Terrorism – Page 8 – Slugger O'Toole

“The Facebook campaign is one tactic…”

Pete Baker on June 9, 2012, 11:12 pm

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In response to the anarchy in Londonderry, and elsewhere, the PSNI have launched a Facebook campaign… Police are urging young people from all communities to help drive the figures down even further with help from social media. “The Facebook campaign is one tactic designed specifically to reach out to those over 16 who may have information,” said Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris. “These groups are self-serving, self-named, accountable to no one, elected by no one and they are carrying out …

“Sinn Féin in my opinion has been slowly sedated…”

Pete Baker on May 24, 2012, 2:49 pm

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In light of Mick’s post, and now Brian’s follow-up, it’s worth noting an Irish News report today of Ballymoney Councillor Anita Cavlan’s resignation from Sinn Féin “over concerns it is failing prisoners”. From the Irish News report The Ballymoney councillor said she believed Sinn Féin had “lost direction” and “should be doing more to represent the prisoners”. “Sinn Féin in my opinion has been slowly sedated and now has been rendered unconscious by the intoxication of an illusionary power to govern,” she said. According …

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

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

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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

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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 …

de Juana Chaos loses extradition appeal [in absentia]

Pete Baker on May 3, 2012, 9:01 pm

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Despite their client jumping bail in March 2010, and disappearing into the ether, lawyers acting on behalf of the convicted ETA killer, Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, continued “with instructions” in the appeal against his extradition to Spain to face a charge of glorifying terrorism. Two years later, and Belfast High Court has dismissed that appeal. [Where are they sending the bill? – Ed] Good question. From the BBC report Judges ruled that while the European Arrest Warrant was “unquestionably imperfect”, it was …

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

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

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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 …

“Over the next fortnight the black flag of anarchy will fly over Free Derry Corner…”

Pete Baker on May 2, 2012, 12:42 pm

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As a Belfast Telegraph report tells us Over the next fortnight the black flag of anarchy will fly over Free Derry Corner… It’s been flying there for some time… Pete Baker

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

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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 …

“since last February, we have facilitated the forced departure of 57 young people…”

Pete Baker on April 30, 2012, 12:30 pm

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To be filed alongside the report of the 18-year-old shot in both legs in the Creggan estate in Londonderry. While his mother waited at the top of the lane… According to the Irish Times headline – “Five forced to flee Derry city after death threats“. Except… From the report A DERRY community worker who helps young people who have been threatened by the vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs, said yesterday that five young men were forced to flee the …

The End of the Northern Ireland Model of Peace Processing?

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

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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 …

“They seek to intimidate and bully through the threat of violence…”

Pete Baker on April 27, 2012, 3:41 pm

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Given the PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggot’s current concern about certain communities, and confidence, the BBC report on the 18-year-old shot in both legs in the Creggan estate in Londonderry on Thursday night is worth noting. From the BBC report His mother was told to take him to the location, and waited at the top of a lane while he was shot twice. “I know what happened was wrong but hopefully he’ll get help,” she said. The dissident group Republican …

Denis Donaldson inquest adjourned for ninth time…

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

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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

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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 …

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

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

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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 …

“in order to ensure the safety of the community and the officers responding…”

Pete Baker on April 8, 2012, 11:14 pm

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The BBC reports that the PSNI have defended the delay of over an hour before officers arrived at the scene of a car bomb alert in Newry on Saturday night. Unlike the security alert on Friday in the Newry area, this one was eventually declared a hoax. From the BBC report A hijacked taxi, containing a suspect device, was abandoned close to houses on Martins Lane on Saturday night. Residents used their own cars to block the road and tried …

Other reasons for McArdle’s resignation?

Turgon on March 14, 2012, 8:45 pm

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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

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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

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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

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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 is a read-back into the so-called ‘dirty war’…”

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

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In yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph, Brian Rowan attempted to explained the thinking behind Sinn Féin’s expressed concerns about the “Dark Side” [It’s “a sound working partnership and one that is to be commended” – Ed] Indeed. From the Belfast Telegraph article …this is not a row for the sake of being awkward. It is a serious attempt to engage Matt Baggott sooner rather than later. I think it would be fair to say that a degree of briefing was involved in …