This one is hard to believe. The Law is an ass and this jockey is a joke. Man given community service after contract shot 06/12/2004 – 11:55:38 A man who fired a sawn-off shot gun at a Nigerian man he was hired to klll for a IR£15,000 fee has been given 100 hours community service by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. John Byrne (aged 21) with a previous address at O’Hogan Road, Ballyfermot, had agreed to carry out the shooting after …
It’s not often I dare read anything in the Sunday Telegraph, but the last paragraph in this piece by Jenny McCartney is worth considering. There are 230 armed gangs in Ulster: is that peace?“One message must run right to the heart of any Northern Ireland deal: that every politician – whether republican or loyalist – must make an irreversible end to links with organised crime and paramilitary intimidation. Why? Because while England was wringing its hands last week over the …
From yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph, an article that will infuriate as many as it pleases. “The first history of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Thin Green Line, by historian Richard Doherty looks back over the 80 years of the RUC’s existence and assesses the role it has played in our turbulent history. In this exclusive extract, Doherty recalls how, despite sustaining terrible casualties itself, the RUC held the line between law and order and anarchy. It was undoubtedly, he maintains, a …
With a scaling down of paramilitaries, comes the inevitable cuts in security budgets. In the case of the PSNI a drop of £30m (€43m) over the next two years. 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
Shameful. Ahern says McCabe killers will be released under North deal The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has told the Dail that the IRA killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe will be freed from prison as part of a deal to restore power-sharing government in the North. Despite previously insisting that the men would serve their full sentences, Mr Ahern said today that he would be recommending their release as part of an agreement to secure complete IRA decommissioning. Gardai McCabe was …
Sharon O’Neil reports (subs needed) an interesting perspective on yesterday’s meeting between Sinn Fein and the Cheif Constable of the PSNI from historian Eammon Phoenix:”Not since 1922 has a Sinn Fein leader discussed policing with an official representative of the Northern Ireland state. “Craig met Collins and a Catholic recruiting committee was set up in Belfast, chaired by Bishop MacRory of Down and Connor to, if you like, select suitable Catholics for the police force. At that time this divided …
One last one before bed. A Sinn Fein delegation is to meet Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the PSNI. Although the topic of conversation is to be fairly uncontroversial, it’s being seen as hugely significant move in some circles. Orde has already told the Belfast Telegraph that he believes the party will recognise his force at some point. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …
Last week it was the IRA, this week it’s the UDA – Police swoop on UDA robbery gang Leopards and ‘spats’. Ambrose Uprichard
PIN collectors might have noticed that there are quite a few RUC badges, official and unofficial, being auctioned on ebay at the moment. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
PSNI tactics against dissident republicans seem to have heavily involved using agents provocateurs to set up suspected terrorists with false evidence, as this latest case illustrates. This is at least the third occasion this has happened, and is a major embarrassment for Chief Constable Hugh Orde. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
It seems that the Patten recommendation to introduce a registration scheme for Police Officers who are members of the Masons, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Orange Order, Apprentice Boys, Royal Black Institution, Opus Dei and Knights of St Columbanus turned out to be a damp squib. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk
The Blanket’s interview with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, previewed by Suzanne Breen in The Village magazine (courtesy of Newshound), is now available on-line. It’s a frank and wide-ranging interview.. well worth reading in full. Pete Baker
Nuzhound carries another impressive article by Suzanne Breen in the Village magazine. Anthony McIntyre interviews Hugh Orde. Ambrose Uprichard
Eric Waugh argues that Northern Ireland is already over resourced compared to other places in terms of police ratio to the population: “In the Republic there are just over 300 police per 100,000 population. Scotland has fewer than 300, England and Wales only 240, France about 360. We have nearly 550. So what is wrong?” What’s wrong, he claims, is the continuing politicking around the subject. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …
While the row over Denis Bradley’s comments rumbles on, with both SF and the DUP attempting to score political points, neither party appears to have seen the Irish Times report yesterday in which Denis Bradley did expand on his comments.It may have been because the Irish Times report was headlined as, Blair ‘optimistic’ on agreement (I’m paraphrasing) but there are direct quotes from Denis Bradley that are pertinent to the policing issue. Speaking to The Irish Times last night, Mr …
Today’s Irish Independent editorial succinctly endorses the recent comments by Denis Bradley – “what he wrote was no more than common sense”.The editorial put the comments into perspective by reminding us of the scenario Denis Bradley envisaged, and, in doing so, condemns the criticism by the DUP – “Denis Bradley, vice-chairman of the Policing Board, wrote in a newspaper column about the crisis that will arise if the Irish and British governments and the Northern parties fail to agree in …
Denis Bradley has suggested that Nationalists that have previously made the required leap of faith and public supported the policing boards, may have to reconsider. In the face of the pro-longed political stalemate, they are amongst those groups who are facing the greatest political strain, as the Republican areas they often spring from are not being policed properly. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …
Alex Attwood, the SDLP’s security spokesman, has called for the IMC to name names in its next report arguing that criminality in Northern Ireland is the biggest single threat to business and democracy. 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
AS a PSNI officer cops flak *groan* for using CS gas spray in a Derry disturbance, Dublin hosts a conference on less-lethal weapons. Gerry Kelly has called for an end to plastic bullets ahead of the conference, but then the IRA always did prefer the more-lethal alternative. Dublin’s left seems equally outraged at the Jane’s Defence-sponsored event. Pick up a brochure here, but if you’re protesting outside, remember to duck if staff decide to demonstrate products in the field.Since the …
DID anyone hear former District Policing Partnership member and Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland on BBC Newsline? After a PSNI raid to seize counterfeit goods in East Belfast, he accused the police of being heavy-handed. NEVER have I heard anyone in the UUP sound so like a member of Sinn Fein after any raid in the West of the city. DUP councillor Harry Toan minimised the impact of the alleged crime too (click ‘More’). What fantastic leadership!Copeland said: “We had …
