Ireland News Update

Wednesday 26th November 1997

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Ireland News Update Service

British Army Patrols Withdrawn

Flanagan Profile

A weekend report in the London based Sunday Times has suggested that RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan is taking legal advice following the publication of a profile of him on this site. In response the Centre has made clear that while we are more than willing to correct any proven inaccuracies we do not consider the profile to be libellous and remain unperturbed by the reports. To date the Chief Constable has not been in contact with us.

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Bloody Sunday Delegation

A delegation from the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign and councillors from Derry City Council are in London today (26.11) to lobby members of parliament for a new independent inquiry into Bloody Sunday. The delegation includes Tony Doherty and Gerry Duddy of the Justice Campaign, Foyle SDLP MP John Hume, Mitchel Mc Laughlin of Sinn Fein and the SDLP Mayor Martin Bradley. The Foyle MP will also raise the issue during Northern Ireland question time in the Commons this afternoon as pressure grows on the British Government to respond to new evidence presented to it earlier this year by the Irish Government.

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Hamill Family with Mowlam

The family of murdered Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill met the Northern Secretary of State Mo Mowlam at Stormont earlier this week. The family who were accompanied by Paul Magean of the Committee on the Administration of Justice and Fr Joe Mc Veigh failed to get any answers from the Secretary of State who was accompanied by three advisors. Only one individual, Paul Hobson, is still in custody following an RUC investigation described by observers as criminally incompetent. Six loyalists were originally charged following the incident in April of this year. Three were released on 31.10 and two others on 19.11. The RUC officers who observed the attack from their landrover but refused to intervene have yet to be suspended despite repeated calls from the family. At the meeting in Stormont the family handed Dr Mowlam a petition with 20,000 signatures calling for the suspension of the officers, one of whom is reported to have personal links with one of the men who had earlier been charged with the murder. The family are now considering an unprecedented private prosecution. Should this go ahead we will post details since massive fundraising would be necessary. A further remand hearing is scheduled for December 3 in the case of Paul Hobson. (see past updates for more information)

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Loyalist Unrest

A bus driver suffered serious burn injuries following rioting in loyalist areas of Belfast overnight. Vehicles were hijacked and the RUC fired a plastic bullet during reported petrol bombing. Some reports suggest the rioting, in the Shankill, Crumlin and Ballygomartin areas, was connected with the arrest of a man earlier in the day. Last week serious trouble erupted in nationalist areas of Co Armagh following the RUC assault and arrest of Lurgan republican Colin Duffy.

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British Army Patrols Withdrawn

As from today (26.11) the British Army will be withdrawn from daytime patrols in west Belfast. The move follows the transfer earlier this week of 250 members of the controversial Parachute Regiment back to their barracks in Britain. Nationalist representatives have given a cautious welcome to the step which is long overdue. The Parachute Regiment killed over 40 civilians during various tours of duty here, more than any other regiment. The most infamous incident was of course Bloody Sunday in 1972 in Derry.

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Ireland News Update

Wednesday 26th November 1997

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Ireland News Update Service

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