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http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0210/breaking85.htm
Tue, Feb 10, 2009
The Democratic Unionist Party is to table a motion in the Stormont Assembly recommending that public representatives should not have to reveal where they obtained sensitive information.
The move comes as the party’s North Antrim representative Ian Paisley Jnr faces a High Court challenge to try to compel him to disclose the identity of a prison officer to an inquiry team that is investigating the murder of a loyalist prisoner during the Troubles.
Mr Paisley has claimed the officer told him that official documents were destroyed in the wake of Billy Wright’s murder by republican inmates inside the Maze prison in 1997.
But the son of former DUP leader and Northern Ireland’s former first minister the Rev Ian Paisley is determined not to reveal the officer’s name.
The DUP will also be tabling a similar motion at Westminster on the issue.
Mr Paisley Jnr said there was a central and important issue at stake. “Members of the public who bring information to the attention of any public representative need to have confidence that the information they provide will be treated in a confidential manner,” he said.
“When people go to speak to their GP, their solicitor, the police or even a priest, information is treated on a confidential basis. The same rules need to apply to individuals who approach their Assembly member.”
PA
© 2009 irishtimes.com
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/army-defuses-pipe-bombs-left-in-street-14182338.html
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Three viable pipebombs — one packed with nails — were defused during a security alert in west Belfast yesterday.
The devices were discovered in the Shields Street area of the Falls Road at 8am. The find triggered a major police operation with the busy road closed for much of the morning.
Army technical officers attended the scene and removed the bombs after making them safe.
Last night, PSNI Chief Inspector Amanda Cooke revealed that one of the bombs was filled with nails.
“If one of these had gone off there was every chance it could have either seriously injured or even killed someone in the area,” she said.
Sinn Fein West Belfast Assembly member Paul Maskey condemned those responsible.
“This morning's find shows a total disregard for the community of the Falls Road and their |safety,” he said.
“Anyone who knows that area knows well that weekday mornings see the road choc-a-bloc with children travelling to school, people heading to work as well as many other people going about their daily business.”
SDLP MLA for the area Alex Attwood said the three pipe bombs were designed to kill.
“The people who placed these devices are to be condemned,” he said.
Meanwhile, a suspicious object found near the courthouse in |Armagh has been declared a hoax.
www.madden-finucane.com
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Thursday 12th February marks the 20th anniversary of the murder of human rights solicitor Patrick Finucane.
His murder was carried out by UDA agents, planned by the British army’s Force Research Unit, upon the British Government’s direction. There have been government appointed investigations including those by John Stevens and Judge Peter Corry which all justify the Finucane family’s conviction that state sponsored collusion was the director and executor of Patrick Finucane. Despite the unquestionable evidence and assurances at varying stages of political negotiations the British government has refused to comply with its obligations to provide a full independent international public inquiry into the murder of this human rights solicitor.
Patrick Finucane was a son, a husband, a father of three and a brother who is dearly missed by his family. He was a pioneer in human rights advocacy and his legacy lives on through the new generation of human rights lawyers who carried on his work and proceeded him. He represented those most dispossessed, censored and marginalized during the conflict, and is remembered for his vigour and commitment to cases which hitherto had seemed hopeless. It was this dedication which led to him being targeted and executed.
In his memory and in order to highlight the burning demand for truth around his death Relatives for Justice will be organizing two events on the day of Pat Finucane’s anniversary.
On Thursday 12th February at 12.30pm there will be a vigil of remembrance at the High Court, Chichester Street, Mike Ritchie Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice and Monsignor Raymond Murray, friend of Pat Finucane and founder member of Relatives for Justice, will be speaking.
That evening at 7pm in St Mary’s College Falls Road there will be a Public Meeting – Pat Finucane: Time for Truth. This public meeting will be addressed by Seamus Finucane, brother of Pat, Peter Madden, Pat’s law practice partner , Jim McCabe, husband of Nora McCabe, whom Pat Finucane represented, Alex Maskey MLA, who was targeted by UDA agent Brian Nelson and subsequently shot and injured. The event will be chaired by Relatives for Justice chairperson and friend of Pat Finucane Clara Reilly.
Madden & Finucane Solicitors. 88 Castle Street, Belfast, BT1 1HE
DX 434 NR
T:+44 (0) 28 9023 8007 F:+44 (0) 28 9043 9276
www.madden-finucane.com
http://www.westtyronesinnfein.com/
Published: 10 February, 2009
Sinn Féin Omagh District councillor and chairperson of ICBAN, Frankie Donnelly has said the report from PricewaterhouseCoopers highlights Sinn Fein's position; that a radical approach is required to tackle the underinvestment and lack of economic activity in the North West.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers report also reveals that new arrangements for local government will not be enough to close the prosperity gap between the north west and Belfast and that the two proposed new councils - Derry City & Strabane and Fermanagh & Omagh - will inherit a substantial economic and social deficit.
Councillor Donnelly also called on the Executive to deliver on its commitment to tackle regional disparities and for a new policy to underpin economic development across the new council areas encompassing Derry City & Strabane, and Fermanagh and Omagh.
Cllr Donnelly said: "We in Sinn Féin have constantly highlighted the need for investment west of the Bann. The area has suffered as a result of under investment in terms of infrastructure, economic strategies and the lack of direct investment over the past number of decades.
"I believe there should be a government interventionist approach in terms of economic investment in the North West. The Government needs to influence the regional economic development.
"The report highlights and recognises that unless there is a radical change and rethink the west of the Bann will continue to suffer economically and socially. The legacy of failed economic policy and under investment west of the Bann needs to be fundamentally addressed.
Local MP for the area Pat Doherty added: "The PricewaterhouseCoopers report reinforces Sinn Féin's long standing argument that an affirmative action plan needs to be implemented to tackle the historical legacy of neglect in council areas west of the Bann.
"Sinn Féin put this priority at the centre of the Executive's Programme for Government and Investment Strategy and while some major infrastructural projects such as the A5 dual carriageway and the expansion of the Ulster University Magee Campus in Derry are now in the pipeline, there needs to be affirmative action from all Assembly Departments to honour the commitments in the Programme for Government.
"As the Report highlights, the legacy of failed economic policy and under investment west of the Bann needs to be fundamentally addressed to stop the gap between east and west of the Bann increasing further and Sinn Féin will continue to pursue this equality agenda vigorously within the Executive.