Tuesday, March 20, 2007
“I think a more sinister element returned later..”
The ambulance crews are now safely out of the area, but the wreckage of the crashed helicopter remained until its removal today and police who were at the scene came under repeated attack yesterday and last night. This time the “kids with snowballs” had armed themselves with petrol bombs, numbering 30 in this report but the figure quoted on Talkback by a polioce spokesman was 70 - which is the number given here - as well as other missiles. MP for the area, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy has been widely quoted today, referring to a “sinister element” and “political influences” being behind the attacks.
“Our people were on the ground trying to get them to desist from the attacks,” he said. “I’m not sure it was well organised but I do suspect other influences there - political influences - but I can’t say that for sure.”
From the Belfast Telegraph report
Mr Murphy, who was at the scene until 10pm, today described the attacks as “unorganised” and claimed that those behind them only served to harm their own community.
“Our people were on the ground trying to get them to desist from the attacks,” he said.
“I’m not sure it was well organised but I do suspect other influences there - political influences - but I can’t say that for sure.”
Mr Murphy said parents and the community safety group also weighed in in what they believed was a successful bid to stop the youths.
Another frenzied attack, however, resumed before midnight.
“Our presumption was that things had settle down by 10pm,” said Mr Murphy. “I think a more sinister element returned later in the evening.”
And from the BBC report
He said Sinn Fein representatives in the area had talked to parents after the initial attacks and were able to get them stopped.
However, he said some youths returned at about midnight and resumed the violence.
He said those who did so “perhaps had more of an agenda to work out there”.
The Newry and Armagh MP said he would speak with people in the area on Tuesday.
“If I think that there is any information from the people who caused damage to the community last night it should be passed on to to the police, because those people who came later on and attacked only succeeded in harming their own community,” he said.
While in the Irish Times breaking news report
Chief Supt Bobby Hunniford said today: “Thankfully no one was injured but the blatant disregard for human life is deplorable. This isn’t the first time this has happened and it cannot be allowed to continue.
“In this era of wanting to move forward, it is totally unacceptable that police and other emergency services are met with bricks, bottles and petrol bombs when they respond to a call.”
And the best way to do that is for those responsible to be held to account in the courts.
Pete Baker @ 01:31 PM
‘parents and the community safety group also weighed in in what they believed was a successful bid to stop the youths.’
Hmm yes, presumably along the lines of: ‘Hi youse, stap wastin’ snow when there’s good stolen petrol ta thow.’ etc.
If that’s successful parental control then I’m a Republican.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:01 PM“the community safety group”
Is this an alternative ‘policing’ organisation?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:14 PM“Chief Supt Bobby Hunniford said today: “Thankfully no one was injured but the blatant disregard for human life is deplorable. This isn’t the first time this has happened and it cannot be allowed to continue.”
Thankfully, a voice of sanity crying out in the wilderness! Well said Supt Hunniford - the sooner these death traps are prevented from flying over vilian areas the better!
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:16 PM‘Hmm yes, presumably along the lines of: ‘Hi youse, stap wastin’ snow when there’s good stolen petrol ta thow.’ etc.’
Another pointless thread inviting the trolls to comment and sure enough from under the bridge they come.
Has this already not been covered on another thread or is this duplication simply a means of keeping the topic at the top of the site and thus inviting the trolling.PB you are increasingly shameless in your tactics.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:16 PM;-) vilian = civilian
(the dangers of a laptop keyboard on battery power)Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:18 PMI think it is an extremely entertaining way of baiting humourless neo-republican agit prop specialists into demcomissioning meself :)
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:36 PMyeah whatever BE
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 02:38 PMTrollin, trollin, trollin
Keep them comments rollin’
Pokin silly Shinners
Thin Hides!It’s just a mere distraction
But your grim faced reaction
Does no credit to your sunny side!THIN HIDE!
(repeat until sense of humour regained)
:)
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:02 PMDon’t feed the trolls especially the master troll PB!
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:03 PMTo all
Play the ball!
And in case it escaped anyone’s notice that centres on the attacks on the police detailed in the original post and the subsequent quotes - not the attacks on the ambulance crews on Sunday.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:03 PMPete
I had a post removed which compared you to Andrew McCann. Did he complain?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:13 PMHenry,
as Pete noted earlier “Mick’s taking a well-deserved break for a few days but he’ll be back soon”.Not wishing to be unkind to Mick, but it’s kind of like Blair going on holiday and leaving Prescott in charge.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:21 PMThere have been threads here on Slug that I have considered “questionable”. I have commented. I have been moderated and I have read and engaged with a variety of opinions. I listen to, and debate with, all shades of opinion but tell me why I, or visitors to this site, should have to endure the hateful narrow mindedness of SF sycophancy. The hypocrisy of “telling” others they are “anonymous trolls”, critising others for “shameless tactics”, feigning concern about “integrity of the site” (no pun intended), preferring to see the splinter in the eye of the other instead of the tree in your own eye. An identifiable personality on Slug is not obligatory is it? What’s more, avoiding such a thing lessens the risk of ad hominem irrelevancies surely?
As I see it, this thread, (as was the other), was not about “SF” rather to draw considerations about the professionalism of our MP. There is a difference. How he dealt with this matter is not a trivial matter and warrants debate, especially if he is to be involved in the running of the country. Progress will be made when SF stop putting party-power first and self interest before all else. Conor Murphy MP called this one wrong and deserves to be shown. This thread is less about “SF” and more about one man’s ineptitude. Let’s move on? FFS, “Snowballs!!!”
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:57 PMWhen are SF going to put some manners on these dregs?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:58 PMSlugger bloggers,
You will be relieved to know the helicopter has been removed.
This story will now end without you once having to address the issue of a miltary helicopter falling from the sky in a populated area and you managed to get in several digs at the shinners somehow.
Mission accomplished - all issues but one ignored and some spun from thin area. Good job.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 03:58 PMSuperSoupy, your patronising tone is offensive. If you feel agrieved at something not having been included on a thread, then why not take it up with Mick? It may be that a majority of people just do not agree with you and see things differently. Either way, tell some one who cares but don’t make us suffer your impetuous cries. Please?
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 04:10 PMvor,
I wasn’t talking to you. So take your melodrama to some one that gives a feck.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 04:16 PMvor (and you’re very welcome. I haven’t come accross your contributions before.)
Mick also thinks that complaining to him is the solution. I don’t agree. I think Pete should post whatever he wants. If I don’t think it makes sense I’ll comment to that effect.
That’s why we are all here and I hope you enjoy your stay.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 04:17 PMSoupy makes a good point about bringin an end to these military flights, however there is no report of Mr Murphy commenting about this here, it seems he preferred to play to the media’s agenda and condemn the locals who were clearly protesting about the presence of such flights, especially when they all but fall on their heads.
OK the youngsters were clearly not up to speed on the new political reality a la SF, but that is no reason to turn on your own so publicly simply to placate Paisley and the Viceroy.
No occupation, no military flights, no crash, no protest, no demos, violent or otherwise, simple really.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 04:20 PMMick,
Both Murphy (SF) and Bradley (SDLP) raised the ending of the flights and safety concerns.
Just because the blogger’s here thought it was not a ‘notable’ side of the story doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Don’t assume you are getting the full story via these blogs, it’s a point a few have raised.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 04:30 PMmickhall,
I saw a snippet of CM bringing up why these flights are still being used to make life a misery for the people of Cross and other places. Obviously these have ended up in the cutting room floor as indeed the media agenda you have alluded to went into overdrive.
It seems the Brirish army and their hangers-on on this sites till hark back to a bygone era when playing wargames in their expensive toys, all to keep the likes of Danny Kennedy quiet were the norm.
No, in the headlong rush to get something on SF, afterall things are getting harder by the day, a real analysis of what happened anf why has gone by the board.
Why are such flights needed? I would bet that the crime figures in that part of the world are some of the lowest in Ireland, yet unionists need their comfort blanket.Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 05:17 PMI still think this should have been the headline:
“If I think that there is any information from the people who caused damage to the community last night it should be passed on to to the police”Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 05:39 PM“The ambulance crews are now safely out of the area,..”
Pete Baker“And in case it escaped anyone’s notice that centres on the attacks on the police detailed in the original post and the subsequent quotes - not the attacks on the ambulance crews on Sunday.”
Difficult to see where people became confused, isn’t it Pete.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 06:05 PMCM was on BBC Newsline last night making the point about the continuing flights.
I also notice that while Ian jnr was pontificating on UTV last night the beeb didn’t give him the time of day.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 06:08 PMSoupy and Pat,
You both make fair points.
Regards.
Posted by on Mar 20, 2007 @ 06:30 PM
