Thursday, March 08, 2007
McGeough reported to have been arrested
UTV reported that the Press Association were saying independent republican candidate Gerry McGeough, interviewed by Mick here, has been arrested in connection to an investigation, presumably by the Historical Enquiries Team, of a 1981 murder attempted murder of a UDR member in 1981. I’ll add reports as they appear. Updated susan pointed to this BBC report which states - “Police said they were questioning a 46-year-old man over serious terrorist crime dating back several years.” Adds BBC now noting a second, linked, arrest in Aughnacloy. And BBC now has some comments from SF
More From what I can gather, and Gerry Adams just referred to the arrests on RTÉ’s Prime Time, the man arrested in Aughnacloy appears to be, unlike Gerry McGeough, a member of SF. Last Update That would be the husband of a Sinn Féin councillor in Aughnacloy - Belfast Telegraph reportSinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew called for Mr McGeough’s release, describing the arrest as “political policing”. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams also said Mr McGeough should be set free. “He was campaigning openly and attended one of our meetings. He should be released,” he said.
According to the BBC report
“Police became aware that this individual had re-entered the jurisdiction some time ago but it was not possible to effect an arrest immediately because of the complexity of the investigation and the need to recover and re-examine evidence dating back many years.
“Police acted as soon as the required operational processes had been completed and the appropriate resources were in place.
“The rationale for the arrest and its timing was based on the police obligation to investigate serious crime,” a PSNI statement said.
As he left the count centre..
And the second arrest?
From the Belfast Telegraph report
Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh, South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew and Monaghan Sinn Fein councillor Brenda McAnespie described the arrests as “a disgraceful stunt”.
“Two of my constituents were arrested this evening,” said Ms Gildernew: “Gerry (McGeough) has been living openly in this constituency for some time, he’s a neighbour of mine, we live in the same townland and he could have been arrested at any time.
“I believe this is a stunt and it is an example of political policing and Gerry should be released immediately.
“Another constituent of mine was arrested in Aughnacloy. His house was raided, his sister was assaulted and on the warrant it said he was a dissident republican, which is absolutely not true. He is an active member of this party.
“This is one of the worst examples of political policing and the reason why we have to get rid of the people that are involved in creating this kind of mayhem on the day of an election.”
Pete Baker @ 06:13 PM
hilarious peteb thanks for the story
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:17 PMparci
I fail to see the humour in this.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:23 PMHoly fuck. Didn’t see that coming…
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:25 PMclue: they say humour is all about timing?
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:26 PMAt least somebody wants him.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:31 PMhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6432381.stm
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:37 PMit will be interesting to see if only dissident republicans are subject to arrest by the historical inquiries team.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:39 PMstupid, stupid timing!
A measure of any democracy is how it treats it’s politicians (especially those in opposition) and the activities of the police.
If GMcG needs to be questioned then take him in… but don’t do it in front of the ballot box.
Please note that I haven’t posted anything about GMcG, his past or present campaign but the activities, or worse still TIMING, of the police.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:43 PMI agree anonymous. At a time when the dissidents have been hammered at the polls giving them a propaganda opportunity like this was stupid. Unless of course there is a serious basis for the arrest but what are the chances. He’ll be released is a couple of days with the damage done.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:48 PManonymous: A measure of any democracy is how it treats it’s politicians (especially those in opposition) and the activities of the police.
Do you think politicians should have immunity? But your statement was correct - and politicians should be treated exactly the same as anyone else!
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:48 PMOh Dear,
Willing to take bets it is not HET though, more like C2 the political police.** shakes head**
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:49 PMRead the opening sequence of his novel, Defenders. It describes - in some detail - the bombing of an army patrol.
I was at Trinity at the same time as McGeough, and have interviewed him on more than one occasion, about his book, Nice, his leaving SF and various allegations.
One of the most high-tension debates I ever remember at College was between G McGeough and Ken Maginness, whose UDR colleague it is alleged McGeough encountered at close range.
Interesting chap.
Also stars in the opening sequence of Peter Taylor’s Provos, trying to procure US surface-to-air missiles to shoot down British army “warships in the skies”.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:52 PMMeanwhile Mitchell McLaughlin has been elected on the first count in South Antrim
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:55 PMGerry Adams says McGeough should be released… he can take it up with the Politing Board on the 27th.
BenPosted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:59 PMHenry,
I hope you will come to reassess your rash comments, one would have to be brain dead not to see this as intimidation. You claim the peace process is the way forward for all republicans, [the nationalist electorate have clearly shown they believe so too.] and you are well aware many active republicans have a history, a good many leading SF activists included. Sp pray tell how can republicans have confidence in the system if they face the threat of arrest at their count when they engage in democratic politics
The RUC/PSNI have had every opportunity to talk to GMcG in the last few years but have not done so. The Pastor Niemoller poem springs to mind here.
Good result so far from SF congratulations.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:08 PMReader “Do you think politicians should have immunity? But your statement was correct - and politicians should be treated exactly the same as anyone else!
No of course not. Sometimes I think they should get the guillotine… but I’m just a blogger (and not a v good one at that… hahaha … beat you to it)… not a member of the admin of the govern / any of the 1 to 4 estates.
So far GMcG has 814 votes… what’s the bets that we’ll still easily remember his arrest after more than 814 days? Whoever ordered his arrest is a clueless twit as this is similar to the media & police raid (storm in a tea cup & D Donaldson media event) on Stormont which brought all these elections about
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:10 PMmickhall: “I hope you will come to reassess your rash comments, one would have to be brain dead not to see this as intimidation.”
Riiiiight… he doesn’t break an eighth of the quota on the first count and noble 800 some odd what voted for him need to be “intimidated.” More than likely, this is apolitical policing, or at least politically tone-deaf policing.
Were this an attempt at intimidation, the arrest would have occurred prior to the balloting—there is no sense trying to intimidate the voters after the ballots have been cast.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:18 PMcivilian policing? if you believe that then I have some weapons of mass distruction to show you.
The day after Honest Tony promotes someone who probably had a say in the murders of innocent nationalists they arrest someone for killing soldiers!
where are the unionist collusion deniers who shout “it was a war it was a war”
They were just at that B***S*** yesterday
http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/reid-with-blairs-agreement-appoints-new-head-of-mi5/Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:24 PMOf course politicians should not be treated differently in law (yet we all know they are so treated) and, as important, police should not act nor be seen to act in a political matter. At this delicate time if political sensitivies were to have been a factor of influence upon the police by higher political masters then that ought to have been in ensuring that they acted like Caesar’s wife.
I fear this act smacks more of the crudity of Caligula.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:28 PMMeanwhile Mitchell McLaughlin has been elected on the first count in South Antrim
Posted by Henry94 on Mar 08, 2007 @ 06:55 PM
No real surprise, shinners canvassed hard here.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:31 PMThe new start to policing. Welcome to the PSNIRA-RUC. Still, SF are putting manners on them, so I’m sure it was all very civil....
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:32 PMI agree with mickhall.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:34 PMStevo: The new start to policing.
Irrelevant. SF failed to get immunity from prosecution during either the GFA or the StAA. The Historical Enquiries Team has been working for years. Did SF even *try* to stop that process? Welcome to the playing out of the inevitable.
mickhall: The Pastor Niemoller poem springs to mind here.
Yeah, right. What did Niemoller ever do to deserve what happened to him? Are you going to compare McGeough with Gandhi next?
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:50 PMNow who could this be. The MI5 spooks who are sending a clear message to us all saying we can still create Mayhem? Or Is it just the Branch.
Totally laughable. It appears that an UDR post-man who was in the Hall today and is also a Councillor suddenly realised....’hey I know him from somewhere..he’s the guy who tried to whack me in ‘81, according to the same press story. I feel like voting for McGeough meself now...but sure he’ll be out tomorrow with the norm ...file to DPP,....further investigations..crap type stuff.
Come on a good justice Minister to put a stop to this sort of thing.
Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:54 PMI feel like voting for McGeough meself now
Voting finished yesterday.Posted by on Mar 08, 2007 @ 08:04 PM
