UDA kill two teenagers in Belfast, Antrim

A YOUNG Protestant man was shot dead by a pro-British loyalist death squad on July 30 because they believed he was a nationalist. Gavin Brett (18) was standing outside St Endas GAA club on the Hightown Road in Glengormley with friends when loyalists opened fire from a car in a drive-by shooting. Brett was killed and a nationalist friend was injured in the shooting.

The attack was claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, who also claimed the killing of Co Antrim nationalist Ciaran Cummings (19) on July 4 along with the Orange Volunteers. The UDA is believed to have carried out both attacks.

Ciaran Cummings, of Donore Crescent, Antrim was shot dead as he waited for a lift to work by a man on the back of a motorcycle.

Both attacks were random killings of innocent people.

Following the killing of Ciaran Cummings, David Trimble, the on-again, off-again First Minister of the Stormont assembly, tried to tarnish Cummings reputation and deflect criticism away from loyalists by claiming that Cummings was killed by Republicans because of drug-dealing.

This slander was angrily rejected by all sides and Trimble had to withdraw his comments when even the RUC refused to back him up.
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Meath incinerator decision ignores all health considerations

THE decision by  Meath Co Council on July 31 to grant planning permission to a Belgian company to build Ireland’s first municpal waste incinerator will have important ramifications for Galway, and other areas around the country, warned Galway for a Safe Environment on August 1. 

GSE erected large signs on the issue on the approach roads to the Galway Races at the beginning of August. Spokesperson, Dr Conchúr Ó Brádaigh, said that the Meath decision would encourage foreign incinerator companies to lodge applications in other parts of the country, and that a planning application for the Galway incinerator could be imminent, despite the fact that Galway Co. Council have twice voted unanimously against the Connacht Waste Plan.

GSE described the decision by Meath Co Council as reckless, and noted that at no time were the health impacts of emissions from the proposed incinerator considered.  "The fact that health impacts are not taken into account during the planning process for incinerators was the reason that EU Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, rebuked the Irish Government by letter in June of this year", said Dr Ó Brádaigh.

GSE are blaming the government of Bertie Ahern, who are in the process of forcing through waste plans against the wishes of local councils around the country.  "This government has put out the welcome mat for these incineration companies, and are willing to defy local people, local councillors, and even the EU Commission, in railroading through these cancer factories", said Conchúr Ó Brádaigh
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Pipe bomb attacks in Antrim, Armagh, Derry

A NUMBER of houses in Loughinhill Park, Coleraine were evacuated while an unexploded pipe-bomb was defused on July 26.

Also on July 26, two controlled explosions were carried out on a pipe bomb left in a phone box on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. And in Newtonabbey, north of Belfast, another pipe bomb was defused in a car park at the back of premises in Church Road. Meanwhile a suspicious object was found close to playing fields at Kiltyclogher GAA grounds in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

A nationalist family of four escaped injury when a pipe bomb exploded in the hallway of their home at Strand Park in Cloghmills, Co Antrim at 1.30am on July 25. Another 12 houses in the street were evacuated as a second unexploded pipe bomb was defused.

Éamonn Morrison described what happened as the device exploded. He and his wife Maura and their two teenage sons, Darren and Michael were asleep when the first pipe bomb exploded.

"We were woke up by the blast and came downstairs. When we came outside we saw the other device on the window sill", he said. "I have no idea why I was targeted. I keep myself to myself and so do the rest of my family. The only thing I can think is that it was a random thing".

On July 23 a nationalist family of seven were traumatised when a pipe bomb exploded on the doorstep of their home near Lisburn, Co Antrim at around 2.30am. The family included a 56-year old mentally disabled man suffering from cerebral palsy. Francis Curran was recovering from an operation on a brain tumour.
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Portlaoise jail fast as political status denied

THE three Continuity IRA prisoners in Portlaoise jail in the 26 Counties commenced a hunger strike from midnight on Sunday, July 29 in protest at the prison Governor denying them political status in collusion with the seven INLA prisoners incarcerated there.

The three Republicans are seeking the restoration of the elements of political status they have lost – their own separate area in the prison, no association with the INLA prisoners or any others, access to the yard for exercise and the right to a workshop.

As we went to press two of the CIRA prisoners were in the ‘bunker’ (punishment block) on E3 – Christopher Smyth, the OC and Eddie Heeney -- while the third Republican, Colm Maguire, was in the bunker on D3. All three are locked up for 22 hours per day.

E3 in Portlaoise consists of 40 single cells, 20 in the north wing housing INLA prisoners and 20 in the south wing where the CIRA prisoners have been located for the past four years.

In recent times the total number of prisoners there has been less than ten so reports of overcrowding on E3 are very wide of the mark.

This situation arose out of the deliberate actions of the INLA prisoners during the last week of July. While the OC of the CIRA prisoners, Christopher Smyth, was exercising in the prison yard the INLA prisoners placed three of their men in to the south wing of E3.

When he returned to his cell the INLA prisoners told the CIRA men that they would have to submit to their structures and accept instructions from them or they would not be allowed to remain on E3.

As a Republican the OC refused this ultimatum and for safety reasons went to the E3 bunker with his comrade Eddie Heeney. As their statement published here says, they were left with only their families visiting box.

On Saturday, July 28, Christopher Smyth was attacked by an INLA prisoner as he went to take a visit at this box. The INLA prisoner was attempting to take control of the Republicans’ visits but this was resisted.

Three days previously Colm Maguire (27) of Fatima Mansions in Dublin was given a two-year sentence in the Special non-jury Court in Dublin for possession of a semi-automatic pistol and 25 rounds of ammunition.

When he reached Portlaoise jail on the evening of July 25 he asked to join the CIRA prisoners. He was immediately put into D3 bunker – effectively he was put on punishment on his arrival by the Governor who kept him separate.

The conditions in D3 are among the worst in the Victorian prison and Colm Maguire’s cell there has no bed (just a mattress on the floor), no windows or natural light, no locker or radio and the artificial light is on 24 hours a day.

D3 includes ODCs (‘ordinary decent criminals’) such as the Mountjoy prison roof protesters.

Relatives of the three men have said they are now afraid to visit Portlaoise for fear of being attacked. The seven INLA prisoners are Dessie O’Hare, OC, Declan Duffy, Adj, John Creed, Denis Thompson, Christopher Magee and Kevin O’Loughlin plus Michael Hegarty who voluntarily left the Continuity wing and joined the INLA prisoners in their area.

One reason for the INLA actions is clear. Their organisation is on ceasefire for almost three years and they are seeking a transfer to Castlerea prison and eventual release under the terms of the Stormont Agreement. What better way to ingratiate themselves with the prison authorities and the 26-County State than to try and intimidate CIRA prisoners whose organisation has refused to call a ceasefire or submit to British rule in Ireland?

In a statement, Republican Sinn Féin Vice-President Des Long said the fact that three Republican prisoners were on hunger strike due to the connivance of the prison authorities with the bully-boy tactics of the INLA prisoners is a lamentable situation.

He said that the political status the CIRA prisoners had achieved in recent years was won by 12 months of resistance in Limerick jail and for five months of the time the Republican prisoners never left their wing for exercise or any other reason.

"The INLA prisoners’ protest fast in support of Turkish political prisoners at this time is the height of hypocrisy given that they are denying Republican prisoners political status in Portlaoise at the same time.

"We all remember the sacrifice of the 1981 hunger strikers and those people who claim to be following in the footsteps of three of the ten hunger strike martyrs are now denying that status to three Republicans."

As SAOIRSE went to press a meeting was due to take place on August 2 between the Portlaoise Governor and Des Long, Vice-President, Republican Sinn Féin and Joseph (‘Tiny’) Lynch, spokesperson for the Republican Sinn Féin POW department.
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Rights as POWs denied

The CIRA prisoners in Portlaoise released the following statement for publication in SAOIRSE:

"DUE to a change in the conditions on E3 landing which we shared with another group, we the CIRA POWs could no longer stay on this landing. Since leaving the landing almost a week ago we have been in contact with the prison Governor and Chief about giving us a separate section within the prison where we can look after ourselves and any CIRA POWs who may enter this prison in the future.

"We are at present in the basement area of Portlaoise where we have been denied the following rights as POWs, ie gym time, time in one of the big exercise yards and educational facilities and 8.30pm lock-up time.

"At present all we have as POWs is our families visiting box. All we are asking for is to be treated the same as everyone else.

"If we have not heard something by midnight Sunday, July 29, 2001 we have no option but to commence a hunger strike in order to try and get something done about the position we are in."

Christy Smyth O/C
Eddie Heeney, POW
Collie Maguire, POW

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CIRA claims explosives

THE Continuity IRA has claimed responsibility for two explosives caches discovered along the Monaghan/Fermanagh Border during July.

In a statement released to local newspapers in Belfast and Fermanagh during July the organisation also denied any connection with drugs allegedly found "in the area at a yet unknown location".

The statement said it was deeply sceptical of the reported find of drugs and said that CIRA totally disassociated itself from any such activity.

"The Continuity IRA accepts responsibility for the explosive device uncovered by the Free State security forces in the Coleman’s Island/Clonok area of County Monaghan on Sunday, July 1, 2001.

"This device consisted of 100lbs of explosives prepared for detonation against British Occupation Forces in the Six-County area and a further 50lb nearby, along with four rolls of electric detonating wire.

"But claims by the self-same Free State forces that a quantity of drugs were found in the area at a yet unknown location, and an attempt to connect the two, is pure Black Propaganda and smacks of a dirty tricks operation", the spokesman insisted.

"If such a find of drugs were made, the CIRA totally disassociates ourselves from such activity, our opposition to the dealing and distribution of drugs is well known.

"Should we uncover the identities of any such dealers in the area they will be seriously dealt with.

"However we are deeply sceptical of the reported find of these drugs. Perhaps the Cavan/Monaghan gardaí are learning a few tricks from their Donegal Brethren."

And denying that the explosives were a danger to GAA fans travelling back from Clones, the CIRA spokesman said: "We wish to categorically state that the device uncovered by the Free State forces was unarmed and posed no threat to GAA fans going to Clones on Sunday.

"Statements from the SDLP and other disingenuous entities to the contrary are simply the other side of the long running Black Propaganda machine operated by the British Crown Forces for the past 30 years".

A CIRA source told the Fermanagh Herald (July 8) that the location of the finds was in a remote tarmacked dirt track, which led eventually to a major road, was rarely used, even on Ulster final day.

The source said the explosives were being prepared for an operation against the "British army of control" in the Six Counties.
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CIRA attack Castlewellan RUC Barracks

AN explosion and gun attack on Castlewellan RUC barracks in Co Down was the work of the Continuity IRA, according to Republican sources quoted in the Belfast Irish News.

The attack took place on the night of July 19 when around six shots were fired at the RUC base following an explosion. There were no reports on injuries and minor damage was caused to the base.

It is the second time in eight months that the RUC barracks has been attacked. On November 1, 2000 two RUC officers were injured in a booby-trap bomb outside the barracks as they returned from a night patrol. The blast happened as the RUC officers moved a traffic cone left outside the base. One of them lost a leg and two fingers in the explosion.
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