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Armed Forces Minister Again Refuses Meeting

The Armed Forces Minister, John Reid, has refused a second request from the Pat Finucane Centre for a meeting with the family of murdered Belfast man Peter Mc Bride. The Centre had requested the meeting on behalf of the family of Peter Mc Bride, the 18 year New Lodge man murdered by two members of the Scots Guards Regiment in 1992. In a faxed reply the Military Assistant to the minister told campaigners that, "the two Guardsmen's possible release from prison and their future in the Army, are not matters on which he could or should intervene." The letter added that release of the two "is a matter for the Northern Ireland Secretary to consider…" whilst their status in the Army "is a service personnel issue in which Dr Reid has not been involved." A spokesperson for the Derry centre expressed "continued frustration at the responses from the minister. If Dr Reid is unable to discuss or intervene in any aspects of this case why then did he meet with members of the Guardsmen Fisher and Wright Release Group on May 13, ironically the same day as the Victims Commission released its report? What did they talk about at this meeting given that these are "matters on which he could or should not intervene? In his first reply to us he stated that he had met the Release Group in his capacity as 'employer' of the convicted men. Now he states that the issue of their status is a Service personnel issue. If the minister who admits to being the employer of the two men cannot discuss their employment who can?

The reply from the minister accepts that "there has not been a challenge to the convictions of the two Guardsmen for some time. However the Army authorities concluded that it would not be appropriate for a decision to be made about their future in the Army until all judicial debate had concluded." Peter Mc Bride's mother Jean has reacted angrily to the admission. "Until now the MOD used the excuse that they cannot be dismissed because they have 'either been appealing against the decisions of the court or seeking judicial review of their cases'. Now that we have pointed out that there is no appeals process they have taken refuge behind the smokescreen of 'judicial debate'. We have lost a son, Peter's two daughters have lost a father. Is the minister telling my family that the Army Board would consider an early release of the men who killed my son as a declaration of innocence and allow them to remain in the military?

Dr Reid has stated that the Army Board has not yet considered their position in the Army in order not to prejudice their cases. The Mc Bride family have slammed this as " improper interference in the judicial process. It's about time that the powers that be finally accept the verdict in this case. "

It is understood that the Armed Forces Minister recommended that the McBride family contact the Security Minister Adam Ingram which it is believed will happen within the next week.

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Portadown Summonses

In the last week the RUC have begun serving summonses on a number of people in the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown. The summonses relate to events surrounding the brutal RUC assault on the area in July 1997 and come as tension builds in the lead-up to the annual Drumcree parade of the Orange Order. One of those who has been charged is Martin Hamill, brother of Robert Hamill who was kicked to death in an incident in the town just four months before the July 97 parade. At the time of the loyalist attack on Robert Hamill four RUC officers, Constable Neill, and Reserve Constables Cornett, Atkinson and Sharpe, sat nearby in a landrover and refused to come to the aid of Robert Hamill and his companions. (See fact file on our website.) Now the RUC, whose officers were responsible for clear human rights violations both before and during the Drumcree parade, have chosen to heighten tension further following serious trouble on the Garvaghy road two weeks ago. At the time plastic bullets were fired in contravention of legal guidelines. Loyalists were also allowed to pass through RUC riot squad lines with ladders which were then used to rip down Irish tricolours on the lower area of the Garvaghy road. At a hearing today in Belfast (12 June) Paul Hobson, the only man still charged in connection with the death of Robert Hamill, was further remanded in custody.

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Caraher Court Hearing

A case being brought by members of the Caraher family against the Ministry of Defence at Belfast High Court has been postponed until possibly August according to Peter John Caraher. On December 30 1990 two members of the Caraher family in South Armagh were shot by soldiers of the Royal Marine Regiment of the British Army. Fergal (20) died from his injuries while Miceal (23) went on to recover. An independent public inquiry was later held in Cullyhanna, South Armagh. Soon after two British soldiers were charged but were later cleared on all charges. After the court case the soldiers resumed patrol in the area and provoked family members at checkpoints in a number of incidents. Eight years on and the Caraher family remain determined to pursue the case through the courts. Margaret and Miceal are suing the Ministry of Defence for compensation. The Cullyhanna Justice Group can be contacted care of the PFC.

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South Armagh Harassment

The spirit of the Good Friday agreement has yet to filter through to military and RUC commanders in many areas of the north but particularly in South Armagh. Residents of Bessbrook village, which is home to the busiest heliport in western Europe due to the activities of the British Army, have claimed that they are put under curfew every night. There are permanent checkpoints on the five main roads leading into the village. Security gates into the village are closed for 12 hours at night. Recently an incident at a checkpoint led to a pregnant woman in labour being held in traffic for half an hour. Residents now intend holding a public meeting in conjunction with the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Association. The latter have been highlighting militarisation in the area.

Meanwhile local people in nearby Crossmaglen have put on display sophisticated electronic surveillance equipment found on farmland overlooking houses in the area. It is believed the equipment was placed by the British Army during an operation some weeks ago.

Death Threat

A solicitor who has been the subject of a number of threats from RUC detectives and loyalists has informed the centre that a further death threat was received in the post on Friday June 5. The letter, postmarked in Belfast, read "We have you in our sights you Republican bastard, We will teach you a lesson. RIP ." The solicitor in question has been told on a number of occasions of threats issued by RUC detectives during interrogation who made clear that the threats were "to be passed on."

Earlier this year the UN Special Rapporteur published a report condemning the continuing threats made to defence solicitors here and called for an independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.

Independent Commission On Police Complaints

The latest report of the ICPC shows that complaints against the RUC have risen from 2545 in 1996 to a total of 3111 in 1997, an increase of 22.2%. Over the three year period from 1995-1997 complaints have increased by 33.5%. In 1997 the ICPC completed investigations in 1161 complaints. Seven (7) resulted in a formal disciplinary outcome! The ICPC offers a number of reasons for its own obvious inability to properly investigate complaints. According to the body the standard of proof needed to uphold complaints is the (difficult to obtain) criminal standard. Other problems highlighted in the report include the lack of identification of RUC officers during public order situations and the unwillingness of members of the public to cooperate with the body. The fact that the ICPC itself focuses on these problems does little to address the real issue: namely that the ICPC has itself colluded in a sham over many years. The ICPC will be replaced later this year following the implementation of the Hayes Report into the complaints procedure. Before welcoming the demise of a "watchdog" which completely failed to carry out its statutory duties the following paragraph from the ICPC report should give all cause for concern. In reference to the new office of complaints ombudsman the report quotes the Security Minister Adam Ingram, who, during the second reading of the Police Bill in Parliament said, "…it is intended that the existing staff of the commission will form the core of the ombudsman's office".

They never learn do they?