
“We’ll be saying to our people not to be provoked and to be disciplined.”
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/04/10/1004356/gerry-adams-meets-hamas-leaders-in-gaza
April 10, 2009
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Northern Irish republican leader Gerry Adams met with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza.
Israel's Foreign Ministry had recommended that Adams, president of the Sinn Fein republican party, not be permitted to enter Gaza since he planned to meet with Hamas. He was permitted to enter Gaza on Wednesday after Quartet Mideast envoy Tony Blair intervened, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Blair reportedly told Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak that Adams had experience as a mediator, and could pass messages and act as a go-between for Israel and Hamas.
Adams met Haniyeh Thursday in a meeting that was not announced beforehand. He was quoted by the British Guardian newspaper after the meeting as saying: "This is a total denial of the rights of the people of Palestine. This is an open-air prison. People can't travel out of here, they can't travel in."
Adams met with Palestinian social activists, business people and Hamas and Fatah officials, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Adams also visited Sderot before crossing into Gaza. Israeli officials refused to meet with Adams since he met with Hamas. Adams was scheduled to meet with Fatah officials in Ramallah on Friday.
http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/Father-wants-to-meet-Tandragee.5161810.jp
Published Date: 10 April 2009
THE father of murdered Portadown teenager David McIlwaine – who was stabbed to death along with his friend in February 2000 – says he wants to meet face-to-face with his son's jailed killer.
Paul McIlwaine wants the "whole truth" after convicted murderer Steven Leslie Brown (28), also known as Steven Revels, was sentenced to 30 years in prison at Belfast Crown Court last Friday.
He called on Brown, of Castle Place in Castlecaulfield, to reveal the identities of individuals he believes were involved in the sadistic double murder of his 18-year-old son and fellow teenager, Andrew Robb (19).
The teenagers' badly-mutilated bodies were found on the outskirts of Tandragee ten years ago. They suffered multiple stab wounds including horrific injuries to their throats and stomachs.
Paul said he was satisified with Brown's 30-year jail term which was the culmination of a prolonged police investigation dogged by allegations of corruption and loyalist involvement.
He said, "In Northern Ireland the average murder sentence is 11 or 12 years. So he (Brown) will be going away for a long time. In fact, he will be almost 60 before he can even be considered for release."
Mr McIlwaine then declared that Brown "got what he deserved" and should "count himself lucky" that he wasn't an American citizen living in a state which imposes the death penalty because he could now be facing life on death row.
And while he says that he "feels nothing" towards his son's killer, a personal one-on-one meeting may shed light on the events of the night his son died.
"What I want from Brown is the whole story. I want to sit down with him and hear the full truth," he said. "I've put in a request to meet him but so far there has been no indication that he's willing to meet me, and I'm not expecting to hear anything."
The Portadown man also claimed that only Brown could reveal the full extent of Mark Burcombe's role on the night.
Burcombe (28), from Ballynahinch Road in Lisburn, was initially charged with the murders but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after agreeing to turn Queen's evidence. He received a two-and-a-half sentence but has since been released and is understood to have entered into a witness protection programme.
"I don't believe that we've heard the entire story about his involvement in the killings. His testimony was based on giving a full and truthful account and I don't think we heard that in court," he alleged.
Mr McIlwaine, who established a website: www.justicefordavidmcilwaine in the wake of his son's death, said he would continue to push for a public inquiry into the double murder. He was due to meet with the Police Ombudsman yesterday (Thursday) as well as attending a meeting with senior police investigating officer Tim Hanley, who handled the case.
Graffiti allegedly naming three individuals connected to the double murder appeared on a toilet block in Clare Glen County Park last month – just hours after Brown was convicted. However, the names were subsequently removed.
http://www.belfastmedia.com/news_article.php?ID=3037
Andersonstown News Thursday 10th of April 2009
One of the main themes of this year’s National Graves Association Easter Commemoration will be the marking of the 100th anniversary of Na Fianna éireann.
To commemorate the anniversary, a striking new mural has been painted at the corner of Beechmount Avenue, featuring Countess Markievicz, the founder of the Fianna, and the roll of honour of Fians who died during the conflict.
The commemoration of the 100th anniversary will be centre stage in the pageantry that will form part of this year’s parade from Beechmount to Milltown Cemetery.
‘Countess Markievicz’ will walk in the parade along with a number of young people dressed as Fians who will carry the flag of the Fianna.
There will also be a number of young girls dressed in the uniforms of the Cumann na gCailíní.
Died on active service
A number of Fians from West Belfast died on active service during the recent conflict including Fian Gerard McAuley, who died in Bombay Street on August 15, 1969, and Fian John Dempsey, who was the last Fian to die – on July 8, 1981, during the hunger strike period.
http://www.belfastmedia.com/home_article.php?ID=1653
Andersonstown News Thursday 10th of April 2009
WET weather did nothing to dampen the determination of the masses of people who gathered in West Belfast yesterday in solidarity with the sacked Visteon workers.
A huge crowd assembled at the Busybee in Andersonstown before marching in the rain to the factory at Finaghy Road North. Marchers walked into the factory grounds chanting “Ford sold us out!” and were applauded by workers who had gathered at the gates.
Over 200 Visteon workers were told last Tuesday that they had lost their jobs and that the local plant would close.
It was also announced that jobs would be lost in two Visteon plants in England. Belfast workers immediately staged a sit-in at the Finaghy Road North site. They say that the protest will continue until they are given redundancy packages which they say were promised by Ford.
Visteon took over the local Ford plant in 2000.
Supporters of the sacked workers, including family members, trade unionists and local people, took part in the March.
Jimmy Kelly, the Regional Secretary of Unite, thanked all those who attended. Speaking at a rally in the factory he said to rapturous applause: “That sort of support, that sort of determination, that sort of commitment, is what will see us getting justice for Visteon workers.”
Mr Kelly said that local workers had put their lives into building up the local Visteon plant for the past 40 years. He said that workers would not have their rights trampled on. Mr Kelly said that the workers wanted agreements made with Ford honoured.
“We have over the past few days seen the commitment of the workforce, we have also seen the commitment of our friends, our families, all the people that live in the area that have come out to support us and we have people here today from Unison, we have firefighters, we have other unions, we have the Northern Ireland Committee of Congress and that commitment, that genuine commitment building to the biggest rally possible in Belfast on April 17, that we are going to show that we get the greatest respect that we deserve and we are not going to sit down and let anyone walk on us.”
He said that the rally was trying to get across an important message.
“The message needs to go loud and clear that there is no worker safe in this climate. No worker is going to be safe and it is only by us collectively sticking together that we will get the justice that we deserve. We are committed to the campaign, we are going to stick with it. Meetings that are taking place both in London and New York are dedicated to delivering the agreement that you deserve.”
Unite representative at the Visteon plant, John Maguire, said: “I want to thank each and every one of you, individuals, political parties, there are so many people doing so much.
“I want to use an analogy for what is happening here. If you can remember when you were a child in the playground in school, a bully came along and he robbed your sweets, you told him you would go and get your big brother, well Ford is the bully and our big brother is here to support us and help get justice for everyone in this room.”
John said that he is overwhelmed by the support that has been shown over the past week.
“This has shown the goodness in people. At the start of last week we saw the bad side of people, today this is the good side of people and I will make sure whatever way this turns out we will make sure to thank each and every one of the people who have supported us here in Belfast.
“This is only the start, we are here for the long haul. Ford Motor Company, we are not moving until you do the right thing and reopen the plant,” he said.
Local Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann said: “The actions of Ford and Visteon are totally unacceptable. It is important to remember that it is not just about jobs, it is not just about the manufacturing industry or the economy, this is about real people because time and time again we see people's jobs going and we see families spiralling into further hardship. This is about people and families.”
Unite official Charlie Maxwell said that he had great pride in the workforce in Visteon and said that the community had given great support. He said that the plant was clean, undamaged and ready for work. He said that the plant is immaculate and ready for business.
“I take great pride as well in that even down to the last can of Coke in the machine, nobody has touched anything. I mean very quickly we could have descended into a rabble, broken in, stolen money. We could have done whatever we had to do to get by, but we didn't.”
He thanked local people for their support and help.
SDLP MLA Alex Attwood paid tribute to the determination of the workers and their families. He said that the workers had made people sit up and take notice.
Mr Attwood added that he believed that the local workers had been treated “abysmally”.
A former worker who spoke to the Andersonstown News yesterday questioned why Visteon set up a new company in the weeks before hundreds of workers were laid off. Automotive Products Limited was registered with Companies House at the beginning of February 2009.
He asked why, if Visteon UK were going into administration, the company would start a new company?
Meanwhile, talks were due to get under way in the United States yesterday between the union Unite and Visteon management.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/church-to-buy-back-milltown-cemetery-plot-14266470.html?r=RSS
By Linda McKee
Friday, 10 April 2009
The Catholic Church has announced it is trying to buy back a stretch of land containing graves which once lay within Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast.
It has admitted the plot which became part of the Bog Meadows nature reserve in 2000 had contained graves, many of them belonging to infants and newborn babies.
Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor has now apologised for the distress caused to relatives whose loved ones were buried in the plot.
He said the cemetery trustees working to “take back possession” of the stretch, which was leased to the Ulster Wildlife Trust in 2000 and later planted with trees.
As previously reported in the Belfast Telegraph, the Church has confirmed plans to build a monument to the adults and children buried in the plot once the transfer of land is complete.
Relatives whose loved ones are buried in the disputed stretch have been working with a monumental sculptor to draw up a design for the monument, which would become the centre piece of a memorial garden.
An archaeological team at Queen’s University Belfast used ground penetrating radar in February to probe the plot.
The results were not made public but relatives said the results had confirmed their suspicions that graves were indeed contained there.
In a newspaper advertisement, Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor said the Trustees of Milltown Cemetery regret the hurt and distress caused.
“It has become apparent that part of the ground included in the lease contained the unmarked graves of babies and older people buried many years ago,” he said.
“On this Good Friday I, on behalf of the trustees of the cemetery past and present, apologise to all those who have loved ones buried in this section of the cemetery and I regret the hurt and distress that this has caused.
“I want to reassure them that all necessary steps are being taken, with the cooperation of the Ulster Wildlife Trust, to take back possession of this sacred ground.
“When the ground in which the loved ones are buried has been returned to us, we will restore this part of the cemetery and erect an appropriate monument to the memory of all those who are buried there, both young and old, so that it will be a fitting place for their relatives to visit, pray for and remember their loved ones,” said the Bishop.
Donna Hanvey, a relative whose brother Michael was buried in the plot in 1966, said she was over the moon at the Bishop’s response but appealed for the negotiations to be resolved as quickly as possible.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7993154.stm
Two soldiers and a police officer murdered by dissident republicans last month are among those being remembered at a ceremony in Dublin.
The names of more than 3,500 people who have died as a result of the Troubles were being read out during a service in a church at St Stephen's Green.
The annual act of commemoration at Dublin Unitarian Church is now in its eighth year.
The names of the victims were being read out in alphabetical order.
The first name read out was John Patrick Scullion, murdered by the UVF in 1966, the last, Constable Stephen Carroll, murdered by the Continuity IRA last month.
The organisers of the commemoration said the reading of the names "illustrates powerfully the terrible, random nature of death in war and civil conflict".
http://saoirse32.blogsome.com/2009/04/10/p13124/
Irish News
08/04/09
A Police Ombudsman’s report into the fatal shooting of Mary Travers uncovered no evidence of collusion in the killing.
Retired resident magistrate Tom Travers had asked the then ombudsman Nuala O’Loan to investigate claims that an informer had been involved in his daughter’s death.
He later withdrew his request but the ombudsman decided it would be in the public interest to complete her investigation.
The report in 2007 caused controversy after Mr Travers, critically injured in the IRA attack in 1984, said it had breached his confidentiality.
Mrs O’Loan said her investigation had found no evidence that police had colluded to protect the gunman who shot and wounded the judge and killed his daughter.
She also found no evidence that police had prior knowledge of the attack in south Belfast or that it could have been prevented.
However, she did hit out at Special Branch, saying it had failed to pass on all the information it had that could have been relevant to officers investigating the murder.
West Belfast woman Mary McArdle was the only person to be convicted in connection with the murder.
She had been caught a short distance away in possession of two handguns, hidden in surgical stockings, and was found guilty of murder.
North Belfast republican Joe Haughey was acquitted of the same charges.
He later publicly denied he had ever worked as a Special Branch informer, saying that the allegations had come from a British army agent.
The ombudsman recommended that the case be reviewed and that a hair recovered from a wig worn by a gunman be submitted for new forensic analysis.
The PSNI Historical Enquiries Team is reviewing the case.
In January the ombudsman’s office apologised to Mr Travers, admitting that the report into the murder contained factual inaccuracies and had identified the retired magistrate.
The report was withdrawn in its entirety following legal action by the Travers family.
A file for breach of confidence was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service, which decided it was not in the public interest to pursue a
conviction.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0410/gas.html
Friday, 10 April 2009 14:20
Gas prices are set to fall by up to 10% by the end of the year, on top of a 12% decrease due on 1 May.
The Commission for Energy Regulation says if global gas prices stay low, consumers can look forward to further reductions before the winter.
However, Dermot Nolan of the CER said it would not be appropriate to impose a bigger decrease now, in the event of a world price rise.
Mr Nolan said the CER always tries to ensure the customer pays the lowest possible price for fuel and added that our prices compare favourably with other countries.
However, Fine Gael say that prices have not decreased enough and TD Simon Coveney questioned the decision to limit reductions to 12% when international gas prices have reduced by one third.
Mr Coveney said that during a recession, the primary job of any regulator must be to ensure that gas and electricity prices are as low as possible for businesses and households.
He said Ireland is on it knees and energy prices is the one place in which we can give people some kind of relief.
The CER also announced confirmation of an average 10% cut in the price of electricity to domestic and small business customers.
It will take effect from the 1 May also.
Electricity prices increased by 17.5% last October, and dropped by 1% in January.
It is understood the scope for further electricity price cuts in October will be more limited than for gas.
Up to 80-90% of our electricity generation is dependent on imported fuels, which are not falling in price to the same extent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7993403.stm
(See Video of related story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7993910.stm)
A postmaster in Londonderry has used his own money to pay customers after Post Offices across Northern Ireland ran out of money on Thursday.
People collecting benefits and winter fuel payments came to get them early before Post Offices closed for Easter.
"I managed to personally fund the offices on a rota basis to keep them open," said Jim Gough.
The Post Office said plans were being put in place to fix the situation as soon as possible.
It also apologised to customers for any inconvenience caused.
Jim Gough said some Post Offices could still face shortages.
"We open up again on Tuesday, but some offices I'm told took Monday and Tuesday off and not Friday.
"They won't be able to work on Friday because they won't have any money.
"The bank man's not speaking to me anymore, and I don't know what people are going to do unless the Post Office pull their finger out at the beginning of the week," he said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7993403.stm
Published: 2009/04/10 11:33:28 GMT
© BBC MMIX
Updated: 10/4/2009
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