Provisional IRA – Page 6 – Slugger O'Toole

“As a British citizen I have always objected to being forced into bankruptcy in a foreign jurisdiction…”

Pete Baker on June 17, 2012, 6:34 pm

| Readers 62

Sean Quinn isn’t the only high-profile individual to have a UK bankruptcy ruling annulled by the courts. As the BBC report notes The British bankruptcy of Tom McFeely, an IRA hunger striker turned developer, has been annulled by a court in London. Mr McFeely had failed to disclose all relevant details in his application. He is one of Ireland’s most controversial property developers – one of his apartment blocks was so shoddily built its residents had to move out over over …

“I don’t think this generation is any different than the last…”

Pete Baker on May 14, 2012, 4:33 pm

| Readers 83

The Guardian’s Henry McDonald reports from anarchic Londonderry on the continuing activities of vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD). Watch the accompanying video report here. From the Guardian report Some RAAD members are ex-Provisionals who back the peace process but still take up the gun against members of their own communities accused of antisocial activities. Others connected to RAAD have joined organisations such as the Real IRA, which is also running a campaign of terror attacks against police officers, security …

“RAAD was founded in 2008 by members and recent ex-members of the Provisional IRA in Derry…”

Pete Baker on May 4, 2012, 1:22 pm

| Readers 1063

With Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) claiming responsibility for recent shootings and threats in anarchic Londonderry, in the Belfast Telegraph Eamonn McCann provides some clarity on the vigilante group’s background. News reports which have lumped RAAD in with the Real IRA or Continuity IRA are wide of the mark and a source of confusion. RAAD was founded in 2008 by members and recent ex-members of the Provisional IRA in Derry. It made its ‘debut’ in April the following year, admitting responsibility …

“Given these circumstances we believe the soldiers used reasonable force.”

Pete Baker on May 3, 2012, 1:36 pm

| Readers 119

After 8 weeks of evidence, and 3 days of deliberation, a Belfast jury has delivered their verdict in the inquest into the deaths of Provisional IRA members Dessie Grew and Martin McCaughey in County Armagh in 1990. The Detail’s Barry McCaffrey recounts some of the legal arguments from the inquest before reporting the verdict. Shortly after 2pm the foreman of the jury, identified only as C13, told coroner Brian Sherrard that they had reached agreement on the facts of the …

Smithwick Tribunal: “members of the PIRA are anxious the tribunal complete its work as soon as possible…”

Pete Baker on May 1, 2012, 2:34 pm

| Readers 70

Here’s a snippet of interest from the Irish Times’ report on the latest evidence to the Smithwick Tribunal. From the Irish Times report The Smithwick Tribunal is becoming a “significant issue” among republicans who are concerned it is uncovering information on past murders, the tribunal has been told. According to a précis of intelligence information gleaned by the PSNI within the last year, and aired at the tribunal this morning, “members of the PIRA are anxious the tribunal complete its …

The End of the Northern Ireland Model of Peace Processing?

Pete Baker on April 29, 2012, 6:12 pm

| Readers 71

Even with the recent apparent spike in terrorist activity, including a large car bomb abandoned near Newry, and public paramilitary displays, it’s probably premature to talk of “the IRA’s resurgence”. But that’s the reference used in this article by Michael Rubin Perhaps the most important fact I learned was that British security officials believe that their pact with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) may be unraveling. British intelligence and counter terror officials are now tracking and interrupting more IRA terror planning that at …

Denis Donaldson inquest adjourned for ninth time…

Pete Baker on April 27, 2012, 2:58 pm

| Readers 62

I had lost count… There was no sudden flurry of activity, unlike that which accompanied last year’s adjournment, but yesterday a Garda Superintendent did seek, and was granted, a further 6 month adjournment of the inquest into the death of former senior Sinn Féin member Denis Donaldson in 2006 – responsibility for which was claimed by the Real IRA. From the RTÉ report Supt Michael Finan told Coroner Dr Denis McCauley in Letterkenny today that he was seeking a further adjournment of the inquest …

“…involved in criminal activity of any sort within G District from July 1, 2010 to July 28, 2011”

Pete Baker on April 20, 2012, 2:53 pm

| Readers 37

Given the PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggot’s current concern about certain communities, and confidence, here’s a Londonderry Sentinel report that may be of relevance. It relates to an incident in the city in August 2010 which, at the time, was blamed on dissenting republicans. From the Sentinel report At the time locals said that around 20 masked men appeared in the Campion Court area having disembarked from a white van. They began to remove materials intended for use at a bonfire …

“this scam was set up, co-ordinated and run by members of the Provisional IRA based in south Armagh.”

Pete Baker on April 13, 2012, 2:07 pm

| Readers 537

Here’s a court case that might be worth keeping an eye on. From the breakingnews.ie report Gerard Giffney (aged 51), who had been originally from Tynan Hall Grove, in Tallaght, Dublin, appeared in court this morning after he was extradited from the UK. Mr Giffney, who had worked as a Revenue official in the 1990s, faced 22 charges relating to the defrauding of €112,000 from the Revenue Commissioners on dates in 2003, in Tallaght. The charges include deception and attempted deception contrary …

“the war against British rule must continue until freedom is achieved…”

Pete Baker on April 10, 2012, 4:21 pm

| Readers 89

Dissenting republicans gave their response yesterday to Sinn Féin’s various Easter messages – Declan Kearney’s “there is no other IRA“, Gerry Adams’ seven step ‘plan’, or Martin McGuinness’ “We are on the road to freedom” [and his responsibility “to defend and promote the integrity of our struggle” – Ed]. And it was delivered to a reported audience of “several hundred people” at Londonderry’s City Cemetery. It’s of a more traditional flavour… From the Derry Journal report “The IRA will continue to attack …

Other reasons for McArdle’s resignation?

Turgon on March 14, 2012, 8:45 pm

| Readers 128

Mick has some thoughts on Mary McArdle standing down as a special advisor below. It may have been that Sinn Fein or Ms. McArdle felt the need for her to move on and as Mick says Ann Travers may on UTV have been determined to see it as an act of reconciliation. A slightly different analysis of the situation is presented by the News Letter. Ms Travers said she thought the reason for the timing of the resignation may have …

Mary McArdle to leave post

Turgon on March 13, 2012, 10:44 pm

| Readers 61

The BBC are reporting that the special advisor to Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin, the convicted murderer, Mary McArdle, is to leave her post “soon.” This is apparently as part of normal party policy to rotate staff. Ann Travers the sister of Mary Travers (McArdle’s victim who was murdered whilst leaving church in 1984) has apparently said on Twitter: “Just heard, Mary McArdle has stepped aside and moved to another job for SF, Thrilled, wish she had done it in …

Terrorists and Forgiveness

Turgon on March 1, 2012, 12:47 pm

| Readers 63

The News Letter yesterday had an article quoting (and interviewing Ian Bothwell of the Crossfire Trust in Darkley). He suggests that some Republicans he has spoken to are “seeking forgiveness for their past.” From the News letter: He says he knows several former IRA members who would like closure on the deeds they have committed in the past. “We are talking about a number of republicans who have engaged in front-line activity,” he told the News Letter. “They would like …

“The agency’s investigation has produced evidence of what might be characterised as a lawless lifestyle”

Pete Baker on February 27, 2012, 10:04 pm

| Readers 372

The BBC reports the delayed start of the Serious Organised Crime Agency’s [SOCA] application for a civil recovery order of property and assets belonging to Seamus Francis Mullan. A former member of the Provisional IRA who was serving a life imprisonment sentence for the 1985 murder of an off-duty RUC officer before being freed on early release licence in 1998, Mullan was arrested in 2006 on money laundering and fraud charges – at the time he was described in court as a “disaffected republican”. Subsequently, the …

“this device may have been here for some considerable time, possibly many years…”

Pete Baker on January 28, 2012, 10:23 pm

| Readers 38

There’s good news, and there’s bad news, as a 36 hour security alert in Kinawley, County Fermanagh, ends with two controlled explosions by the British Army’s bomb disposal team and the removal of a viable device “for further forensic examination”. From the BBC report Police have said that a bomb found in a field in County Fermanagh may have been there for many years. Army bomb experts carried out two controlled explosions on the device found by the Drumroosk Road in …

Boston College: A glimpse of the archive…

Pete Baker on January 24, 2012, 4:55 pm

| Readers 55

Let’s keep the dialogue ‘hinged’ this time. With Ed Moloney and Anthony McIntyre aiming to try to head the US Government off at the pass, the legal battle over each ruling along the way continues in the PSNI/HET’s attempt to access some of the material in the Boston College Belfast Project archive. In the meantime, however, Boston-based lawyer, Ted Folkman has been following the legal arguments. And he’ll be live-blogging today’s hearing [7pm GMT – Added link]. He’s already noted …

Twentieth anniversary of Teebane

Turgon on January 17, 2012, 3:40 pm

| Readers 820

Almost any date in Northern Ireland is the anniversary of a death from the Troubles. Often the less iconic are forgotten about. As such marking one event may be unfair to the relatives of the less well known about deaths. Sometimes, however, the anniversary is such that is should be marked. This is the 20th anniversary of the Teebane murders. 20 years ago this evening a group of workmen were returning home from working on Lisanelly army base in Omagh: …

“and ‘Soon’ would have known this”

Pete Baker on January 2, 2012, 3:01 pm

| Readers 82

Perhaps the most interesting [and least covered? – Ed] response to the release of UK National Archive files from 1981 was that of the Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, TD. An edited version of his blog post appeared at the Guardian. The interesting part is not his declaration of “Another myth busted”. That particular “war of words”, as Brian Rowan says, “will go on”. The interest is in Adams’ calling into question “the relationship between London and ‘Soon’” – Londonderry businessman Brendan Duddy – …

Boston College to hand over Dolours Price interviews

Pete Baker on December 30, 2011, 2:15 pm

| Readers 44

According to Kevin Cullen, reporting for the Irish Times, US district court judge William Young is continuing his in camera review of the Boston College archive material. And he has already ordered the college to hand over the recorded interviews of former Provisional IRA member Dolours Price. From the Irish Times report College officials said Ms Price’s interviews will be turned over to US prosecutors acting on behalf of British authorities, believed to be the PSNI, by today. US district …

Boston College Ruling: “These are serious allegations, and they weigh strongly in favor of disclosing the confidential information.”

Pete Baker on December 17, 2011, 11:56 am

| Readers 23

Via Newshound. The Boston Globe reports the long awaited US court ruling on the release of the Boston College archive material. And it’s something of a half-way house. For now. From the Boston Globe report A federal judge rejected yesterday a motion by the trustees of Boston College to quash subpoenas that order them to turn over recordings of former members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and other items to British officials investigating crimes including murder and kidnapping. But Judge …