Questions remain over PSNI handling of Coleraine murder
The fact that disquiet regarding the PSNI’s handling of events in Coleraine culminating in the murder of Kevin McDaid is growing is evident in the swift appearance of an Assistant Chief Constable on the television today and by the actions of the Chief Constable in calling in the Police Ombudsman to investigate the incident. The most serious allegation- directly refuted by Assistant Chief Constable, Alistair Finlay- is that PSNI officers watched on as the 49 year old catholic was beaten to death, an allegation attributed to Mr. McDaid’s family. But there are other, significant and serious questions which must be asked of and answered by the PSNI in the coming days.
The speed and seeming certainty with which ACC Finlay dismissed allegations of loyalist paramilitary involvement is noteworthy, but upon closer examination it is easy to see why he should be so concerned to divert attention from this line of thought.
We are led to believe that the PSNI were liaising between community representatives throughout the day due to growing tensions of a loyalist ‘invasion’ of the area, yet ACC Finlay brushed aside queries regarding why the police failed to maintain a presence in the area. Could it perhaps be the case that, once the local police had ‘assurances’ from certain loyalist leaders that there would not be an attack they simply took them at their word and left the scene? That would certainly explain why he was so keen to divert attention away from organised loyalist involvement, and his depiction of those responsible as a “maverick” group.
Which raises another question. The local PSNI would have been fully aware that a similar, vicious sectarian mob attack on this small largely catholic community occurred less than a year ago, when loyalists objected to the gathering of items for an internment bonfire in ‘their’ town. That incident led to considerable criticisms from local nationalist and republican representatives, and to my knowledge no prosecutions. Given the precedent, why would the local PSNI not have taken steps to ensure that an effective police presence was maintained in the very real event of a sectarian attack on this occasion?
And then there’s this.
The Irish News report today carries this from an unnamed ‘witness’:
….a mediation police officer had told nationalists that an agreement had been reached with loyalists in the town that they would tolerate the flying of tricolours in the Pates Lane/ Somerset Drive area on Sunday as long as they were taken down the following morning.”
The actions of the PSNI officers during the day in ‘liaising’ with community representatives to reach an understanding to defuse tensions must also be looked at. As you can see above, it was reported in the print media today that a ‘deal’ had been struck to remove the Irish National flag and bunting from the district within a 24 hour period, presumably in return for something from loyalists- should we assume that that something was an assurance from a loyalist paramilitary source to the PSNI that there would be no ‘action’ taken against the local catholic populace?
All of which is revealing of a PSNI mentality towards the flying of flags which runs completely contrary to the PSNI response to the erection of loyalist flags in many mixed residential areas across the north- not to mention areas which are predominantly protestant. The thought will no doubt occur to many that, if republicans were of a mind (and thankfully they are not) to demand the removal of loyalist bunting and flags from a largely protestant district in a majority catholic town in return for not ‘invading’ the area, would the PSNI response have been different?
“The word tribe is a word often used by Bi Maggie but not in the context in which you use it. As you are someone who quite often posts thought provoking comment I am surprised you see this “two tribes” concept as black and white. ”
When wading into a bun-fight, one aims for the lowest common denominator. Like I said, that post wasn’t strictly for your consumption in toto.
My main point was that this exchange has hit the proverbial wall. There is no exchange of ideas here, merely verbal broadsides and sniping. While I treasure the fact that the majority of sniping and broadsides in N.I. are now verbal, the next phase is for people of goodwill to come together to move forward.
wee man …. been 25 years since some one called me that, Thanks(I mean that)
And I will stand behind anything I said
Dread
“While I treasure the fact that the majority of sniping and broadsides in N.I. are now verbal, the next phase is for people of goodwill to come together to move forward.”
Agreed DC
There does need to be a starting block e.g. unionists acceptance that groups like Sinn Fein have moved forward and the acceptance from others that Unionism is a broad family which should never be generalised. Vauge generalisations always come across as offensive.
Paul
“And I will stand behind anything I said”
I only want you to back up your claims that I am a defender of murderers. If you can´t do that you really should just shut up before you embarass yourself further.
USA
Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Doctor Who,
For what it’s worth I don’t consider you to be a defender of murderers.
Paul,
You really should retract that.
Doctor Who Spouts,
Now telling others to “shut up” (did you invent that phrase also?). Another typical response from someone with an inflated sense of themselves.
You are a disgrace.
“As you join the other less eduacated individulas on this thread…” – Doctor Who in response to an earlier post of mine.
’nuff said. Comment is superfluous (with apologies for any big words, Doc).
Is this another Chris Donnely thread?
I will not be blogging as he allows others to blog in my name.
Big Maggie: Yes, a Loyalist is a Unionist. End of story. I can understand the irritation of some Unionists here when I refer to Loyalists as their “fellow Unionists”.
Actually, that’s a euphemism too, isn’t it? Since you regard the murder as sectarian, not political, it is more certain that the murderers are Protestant than Unionist (especially since I expect some of them are actually Ulster Nationalist, if they were ever sober or articulate enough to say so).
Besides your labelling being made more internally consistent, the other plus is that I think Doctor Who wouldn’t mind you referring to the murderers as Protestants. I wouldn’t.
Go on, you know you want to.
Reader,
No, I don’t.
rory
Was left with a bit of egg on my face there Rory, although do you really have to be so sanctimonious.
By the way did you ever do those O level resits all those years ago at Belfast Tech.
Some things never change….
USA,
I may not agree all the time with “Ulster” but he has a very valid gripe.
How would you like it if somebody hijacked your handle and posted stuff that was at odds with your views? I think Chris could do worse than keep an eye on such things. They diminish Slugger.
Big Maggie: No, I don’t.
Why not Maggie? I have explained why protestant is a more accurate description of the murderers in this sectarian murder case than your preferred term(s). So why did you prefer the broad term ‘unionist’ over ‘loyalist’, yet you reject the undeniably accurate term ‘protestant’? Are you beginning to grasp what your broad brush work actually means?
Reader,
Oh all right, if you insist. If you’ve lived in NI as long or longer than I have—that’s over a decade now—you’ll know that Unionists with few exceptions are Protestant, and Nationalists with few exceptions are baptized Roman Catholics.
It’s shorthand, I’ll grant you that, but it’s common currency. So when a Nationalist is murdered by a Unionist mob it’s safe to say that few if any of his attackers are Catholic. They’ll be Protestants of some flavour or other, even if they attend church rarely if not at all.
Both Nationalists and Unionists belong to one of two tribes. The designations “Catholic” and “Protestant” will cover the situation. I assume we’re in broad agreement here.
When a Hindu Nationalist mob in Coleraine murders a Muslim Unionist then you and I know we’re in real trouble.
I hope this is helpful.
pot on mqaggie I wish the press etc would use the designations protestant and catholic when identifyiny the tribes
Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics
And the Catholics hate the Protestants
And the Hindus hate the Moslems
And everybody hates the Jews
But during National Brotherhood Week
National Brotherhood Week
It’s National Everyone-Smile-At-
One-Another-hood Week
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you
It’s only for a week, so have no fear
Be grateful that it doesn’t last all year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlJ8ZCs4jY
Dreath Cthulhu,
Many thanks for that! I’d almost forgotten Tom Lehrer.
“Step up and shake the hand of someone you despise” is far better wisdom than can be found in the New Testament.
“Was left with a bit of egg on my face there Rory, although do you really have to be so sanctimonious.
I wasn’t being sanctimonious, Doc. I was really being a wee bit mean as I could see that your errors were more likely caused by mis-keying than poor spelling. But you did set yourself up for your own comeuppance with your own silly little attempt to demean my supposed lack of educational achievement. I say “silly” because I am not in the least fazed by attempts at juvenile insult. I am happy with myself and within myself for the most part and it’s good of you to admit to your faux pas.
Rory
Was a little juvenile I must say, although my aim was not to demean you in any way.
For what it´s worth I usually do find your comments humourous when intended, and at other times food for thought.