Policing

KEEP an eye out for Brian Feeney’s column in the Irish News today (and probably Newshound tomorrow). Feeney argues that the IRA has become a millstone around Sinn Fein’s neck, and believes IRA activities that have been long ignored by the Irish Government will be focused upon by the Gardai while the current political limbo persists. Irish patience is wearing thin, but perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel?Feeney writes: The Irish government has clearly decided to …

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IRISH Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has said that a test of Sinn Fein’s opposition to criminality would be to turn in the killers of Bert McCartney. Ahern met the vicim’s family today, and said it was the patriotic duty of anybody who witnessed the killing of to come forward and talk to the PSNI. Since policing and acceptance of hte rule of law is absolutely key to the future political stability of Northern Ireland the significance of how events unfold …

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The Chairman of the Policing Board, Desmond Rea, yesterday resigned as a non-executive director of Ivy Wood Properties, a subsidiary of Harcourt Developments – following Phil Flynn’s resignation from Harcourt, one more resignation to add to the previous list. In his statement Desmond Rea said “I would like to make it entirely clear that I know of no information whatsoever to link Ivy Wood Properties or the development in Belfast to any wrongdoing.”.. but that he “could not afford to …

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The Parades Commission is to get greater powers under new laws announced by Northern Ireland’s Security Minister Ian Pearson and will be in place for this year’s marching season.The move follows the Quigley review into parades and the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee’s investigation into the issue. However, according to the BBC report, the review’s recommendation for two separate bodies to replace the commission, will not be implemented. “The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee concluded that the Parades Commission remains the best …

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An interesting editorial in the Belfast Telegraph on the signing at Hillsborough Castle today of ground breaking protocols between the PSNI and the Garda Siochana, also reported here, observes that “Such a move would have raised hackles in bygone years, but there is a growing acknowledgement within all parties of the need to co-operate in the fight against crime and terrorism.” – although, some hackles have been raised Pete Baker

An agreement allowing for police officers from the Irish Republic to serve in Northern Ireland and vice versa is to be signed Monday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde and Noel Conroy, Commissioner of the Garda Siochana will sign joint protocols at Hillsborough which allow personnel exchanges and secondments between the forces.The signing, at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, will be attended by the Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell. The …

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The BBC are reporting that the PSNI have confirmed that the £50,000, in 5 shrink-wrapped bundles of consecutively numbered notes (sound like new notes that would have been virtually impossible to pass on), found at the Newforge Country Club in Belfast were from the Northern Bank heist. Meanwhile, RTÉ is reporting that it “understands that tests on the £60,000 seized at a house at Douglas in Cork City will confirm that it came from December’s raid on the Northern Bank”. …

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Yes, well… That’s a couple of the political reactions noted by the Irish Examiner, which recaps the story so far, and names several of those arrested – apart from, bizarrely, the former SF councillor and election agent (who has been named elsewhere as Tom Hanlon). And provides a brief background to the money lender whose house was raided yesterday.According to the Irish Examiner Ted Cunningham, who is a registered moneylender, was placed under surveillance several months ago by Special Branch …

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RTE is reporting that in a series of raids by Garda officers, in an “investigation focused on money-laundering” 7 people have been arrested, 4 in Cork and 3 in Dublin.. According to the RTE report “the gardaí seized more than £2m sterling in the Cork operations, which targetted funding to the Provisional IRA” and “they seized £60,000 which they believe to have come from the raid on the Northern Bank.” – The BBC is also reporting the RTE story but …

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The Newsletter’s leader this morning notes that the pressure on the Repoublican movement is twofold, locally in the Short Strand area, and internationally from the local US Consul General, Dean Pittman. It refers to the IRA’s statement last night as a surprising and unprecedented intervention.It notes: This in effect comes very close to suggesting that anyone with information about the murder should pass it on to the legitimate law-enforcement agency in this jurisdiction, which happens to be the PSNI. And …

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According to Breaking News “The IRA tonight washed their hands of the republicans suspected of a Belfast pub brawl murder.” IRA speak out against ‘brutal’ McCartney killing In a statement tonight, the IRA said it was not involved in what it described as a brutal killing. But significantly, they added: “Those who were involved must take responsibility for their own actions which run contrary to republican ideals.” Ambrose Uprichard

There are a lot of accusations flying about at the moment. According to the Examiner the full force of the IRA is now being used to intimidate witnesses. In place of a lack of common agreement on a policing service, focus may be shifting to the precise nature of Sinn Fein’s objections to current policing and criminal arrangements in Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …

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Today, Hugh Orde gives Sharon O’Neill an interview focused on recent events (subs needed). The Bank raid and its consequences are in the foreground> He remains resolute on bringing the robbers to justice, but would welcome Sinn Fein onto the Policing Board: “If Sinn Fein don’t want to join, go and ask them why. They can join tomorrow as far as I am concerned”.On sharing evidence in public he says: We cannot share intelligence and evidence which will eventually, if …

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Declan O’Loan gave a briefing yesterday on the impressive rise in the numbers of Catholics who’ve joined the police since the signing of the Belfast Agreement. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

SIR John Stevens, who investigated collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, retires from the Metropolitan Police today. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Nigel Dodds of the DUP has criticised the PSNI’s apparent softly, softly approach to escalating Loyalist violence after attacks on Taxis and two women over the week-end. Ambrose Uprichard

UTV reports Arrests due after Northern Bank robbery. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke claims that “Both the PSNI and gardai observed meetings between republicans they suspect planned the robbery and senior Sinn Fein figures, including Gerry Adams.”From UTV : Gardai are expected to co-operate with the PSNI to carry out a series of raids in border counties. It follows an massive intelligence gathering operation, which include taped telephone conversations that indicate IRA involvement. Ambrose Uprichard

Hugh Orde has met with the policing board. His job is on the line. If wrong on this robbery he goes. The flip side – if Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness are wrong, will they go ?Orde ‘identifies’ Northern robbers Both nationalist SDLP and Democratic Unionist representatives of the authority emerged from a two-hour briefing at their Belfast headquarters convinced that detectives hunting the gang were on top of the investigation. Ambrose Uprichard

Hugh Orde is briefing the Policing Board today on progress or otherwise of the investigation into the Belfast bank heist. Although the DUP is calling for a beefing up of the PSNI’s intelligence gatherig capacity, Alex Attwood of the SDLP is confident that current reforms will strengthen the PSNI, when they run through. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular …

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