SACRED OXEN

I asked a friend recently, an attorney who spends much of

the year in Northern Ireland, how things were going there.
Theyre very bad now he replied, the young are very
disillusioned. His answer brought to mind Napper Tandys in
Wearing of the Green. It also mirrored the answers given in a
recent Irish Times interview by community aid workers in Catholic
West Belfast.
The problems they deal with daily include: Debt,
bereavement, suicides, drugs and antisocial behavior said Ciara
Dunlop. We had the conflict, and that was bad, but I never saw
anything as bad as how things are now said Greta Doherty.
Lorraine Morrissey: "...the whole community is on shifting sands.
Rene Crawford: the politicians are completely disconnected from
these communities. People arent even bothering to vote. A client
named Paula: Something has to be done to stop the young going
mad.
But the politicians are literally out to lunch. First Minister
Peter Robinson stepped out of his office last month and didnt
come back. He took all but one of his party deputies with him,
leaving Finance Minister Arlene Foster as his acting replacement.
It was done to protest the shooting of former IRA leader Kevin
McGuigan, who was shot dead outside his home in Belfast's Short
Strand in August. Police had earlier informed him he was under
threat. His murder is believed to be revenge for the slaying of
Jock Davison, another former IRA figure.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Robinson, who seems to

like the peace process about as much as the dissidents, staged
the walkout and government crisis because he felt the
McGuigan murder showed the IRA still existed. That insured more
heat on Sinn Fein and Republicans, and deflected heat from
allegations that American investors had secretly set aside 7m for

an Ulster politician to close a deal selling properties across

Northern Ireland, nationalized after the global financial crash.
Now, who could that be?
Robinson is also threatening a libel suit against Independent
Irish politician Mick Wallace for defamation over a Tweet Wallace
posted allegedly linking Robinson to the multi-billion-pound
government deal and the allegations of a 7m grease job.
As we reported in Junes issue, a new FBI-like National
Crime Agency became operational in Northern Ireland in May. In
July the NCA announced it would take over the investigation into
the real estate deal. The agency is also likely to take on what
appears to be its main target, the mopping up of Irish Republican
dissidents who disagree with the never-ending peace process.
After a few days of government crisis Britains Northern
Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, calling the situation "very
grave" agreed to commission a further investigation into
paramilitaries, despite assurances from George Hamilton, head of
the Police Service of Northern Ireland, that though individual
PIRA members were involved in killing McGuigan, the hit was not
sanctioned by the leadership. He cited a group called Action
Against Drugs, which he claimed not only included PIRA members
but also ordinary criminals and dissident republicans. The PSNI
chief also insisted the PIRAs structure was designed for
promoting a peaceful political republican agenda.
In Parliament Villiers also addressed stumbling blocks in the
way of the Stormont Agreement, pointing to the budget and
welfare reform.
Its hard to avoid thinking that McGuigans killing presented
an opportunity for Tories to press for even more cuts to the poor
and unemployed, and for Loyalists to demand more peace
process concessions, pushing Irish Republicans farther beyond
the pale.

The PSNI seem to be really tuned in to murder plots

targeting Irish Republicans. Besides warning McGuigan, they also
knew of murder threats against Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy and
rapped on his door at 2AM August 28 to warn him of an
"imminent threat to his life" by a loyalist paramilitary
organization. Other Sinn Fin MPs including Mickey Brady have
also been the subject of death threats.
But in July, when veteran Loyalist Colin Bap Lindsay of the
Ulster Defence Association was murdered in his home with a
samurai sword by Albert Armstrong, though the PSNI called it a
very brutal death, no one thought to launch a government
crisis.
The British government and Anglo press meanwhile continue
to pursue their version of the peace process, an agenda of
discrediting Irish Republicanism and a united Ireland. BBC last
month the ran a story dredging up the details of what they
labeled the most horrific case of child abuse being looked at by
the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry- the death of Bernard
Teggart (15) shot dead by the IRA in 1973. The Irish Times also
ran the story. Teggart, described as somewhat slow mentally,
apparently witnessed an IRA hijacking, interfered with it, and was
later questioned and shot. Following a request from the family
that same year the IRA investigated the killing and apologized to
the Teggart family saying:"We offer our sincere apologies to the
Teggart family for the pain and grief we have caused. The killing
should not have happened".

Bernard died fatherless, along with 12 brothers and sisters,

because two years earlier in 1971 his father Danny, 44, was also
murdered, his body riddled with 14 bullets fired by Britains
Parachute Regiment in Ballymurphy. The majority of the bullets
entered Teggarts back as he lay injured on the ground. The
heroic British paratroopers must have been using him, along with

anyone else within range, for target practice. Ten other civilians
died in that massacre by Prince Charles own regiment, including
a Catholic priest who was giving absolution to one of the innocent
victims. Mother of eight Joan Connolly was shot down while trying
to help a young man (Noel Phillips) who lay wounded. She was
shot several times in the head and body. Part of her face was
blown off. Joan's autopsy report concluded she bled to death.
Eye witnesses claim though she cried out for help, she was
blatantly refused emergency medical attention by the British
military.
Paddy McCarthy was a youth leader with the Ballymurphy Tenants
Association, setting up youth clubs and organizing activities for
area children. When the Internment of Irish Catholics began
August 9th, a curfew prevented essential bread and milk vans
from entering the area. When the Paras opened fire, Paddy tried
to get a cease fire order from the commanding officer so children
of the area could be evacuated. He tied a Red Cross flag to a
broomstick, but it was shot out of his hand. and Bleeding heavily
he returned to the BTA, commenting that even the Jerrys
respected that flag. But still determined to try, he loaded milk
into crates and onto a cart, walking the streets calling out milk
for babies. He was stopped by two Paratroopers and
remonstrated with them. He was beaten, and one soldier shoved
a weapon in Paddys mouth, threatening to kill him. Unbeknownst
to Paddy, it was unloaded. When the solider finally pulled the
trigger Paddy suffered a fatal heart attack and died shortly after.
No inquiry was ever been held into these murders. No charges,
not even a reprimand, has been brought against the soldiers.
England has never apologized. And just five months later the
paratroopers repeated their performance, shooting 26 civil rights
marchers and murdering 14 of them on Bloody Sunday, ending
the Civil Rights movement and starting a war.

======================
What Northern Ireland fears most is a united Ireland. The ScotsIrish as they are called, descend from Irish who emigrated to
what is now Scotland, the northern part of the island of Britain.
These Scots did not get along well with the Anglo-Saxon
English, especially after Henry VIII decided to establish his own
version of Protestantism. The final Scots stand came at Culloden
in 1746 where the Scots and their Stuart Prince Bonnie Charlie
were defeated. Most Scots were forced to become Protestantsomething which they may not have appreciated very much at
first. The wearing of tartan was banned for all except, cleverly, as
a uniform for loyal British officers and soldiers and landed
aristocracy and their sons. Being Scots-Brit had its perks.
England had been using loyal Scots to help conquer Ireland in
exchange for portions of the loot since the 1607 Flight of Earls. In
similar manner England took parts of the Americas and Africa its
indigenous peoples. In 1801 Great Britain simply annexed Ireland
into the UK.
So, for some four centuries these Irish-turned Scots-turned
Scots-Irish have been schooled by England to believe that they
are so far superior to Irish- and especially Catholics- that they
could almost be English! That attitude is infused with their
mothers milk and reinforced interminably by a culture built
around economic privilege, quasi-military sectarian marches and
primitive ritualistic bonfires, and fostered by a controlling elite of
masonic Orange Order followers and rabid preachers like Ian
Paisley, who ended up Prime Minister and a Lord of the realm.
They live behind high walls, shielded from interaction with lesser
mortals like Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Irish, Polish, yellows,
blacks, browns, and just anyone at all who is not as Scots- Irish
as their (mostly German) Queen.

====================

The murder of young Taggert was brutal and unnecessary. But

was the abuse and murder of schoolboy Brian McDermott equally,
if not more evil? And was his murder not deserving of further
inquiry? Schoolboy Brian disappeared in Belfast in 1973. A week
later, the River Lagan was lowered and a sack containing some of
his burned and mutilated remains was discovered.
We wrote about Kincora in July and its alleged use as a brothel
for senior Orangemen and government figures, possibly including
Lord Mountbatten. Kincora was run by senior Orange Order
member William McGrath, a founder of the loyalist Ulster Defense
Association. McGrath regularly invited loyalist friends like John
McKeague, founder of yet another loyalist paramilitary, the Red
Hand Commando, to visit Kincora and bugger the young boys in
care there.
The murder of Brian McDermott was never solved, but in 1982 a
possible link between Brians death and the abuse scandal at
Kincora Boys' Home was discussed by senior civil servants and
the Lord Chancellor.
Asked whether he thought any new revelations might arise should
a fresh inquiry be launched, a senior RUC (Police) officer said he
feared that if McGrath was called to give evidence, "he might, for
malicious or other reasons, make fresh allegations".

Norman Dugdale, Permanent Secretary at the NI Department of

Health and Social Services (DHSS) said he did not envisage the
committee interviewing either Kincora residents or the convicted
men but rather, "social workers and the like" in an effort to see
how the problem had "gone undetected for so long".

Mr. Patten mentioned that allegations of sex abuse at the home

had been reported to the police in 1974, six years before any

investigation was undertaken, which suggested police knew about

the crimes, yet did not act to stop them.

Mr McAtamney suggested an oversight by the RUC "due to the

security situation", claiming there was no evidence of an RUC
cover-up.

Two days later, 12 February 1982, the committee of inquiry into

Kincora collapsed when three key members resigned.

In a letter to Mr Dugdale, they expressed their "unease" about

serving on an inquiry despite persistent suggestions that major
criminal aspects were still outstanding.

In a memo on the file, dated 14 February 1982, Mr Dugdale

stressed the limited remit of the inquiry which was confined to
administrative matters.

He added: "It is not an inquiry into allegations, which are rife, of

a 'cover-up' involving Protestant politicians, businessmen, senior
NIO officials or people associated with Protestant paramilitary
organisations."

The establishment of the committee had been predicated "on the

assumption that such allegations were without foundation" as no
evidence to substantiate them had come to light during the RUC
criminal inquiry.

'Clamour for justice'

While further revelations were unlikely, Mr Dugdale noted:

"Statements from official sources, however, had failed to allay
public concern around a cover-up.

"Rumour and speculation has continued to mount, leading to

demands for the establishment of a sworn public judicial inquiry
to establish the truth ... and bring 'the guilty men to justice'. The
resignation of the three members of the committee had to be
seen against this background."

Mr Dugdale said that while a public inquiry would quell the

"clamour for justice", it would be difficult to justify.
======================

Belfast Telegraph front page from 5 February 1982

Image caption
This was the Belfast Telegraph front page on 5 February 1982

The mounting crisis was discussed at a high-level meeting

involving Secretary of State Jim Prior, Lord Hailsham, who was
the Lord Chancellor, and Attorney General Sir Michael Havers at
the Lord Chancellor's office in London on 16 February 1982.

Sir Michael revealed he had spoken to the NI Director of Public

Prosecutions, who revealed that the RUC were actively
investigating three aspects of the Kincora affair.

'Embarrassing position'

According to the minutes, the RUC were investigating allegations

that a DHSS file on Kincora had been "mutilated" in 1977.

The attorney general also told his colleagues: "The RUC were
looking again at the murder of Brian McDermott in the mid-1970s
[whose] death was thought at the time to have been sectarian,
but it was now believed possible that there were homosexual
aspects."

This was a reference to the unsolved 1973 murder of 10-year old

east Belfast schoolboy Brian McDermott, whose mutilated and
burnt body had been found in a sack in the River Lagan at
Ormeau Park.

At the time, the press reported fears that a "psychopathic killer"

was at large.

The DPP believed that these enquiries were unlikely to lead to

prosecutions but that this new information "conflicted with what
the RUC had previously told ministers", and left the
government in "an embarrassing and exposed position".

'Gossip and rumour'

Lord Hailsham, Sir Michael and Mr Prior agreed that an inquiry

into the whole affair, to be effective, would have to compel
witnesses.

Jim Prior
Image caption
Jim Prior was NI secretary of state at the time

In the Lord Chancellor's view, the circumstances of Kincora

justified a sworn Tribunal of Inquiry that should be carried out by
a Northern Ireland judge, preferably Judge McDermott.

The issue was raised at Westminster in February 1982 by Peter

Robinson, the DUP MP who accused the government of having
misled the House over Kincora.

Finally, on 18 February 1982, Secretary of State Prior announced

he had appointed a committee under a High Court judge to
investigate the Kincora affair.

In a note to Mr Prior on 18 February 1982, NIO official DJ Wyatt

doubted if a full public tribunal would "draw a line over the whole
sorry story".

The fact was that "gossip and rumour" over Kincora could not be
"killed", he said.

'Paramilitary links'

As the crisis continued, on 23 March 1982, Sir Michael Havers

wrote to Mr Prior describing Kincora as "a more complex affair"
than he had first thought.

"Though some of the allegations may have been mischievous, it is

essential that the police have a free hand to pursue every lead,"
he said.

William McGrath
Image caption
William McGrath was one of three former Kincora employees who
were jailed

Political interest in the issue continued to grow, with DUP leader

Ian Paisley demanding a meeting with Mr Prior on the abuse
scandal in March 1983 following an Assembly debate on the
Kincora affair.

This led to the appointment of Sir George Terry, the former chief
constable of Sussex, into the RUC's handling of the inquiry into
Kincora.

Sir George found "absolutely no evidence of a homosexual ring",

or that such a "ring" involved figures such as police officers, civil
servants and military personnel.

Secondly, he asserted that there was no "cover-up or

concealment of evidence by the RUC".

The RUC, he said, found no evidence of any paramilitary

involvement in abuse at any boys' home.

He did point out that William McGrath "had strong paramilitary

links" that had prevented an official from passing relevant
information to the police.

He also ruled out the involvement of "military figures", stating

that they had "been very frank" with him.

Sir George recommended an inquiry to prevent any recurrence.

In December 1983, Mr Prior approved the appointment of a

senior judge to head up a public inquiry into Kincora. The result
was the appointment of Judge Hughes, a senior English judge.

======================
=======================
British Government and press continue effort to discredit Irish
Republicanism. But at the same time, faced with high government
officials like former PM Heath and Lord Mountbatten being linked
to Kincora Boy's Home in Belfast, where a vicious pedophile ring
under a prominent Orange Order official was run with the
knowledge of MI5 and police, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa
Villiers announced the notorious Belfast boys home was to be
officially EXCLUDED from the government's current inquiry into
historical child abuse. Kincora, with its highly placed British
pedophile visitors is linked to one of the most horrific crimes in

Ireland- ignored by press, police and prosecutors alike- the brutal

murder of ten year old Brian McDermott, whose abused and
burned body parts were found in a sack recovered from the River
Lagan in 1973. [PHOTO: Brian McDermott.]
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-34134810
=====================
Lord Mountbatten linked to Kincora child abuse ring

***** ***probably the best war in the world | 08.12.2002 22:13

It was alledged in the book 'War of the Windsors', and the

Sunday People newspaper pg17, that Lord Mountbatten was
rumoured to have been linked to the Kincora boy's abuse
network. Lord Mountbatten the last viceroy in India, was
reknowned to be wildly promiscuous, bisexual and to enjoy a bit
of 'rough' or the plesures of young working class boys or indeed
peasant indian boys. In other words Lord Mountbatten enjoyed
rogering the children of lower classes and peasants globally.

This is revealed in the historical biography "War of the

Windsors", and may account for the non prosecution of Kincora
clients and the relunctance of the authorities to act against those
running the Kincora care home until 1981, despite the vice ring
being in operation since 1977, and the repeated allegations made
against those pillars of society, upright citizens in charge of
Kincora. The very Reverend William McGrath and co. Those
operating the Kincora child vice ring were eventually prosecuted
in 1981, but no charges were ever brought against the elite VIP

clientelle of the Kincora child abuse vice ring, which included,

prominent buisnessmen, hanging judges and government officials
who were never prosecuted for their exploitation and sexual
abuse of young working class boys. In court it was found that the
so called pillars of society running the home, were guilty of the
RITUAL sexual abuse of defenceless young boys in their care,
whom they exploited and sold to their VIP clientelle. The
authorities relunctance to act against the Kincora paedophiles
also may have been because of the proven MI5/special branch
interest in the VIP clientelle of the Kincora child vice network.
These powerful authortarian figures would prove useful and
supportive of any RUC actions in the future, given the MI5 files
complied on the Kincora clientelle. Many of the VIP clientelle who
sexually abused and degraded young working class boys are still
prominent members of Ulster society, still highly respected pillars
of society, some still High court judges, magistrates etc, some
even have roles which give them direct access to children, some
are now governors of schools, some are doctors etc. Their sordid
grubby elite existence unaffected and unsoiled by their perverted
behaviour and abuse of young working class children. These
scumbags got off scot free from the Kincora child abuse scandal
with their reputations and social status intact and unaffected,
because the authorities chose not to prosecute them, afterall it
was only young working class children they abused, and the
working class are always expendable to the rich. In the world and
exclusive social circles of these scumbags it is ok for rich perverts
to sexuallly and physically abuse the children of the poor. The
moral code of the filthy rich and powerful says this is clearly
acceptable behaviour. Now we know why they're called the filthy
rich.
--===================================
an article by Peter McKenna in the Irish Independent Sex racket
at childrens home on 24 January 1980 alleged a cover up. An
RUC investigation led to all three members of staff at Kincora

Boys Hostel in East Belfast being convicted in December 1981.

Following further allegations about offences at Williamson House
and Nazareth Lodge, Belfast and Bawnmore Boys Home,
Newtownabbey, four other persons were convicted in May and
December 1981.

On 15 January 1982 James Prior, Secretary of State, announced

an inquiry under Stephen McGonagle but he stood down on 12
February 1982 on learning that the police investigation was
ongoing. On 18 February 1982 Sir John Hermon, Chief Constable,
asked HM Inspector of Constabulary to appoint an inquiry into the
Royal Ulster Constabularys handling of prior complaints. Sir
George Terry, Chief Constable of Sussex, undertook this inquiry
and on 29 October 1983 the Director of Public Prosecutions
announced that he had decided there was no evidence to warrant
criminal proceedings. The conclusions of Sir George Terrys
report, that there was no evidence for homosexual vice rings or
the involvement of police officers, civil servants, military
personnel, JPs or lawyers, were published on 29 October 1983.

Meanwhile the DHSS had sent a team of three under Miss A M

Sheridan to meet the DHSS(NI) on 24-26 February 1982 and
their report had been presented in June 1982. There had been
two debates in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 22 March and

9 September 1983.

On 18 January 1984 James Prior announced his intention to

establish an inquiry under His Honour W H Hughes to look at all
offences leading to convictions and all disciplinary action relating
to homosexual conduct going back to 1960 in nine childrens

homes. On 21 March 1984 W J Patterson and H Whalley were

appointed to assist him.

The inquiry team comment that they had taken administration in

a broad sense to cover those responsible for the provision of
residential care, that they had adopted the test of
reasonableness in considering whether the abuse could have been
prevented and that, while they could consider present procedures
and practices in establishments, there was a question of how long
it had been going on. ---=========================
Cops hunt hard
---- The overwhelmingly Protestant / Loyalist police force in
Britain's tiny state on Irish soil are hunting hard for those who do
not toe the party line. Yet the world is supposed to believe they
are clueless about loyalist gangs like these that issued photos and
threats just last month: a hooded group from a known South
Belfast gang, Village Team on Tour, standing openly on the street
with bats threatening to crucify Catholics (Taigs) who make up
half the population of Britain's 6 county Irish state. The other
masked group displaying serious weaponry openly threatens to
kill police who restrict Orange Protestant parades marching in or
near Catholic neighborhoods. But the police just can't figure out
who they are and want citizens to call them if they have any
clues. Help them out, will you?
(OPEN THE LINK>>) http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northernireland-34026674
Strabane, County Tyrone: Police searches in dissident republican
investigation

22 August 2015

From the section Northern Ireland

Police investigating dissident republican activity have been

carrying out searches in Strabane, County Tyrone.

Properties were searched in the Townsend Street area on

Saturday morning.

The PSNI said recent policing operations had disrupted dissident

republican activity in Strabane.

They have asked the public to remain vigilant and "report any
suspicious activity".
==========
9-18

Northern Ireland

West Belfast alert: Semtex and handguns found in dissident

republican search

3 minutes ago

From the section Northern Ireland

Semtex explosives, detonators, two handguns and ammunition

have been seized by police in west Belfast.

They were found during a security alert on the Ballymurphy Road

that began late on Thursday night and continued into the early
hours of Friday morning.

A 67-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman have been arrested.

Police said it was part of an investigation into "violent dissident

terrorist activity". More than half a kilogram of Semtex was
found.

A number of residents who had to leave their homes during the

alert were earlier allowed to return.
==========================----------------

MAIN STREET IN BRITAIN'S PROTESTANT IRISH STATE

The BBC's usual barebones story on this type of crime- little or
no information on the race or religion of the victims- not even a
picture of the scene. And per routine, police simply call on the
public to do the investigating. Plausible deniability policing and
journalism.

Dundrum: Windows smashed in 'hate crime attack' - BBC News

Front windows are smashed in five houses in County Down in

what police have described as a hate crime.

bbc.com

Northern Ireland

Dundrum: Windows smashed in 'hate crime attack'

31 August 2015

From the section Northern Ireland

Front windows were smashed in five houses in County Down in

what police have described as a hate crime.

The attack happened at about 03:30 BST on Monday at Main

Street, Dundrum.

A brick was thrown at a front window on each of the five

premises.

A police spokesman said initial investigations suggest the attacks

were hate motivated. Police have appealed for information.

=============================
Cops warn of hits- Molloy
-----------------THE IN CROWD

Cops knock people's doors at 2 in the morning to issue loyalist

death threats. Yet, when attacks are carried out, police are
clueless and call on citizens to help identify the terrorists.
And the Anglo press keeps printing this nonsense for public
consumption.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-34095878

Sinn Fin MP Francie Molloy 'warned of death threat'

---------------------------VTOT, New LO paras

--------------

July 15 Edited
.
ORANGEMAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER
[ John Aughey earlier mis-identified as 'John Loughey' ]
http://www.farminglife.com//belfast-riot-car-murder-bid-ch

Belfast riot car murder bid charge Orangeman given bail

A prominent Orangeman has been granted bail after appearing in

court accused of attempting to murder two people knocked down
by a car during a riot in...

farminglife.com

========================

MIGHTY BBC: A CAR OVERTURNED AT CATHOLIC SIDE

Here's "the Catholic side":
Greater Ardoyne Residents' CollectiveA loyalist bandsmen and North and West Belfast Parading Forum
member named John Loughey has deliberately driven into a
crowd of Ardoyne residents on the Crumlin Road. A teenage girl
has been critically injured and he has been arrested for
attempted murder.

GARC reps are helping to keep calm in the area, despite riot
squad provocation. The young girl was denied immediate help
from the Ambulance Station as it is closed due to the demands of
Loyal Orders to impose sectarianism on our community.

This young girl could have been killed by a sectarian bigot who
sees her as a second class citizen. The question needs to be
asked of Loyal Orders, Unionist parties and Loyalist paramilitaries
- would this young girl's life been worth the demand to trample

over residents' right to live free from sectarian harassment and

intimidation.

Our thoughts are with the young girl concerned and her family.
Shame on the Orange Order.
=====================
BRITISH DEMOCRACY: Protestant citizens annually celebrate
government-sanctioned superiority over Irish Catholic citizens
with fire, booze, mayhem.
A 'BIG GULP' ASSURES NO PAUSE IN THE FUN,
no annoying trip to the stash.
BRITISH TRADITION: DRUNKEN, BURNING FLAG-WAVING
WAVE THE FLAG AND 'KAT' (KILL ALL TAIGS).
[in Derry - hailed as "The City of Culture" and elsewhere in
British occupied Ireland, "Taig" is a derogatory Protestant term
for Catholics]
11th night: Footage of Belfast bonfire falling

12 July 2015 Last updated at 10:51 BST

Bonfires have been lit all over Northern Ireland to mark the 11th
night, ahead of the annual Twelfth of July celebrations.

In east Belfast, more than 30 firefighters helped to protect homes

close to a large bonfire near Chobham Street.

Footage of the moment the bonfire collapsed was filmed by the

BBC.
===================================

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Police-in-Northern-Irelandinvestigating-Catholics-will-be-crucified-threat.html

Police in Belfast are investigating a photo posted to social media

on Monday in which a group of masked men yielding baseball
bats, axes and stakes stand before a wall of graffiti that threatens
to crucify Catholics.

Taigs will be crucified, the shocking message reads, using a

derogatory term for Irish Catholics.

The letters VTOT are written below, with a cross. They are
believed to stand for Village Team on Tour, the name of a
loyalist gang in South Belfast.

The graffiti was discovered on Monday, when the photo was first
shared on social media. It has been widely viewed as an attempt
at heightening tension before the Twelfth of July, the day of
loyalist celebration that commemorates King William of Oranges
victory in the Battle of the Boyne.

Detective Inspector Declan White said: Police are currently

investigating images that have appeared on social media.

"I would appeal to anyone who has any information about this
incident to contact police at Strandtown on the non-emergency
number 101. Or, if someone would prefer to provide information
without giving their details they can contact the independent
charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800
555 111

=================================
NO DANGER - BRITISH GOD LOVES THOSE WHO HATE KOONS,
KIKES & KATHOLICS http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
/belfast-residents-fear-
Adding fuel to Twelfth bonfires - IS flags and effigies of Gerry
Adams, Martin McGuinness and Bobby Sands placed on pyres

IS flag is set to be burned with republican effigies as thousands

gather at bonfires

By Christopher Woodhouse

Published
09/07/2015

11th July Bonfires. Ballycraigy estate, Antrim - Bobby Sands,

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness

AN ISLAMIC State flag joined effigies of Bobby Sands and Gerry

Adams and election posters on loyalist bonfires on Saturday.

Thousands gathered at sites throughout the province to watch as

the huge pyres blazed across Northern Ireland.

Others will be set alight tonight ahead of the traditional Orange

demonstrations.

The Islamic State flag was fixed to the bonfire in Ballysillan, north
Belfast, which was also covered with Sinn Fein and SDLP election
posters, including one with a sex toy stuck to it.

In the Ballycraigy housing estate in Antrim, a US Confederate flag

emblazoned with LVF was on display.

Following the massacre at an African American church in the

United States, the controversial flag has been removed from
official US buildings due to its link with the gunman.

The same bonfire also had a coffin with an effigy of IRA hunger
striker Bobby Sands inside flanked by figures of Sinn Fein leader
Gerry Adams and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

A sign with the logo of the Ballycraigy Bonfire Kings with KAT
Kill All Taigs written on it and flanked by images of two masked
gunmen also appeared on the huge tower of pallets.

Efforts also continued yesterday afternoon to protect homes in

east Belfast from a bonfire that was built on the Comber
Greenway cycle path within 30 feet of houses on Chobham
Street.

The Housing Executive was forced to cover windows and doors of

52 houses with fire resistant plywood to prevent damage due the
extreme heat of the blaze from the monster pyre.

Some residents had already moved out of the street ahead of the
bonfire being lit last night.

The Northern Ireland Fire Service recommend that a bonfire

should be built at a minimum distance equal to five times its
height from the nearest house.

One of the largest bonfires this year was erected in the New
Mossley estate in Newtownabbey.

The massive tower, adorned with Irish tricolours and other

republican flags, rose over 100 feet into the air, dwarfing the
surrounding houses.

It was a simpler affair in the Shankill estate in Belfast which

opted for a plain tower of wooden pallets decorated with a banner
which read Lower Shankill Supports Loyalist Ardoyne flanked by
two UDA flags.

A bonfire built in the council-owned Alderman Tommy Patton Park

in Holywood, Co Down was covered in Irish tricolours and other
symbolic Irish republican flags.

Meanwhile, loyalist and prominent Union Flag protester Jamie

Bryson revealed that a Catholic priest from north Belfast visited
his bonfire in Bangor.

Father Martin Magill, from the Sacred Heart Parish, accompanied

the loyalist on a tour of the site in what Bryson described as an
uncomfortable conversation.
-------------------------

race-hate capital of Europe.

The Guardian, Jan, 2004

"It's like Nazi Germany," they explained.

Northern Ireland, which is 99% white, is fast becoming the racehate capital of Europe. It holds the UK's record for the highest
rate of racist attacks: spitting and stoning in the street, human
excrement on doorsteps, swastikas on walls, pipe bombs, arson,
the ransacking of houses with baseball bats and crow bars, and
white supremacist leaflets nailed to front doors.

Over 200 incidents were reported to police in the past nine

months, although many victims don't bother complaining any
more.

But in the past weeks, fear has deepened. Protestant workingclass neighbourhoods are showing a pattern of orchestrated
house attacks aimed at "ethnically cleansing" minority groups.

It is happening in streets run by loyalist paramilitaries, where

every Chinese takeaway owner already pays protection money
and racists have plentiful access to guns. The spectre of Catholics
being systematically burnt out of similar areas during the
Troubles hangs in the air.

south Belfast is a run-down network of loyalist terraces where

unemployment is high, union flags sag from lampposts and
almost every family has a link to loyalist paramilitaries.

In post-peace process Northern Ireland, communities like this are

more segregated than ever - through choice. Last year, five
student houses, home to mixed Protestants and Catholics, were
attacked until they were vacated. The siege mentality against
"outsiders" is rife.

Chinese community, the largest ethnic minority in Northern

Ireland, has been in Belfast since the 1960s, but there are
rumours that a "quota" on new arrivals is being enforced. Last
month, Ugandan and Romanian families were burned out.

Many elderly Chinese people do not now leave their homes after
3pm. The best they can hope for is an egg or ice-cream cone
thrown in their face or their shopping bags stolen.

This week, in the shadow of a paramilitary mural, a six-foot plank

was hurled through the front window of the home of a Pakistani
woman who was eight months pregnant. The spot where she and
her brother-in-law had eaten dinner 20 minutes before was
sprayed with glass. They had moved into the house 12 hours
earlier.
One local newspaper has suggested the attacks began after a
Chinese restaurant owner refused to pay protection money.
Across Belfast, Sara - not her real name - sat behind closed
curtains in her terraced house. Her front window is regularly
painted with KKK, "black people out" and "I hate niggers"
slogans. A Zimbabwean businesswoman in her 30s, she never
opens her curtains to let natural light into the house, as the sight
of her in the living room is a provocation to local teenagers. The
shouting through her letterbox becomes unbearable.

"Sometimes when I'm in the bedroom, I see an egg hit the

window and slide down. The writing on the window is replaced
whenever we clean it off. Often I just leave it there. It has
happened continually for seven months.

There are 4,000-5,000 Muslims in Northern Ireland, most born

locally, but there is no purpose-built mosque for fear of attacks.
Planning permission has now been granted but the mosque won't
be built, as the community is too afraid. In the past eight months
at least eight families have been forced from their homes.

One family was shot at through their kitchen window, a number

of Muslims were stabbed, one was left in a coma after a beating,
others have had legs and noses broken. The community avoids
speaking out. Whenever it is quoted in the media, the attacks get
worse.

"The imam had to leave Northern Ireland after a gang of 10

smashed his windows and doors in, and told him he should get
out," said Jamal Iweida, who runs the Islamic Centre in Belfast.
--------------Police response to race hate - MAIN STREET IN BRITAIN'S
PROTESTANT IRISH STATE
The BBC's usual barebones story on this type of crime- little or
no information on the race or religion of the victims- not even a
picture of the scene. And per routine, police simply call on the
public to do the investigating. Plausible deniability policing and
journalism.

Dundrum: Windows smashed in 'hate crime attack' - BBC News

Front windows are smashed in five houses in County Down in

what police have described as a hate crime.

bbc.com

Northern Ireland

Dundrum: Windows smashed in 'hate crime attack'

31 August 2015
The attack happened at about 03:30 BST on Monday at Main
Street, Dundrum.

A brick was thrown at a front window on each of the five

premises.

A police spokesman said initial investigations suggest the attacks

were hate motivated. Police have appealed for information.olice
response to race hate

========================================
Moshe Fuerst attack

September 7, 2015
Manchester gang took great joy in beating up Jewish kid, says
his father

Bowker Vale, Manchester, England. (Google Streetview)

Bowker Vale, Manchester, England. (Google Streetview)

Moshe Fuerst now out of coma; father says he was felled with a
punch, kicked in the head, by drunken assailants

(SOURCE) A 17-year-old Jewish teenager who was beaten

unconscious at a train stop in Manchester in a suspected antiSemitic attack on Saturday night underwent surgery and was
brought out of a coma on Monday, Israels Channel 2 news
reported.

The TV report named the victim as Moshe Fuerst. His father

Michael said the attack was carried out by a gang of non-Jewish
boys who were drunk and who took great joy, Im sure, from
the fact that they were beating up a Jewish kid.

Three other Jews two 18-year-olds and a 20-year-old were

also hurt in the assault. Police are treating the incident as an
anti-Semitic attack.

Antisemitism and hate crimes of any sort are totally

unacceptable, Communities Minister Baroness Williams of
Trafford said. I am appalled to hear of this weekends attack in
Manchester and would urge anyone with information to come
forward. Let me be clear, this government takes fighting antiSemitism and anti-Muslim hatred seriously and anyone found
guilty of these vile crimes will feel the full force of the law.

Moshe suffered a suspected bleed to the brain, according to

local newspaper reports.

Police said the group were approached by three men as they

waited at the Bowker Vale Metrolink station in northern
Manchester at around 11:30 p.m. The assailants hurled verbal
abuse at the victims and then physically assaulted them.

They were off to see a movie on motzei shabbes (Saturday

night) when they were attacked, said Moshes father Michael.
Moshe is the smallest of the group, and he got basically knocked
out with one punch. And when he was on the floor this fellow
kicked him in the head.

The non-Jewish gang picked a fight with the Jewish youngsters,

he said. The fact that they were Jewish certainly fueled them
on.

Forensics teams continued to look for evidence at the train station

on Monday.

No suspects had been apprehended.

The attacks came as the London Metropolitan Police reported a

sharp increase in anti-Semitic attacks in the 12 months preceding
July 2015.
---------two teens are arrested in connection with the beating of a Jewish
teenager in England that left him in a coma.

The teens are arrested early Thursday morning on suspicion of

causing grievous bodily harm and violent disorder in the attack at
a train station in the heart of north Manchesters Jewish
community. Manchester police also are calling on witnesses to the
attack to come forward.

The 17-year-old victim, identified as Moshe Fuerst, was

hospitalized after the attack with serious head injuries. He came
out of a coma on Monday night. He is one of four young Orthodox
Jews assaulted on the night of September 5 by three men at the
train station near Heaton Park.

These arrests demonstrate that the police are taking this

incident very seriously, which I hope gives reassurance to the
Jewish community and the wider public, Greater Manchester
Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd tells the London-based
Jewish Chronicle.

Lloyd says police are treating the attack as a hate crime.

-------------------Tories are planning to trash bin the Human Rights Act

-----------------http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-tory-plan-toscrap-the-human-rights-act-just-moved-one-step-closer10491173.html

The Tory plan to scrap the Human Rights Act confirmed in

Parliament

Further plans will be unveiled in the autumn, ministers say

Jon Stone

Author Biography

Tuesday 08 September 2015

The Government will publish its plans to replace the Human

Rights Act in the autumn of this year, ministers have confirmed.

Asked in the House of Commons when the detailed plan for the
Governments British Bill of Rights would be made public,
Dominic Raab said it would be available soon.

We will bring forward proposals on a bill of rights this autumn,

they will be subject to full consultation. The preparation is going
well, the justice minister said.

Mr Raab said the bill would give the UK Supreme Court

supremacy over the European Court of Human Rights and give a
greater respect for the legislative role for honourable members in
this place referring to MPs.

Dominic Raab, a Justice Minister Dominic Raab, a Justice Minister

The minister responded to suggestions that the British Bill of
Rights was being rushed by stating that the old legislation it was
replacing had also been rushed.

The Human Rights Act was itself rushed, there was no period of
consultation, it was introduced to parliament in just six months
and thats one of the reasons it proved flawed in practice, he
said.

We will take our time to get it right, we will take on board all the
views that have been expressed and we want to restore some
balance to our human rights regime and thats what a bill of
rights will do.

It is not clear whether giving the UK Supreme Court supremacy

over the European Court of Human Rights is compatible with
membership of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove had previously suggested that

proposals would be brought forward in the Autumn. The
scrapping of the plan is being spearheaded by Mr Gove.

The Scottish Government has said it will try to stop the UK

Government from repealing the Human Rights Act

I oppose the repeal of the Human Rights Act, I think its an

appalling thing to be doing, Scottish First Minister Nicola
Sturgeon said shortly after the election.

The Conservatives promised to repeal the Human Rights Act in

their manifesto in this years general election.

The Act allows British citizens to raise human rights concerns in

British courts rather than having to go to the European Court of
Human Rights.

It also requires all public authorities to obey the European

Convention on Human Rights.
========================================
========================================

========================================
===

============================
======================================

======================
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-32581736
Martin McGuinness' home attacked with paint

4 May 2015

Paint was thrown at the home of Martin McGuinness and a car

was also damagedImage copyright Sinn Fin
Image caption
Paint was thrown at the home of Martin McGuinness and a car
was also damaged

The home of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has been

attacked with paint.

The Sinn Fin assembly member said his grandchildren were in

the house at the time on Sunday evening.

He thanked neighbours for their help following the incident in

Londonderry.

"This attack on my family follows an arson attack on the car of a

Sinn Fin member in Derry last week and on Sinn Fin election
billboards and posters in the city," he said.

"The people behind these attacks have nothing to offer the

community and they are intent on dragging society back to the
past."

Police said damage was caused to the front of the house and a
parked car.

------------------------------

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/PSNI-head-says-noinformation-IRA-sanctioned-latest-Belfast-murder.html?
utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Best
%20of%20IC%20August%2023&utm_term=The%20Best%20of
%20IrishCentral
Likely because the Anglo press reports very little of it, and then
only locally where people already know of it. It is scrubbed from
US and world-wide reporting.
==================================
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/18/trioarrested-over-fatal-shooting-of-ex-ira-gunman-kevin-mcguigan

Hundreds attend funeral of ex-IRA gunman Kevin McGuigan

Heavy police presence at funeral in east Belfast, while four men

are questioned on suspicion of McGuigans murder

Kevin McGuigan funeral

Kevin McGuigans widow, Dolores, is comforted as the coffin is
carried out of St Matthews church following his funeral.
Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

Henry McDonald Ireland correspondent

Tuesday 18 August 2015 11.42 EDT Last modified on Tuesday 18

August 2015 13.57 EDT

More than 1,000 mourners turned out for the funeral of a former
IRA gunman who was shot last week, as police arrested a fourth
man on suspicion of his murder.

Kevin McGuigan was killed at his home in the nationalist Short

Strand district of east Belfast last Wednesday night. His family
have blamed former comrades in the IRA.

There was a heavy police presence at the funeral and at one

stage officers had to hold back a small crowd of jeering loyalists
on the Newtownards Road who were taunting mourners as the
cortege made its way towards St Matthews Catholic church.

Kevin McGuigan with his grandson Ollie in hospital in 2011.

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Kevin McGuigan with his grandson Ollie in hospital in 2011.

Photograph: Family/PSNI/PA

Inside the church, the parish priest Fr John Nevin warned against
violence and revenge.

The only thing that all of us can take from this terrible tragedy
and from todays funeral mass is that violence does not solve
problems, he said in his homily. Violence and war and revenge
do not solve problems, but create more the circle goes on.

Among those who walked behind the coffin, which was draped in
an Irish tricolour flag, was the former Sinn Fin lord mayor of
Belfast Niall Donnghaile. His party has denied the claims of the
McGuigan family and a number of republican sources that
members of the mainstream IRA were responsible for the killing.

Wreaths spelling out the words Husband, Uncle, Daddy,

Brother and Son were put into the hearse that drove
McGuigans body to the City cemetery in west Belfast for burial.
Police were stationed in several armoured Land Rovers when the
funeral cortege arrived at the cemetery, and a Police Service of
Northern Ireland helicopter hovered in the sky above.

On Tuesday four men aged 53, 44, 41 and 39 were arrested at

different locations in Belfast on suspicion of murder. During
searches in the Short Strand area, police took a washing machine
and other materials away from a house.

Det Ch Insp John McVea said weapons recovered during searches

in Greater Belfast had been sent for forensic examination.

Sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that one of the

weapons used in the killing may have come from a batch of guns
smuggled into the country from Florida by the IRA during the
peace process in 1999 to defend itself from attacks.

McGuigan, who was 53, had been accused by ex-comrades of

killing a former Belfast IRA commander, Gerard Jock Davison, in
the Market area of central Belfast in May. Through his solicitor
McGuigan had denied involvement in the Davison murder.

Victims campaigners including Catherine McCartney, a former

neighbour of McGuigan whose brother Robert was killed by IRA
members outside a Belfast pub a decade ago, have called for the
inquiry into McGuigans killing to be taken out of the PSNIs hands
as they allege the force is more concerned with protecting the
political process at Stormont than solving paramilitary murders.
The PSNI has rejected the claims.

==============================

Belfast Telegraph

Wednesday 16 September 2015

New loyalist terror group issues death threat to PSNI and Parades
Commission as 'legitimate targets'

Police are investigating threats

By Deborah McAleese

Published
14/07/2015

Three members of the unnamed loyalist group in Northern Ireland

that has threatened police and parade officials

An armed loyalist group have issued death threats to members of

the PSNI and the Parades Commission.

Two pictures have been issued to the media showing three

masked men in paramilitary style clothing sitting at a table with
what appear to be two handguns along with two semi-automatic
weapons.

Video: Outrage at masked loyalist gang's sinister threats to police

and Parades Commission

source: Belfast Telegraph

The un-named group released a statement saying after last

night's "brutal assault upon the PUL community and the random
firing of baton rounds aimed to seriously injure our people we are
left with no other option but to announce the PSNI and Parades
Commission are legitimate targets."

The group added: "We do not want to take this course of action
but our people have suffered enough over the last few years and
we as disengaged and disgruntled loyalists feel like the time has
come for us to take action. No Surrender.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said the threats were

"deplorable".

We are aware that a very concerning photograph and statement

have been circulated to some local media outlets today which we
are investigating. Threatening the lives of serving police officers,
staff and members of the Parades Commission for simply doing
their jobs, is sickening and deplorable," Mr Martin said.

He added: "Threats against police or any other body, have to be

completely rejected and condemned by society and I am sure
that the vast majority of people will stand with us and roundly
denounce these vile threats and the individuals who made them.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/newloyalist-terror-group-issues-death-threat-to-psni-and-paradescommission-as-legitimate-targets-31375831.html

The threats come after violence erupted in north Belfast after the
return leg of a Twelfth of July parade was once again restricted
from walking along a stretch of the Crumlin Road which separates
Unionists and Nationalists.

A number of baton rounds were fired and a water cannon was

used to try and control the crowds as violence erupted at the
flashpoint.

This is the third year in a row the Parades Commission has

refused the Orange Order permission for the return route.

There has been growing unrest towards the Parades Commission

in the Unionist community with calls for them to resign.

Loyalists set up a protest camp at Twaddell Avenue in July 2013

after the Parades Commission decision stopped the parade taking
place on the stretch of the adjoining Crumlin Road.

Serious violence erupted in the area in 2013 when Orangemen

were stopped from marching past Ardoyne while returning from
their annual Twelfth of July demonstrations.
==========================

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-33896234

Kevin McGuigan murder: Ex-IRA man shot dead in east Belfast

13 August 2015

From the section Northern Ireland

Kevin McGuigan SrImage copyright Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Image caption
Kevin McGuigan Sr was a father of nine and a former member of
the IRA

A man murdered in a gun attack in east Belfast overnight has

been named as Kevin McGuigan Sr, who was a former member of
the Provisional IRA.

Police said he was one of a number of suspects in the murder of

Gerard Jock Davison, who was shot dead in May.

Mr McGuigan was shot at Comber Court in the Short Strand on

Wednesday night.

Sinn Fin has denied speculation that Provisional IRA may have
been involved in his murder. The DUP said there will be
"repercussions" if that is the case.

Mr McGuigan, a father-of-nine, was treated by paramedics at the

scene before being taken to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, but
he died from his wounds.

'Punishment attack'

Heavily armed officers set up a cordon in the Short Strand within

minutes of the gun attack, which was reported shortly before
21:00 BST.

Police have begun a murder investigation and appealed for

anyone with information to contact them.

Police cordon at murder scene in Comber CourtImage copyright

Pacemaker
Image caption
Police remain at the scene at Comber Court in the Short Strand
where Kevin McGuigan was fatally shot on Wednesday night

The victim's elderly mother, Margaret McGuigan, told the BBC

that her son's killers would have to live with what they had done.

She added there had been "too many murders" in the area and
that she hoped her son's would be the last.

Mr McGuigan had been questioned by police after the murder of

Jock Davison in the Markets area of Belfast three months ago.

Mr Davison, 47, was a former IRA commander and a former

friend of Mr McGuigan.

Gerard 'Jock' DavisonImage copyright PAcemaker

Image caption
Gerard 'Jock' Davison was shot dead in the Markets area of
Belfast in May

The IRA pair were also founding members of the paramilitary

group Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD), which killed more than
a dozen alleged drug dealers.

They were later involved in a feud, and Mr McGuigan was shot

several times in a so-called punishment attack.

It was claimed that Mr Davison gave the order for that attack on
his former friend.

'Repercussions'

Politicians have condemned the murder and said Mr McGuigan's

killer must be caught.

Northern Ireland's First Minster and DUP leader, Peter Robinson,

was asked if he was concerned that IRA or former IRA members
may have carried out the attack.

"I think everyone should be concerned that would be the case,"

Mr Robinson said.

"We will speak to the PSNI to see what their findings are in terms
of the involvement of any organisation. But let's be very clear,
there will be repercussions if that was found to be the case."

'Grief'

But leading Sinn Fin member Alex Maskey said he had "no
concerns about IRA involvement" in Mr McGuigan's murder.

"I don't accept for one second that the IRA has been involved in
this, it just doesn't register at all," Mr Maskey added.

"We're calling for calm, we're calling for respect for this particular
family at this time in the midst of their grief and we're cautioning
against unhelpful and unwelcome speculation."

'Savagery'

Justice Minister David Ford said: "Those responsible for this

appalling crime have left a family grieving and a community in
shock.

"There is no place for the gun in our society and it is time to stop
these attacks."

Mountforde Park and Comber Court have been sealed off after the
murderImage copyright BBC (Claire Graham Twitter)
Image caption
Mountforde Park and Comber Court have been sealed off after the
murder

Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Union Voice (TUV), said there
must be no cover-up in the murder investigation.

"Police, politicians and all who value truth and justice must face,
not fudge, the truth, however uncomfortable it might be," he
said.

Scene of shooting in Short StrandImage copyright PAcemaker

Image caption
A heavy police presence was in the area minutes after the
shooting

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader, Alasdair

McDonnell, said on Twitter: "Those behind this savagery on our
streets must be brought to justice."
===============================
==================
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2857880/Ireland-askEuropean-Court-Human-Rights-reopen-landmark-case-againstBritain-alleged-torture-Hooded-Men-Northern-Ireland.html

Ireland to ask European Court of Human Rights to reopen

landmark case against Britain over alleged torture of the
'Hooded Men' in Northern Ireland
'Hooded Men' were 14 Catholics who claimed they were tortured
They said they subjected to beatings, starvation and sleep
deprivation
It is claimed British Government authorised the 'deep
interrogation' tactics

Dublin has now approached Brussels over the allegations

By Sam Webb for MailOnline

Published: 13:15 EST, 2 December 2014 | Updated: 15:52 EST, 2

December 2014

Ireland will ask the European Court of Human Rights to reopen a

landmark case against Britain over the use of alleged torture in
Northern Ireland.

On the back of new evidence, Amnesty International and other

human rights organisations pressed Dublin to relaunch
proceedings in the so-called 'Hooded Men' case.

They were 14 Catholic men interned - detained indefinitely

without trial - in 1971 who claimed they were subjected to a
number of torture methods.

Nine of the 14 'Hooded Men'. (From left-right) Back row: Patrick

McNally, Brian Turley, Francie McGuigan, Joe Clarke; Middle Row:
Michael Donnelly, Gerry McKerr, Jiam Auld; Front Row: Kevin
Hannaway, Liam Shannon, and standing side-on Colm O'Gorman,
the executive director of Amnesty Ireland

These included five techniques, hooding, stress positions, white

noise, sleep deprivation and deprivation of food and water, along
with beatings and death threats.

The men were hooded and flown by helicopter to a secret

location, later revealed as a British Army camp at Ballykelly,
outside Londonderry. None were ever convicted.

A documentary on Irish State broadcaster RTE in June disclosed

fresh evidence that the British Government authorised the 'deep
interrogation' tactics at the highest levels.

Confirming Ireland's approach to Europe, Foreign Affairs Minister

Charlie Flanagan said the fresh evidence was taken very seriously
by Dublin and legal advice was also sought.

'On the basis of the new material uncovered, it will be contended

that the ill-treatment suffered by the Hooded Men should be
recognised as torture,' he said.

The men say they were forced to stand in 'stress positions', as

demonstrated by these Amnesty International campaigners in this
file picture, for long periods of time by their British captors

'The Government's decision was not taken lightly.

'As EU partners, UK and Ireland have worked together to promote

human rights in many forms and during the original case, the UK
did not contest before the European Court of Human Rights that a
breach of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human rights
took place.

'The British and Irish governments have both worked hard to

build stronger more trusting relations in recent years and I
believe that this relationship will now stand to us as we work
through the serious matters raised by these cases which have
come to light in recent months.'

The Irish government first took a human rights case against

Britain over the alleged torture in 1971.

The European Commission ruled that the mistreatment of the

men was torture, but in 1978 the European Court of Human
Rights held that the men suffered inhumane and degrading
treatment that was not torture.

The UK did not dispute the finding.

The men were taken to a British Army camp at Ballykelly, outside

Londonderry

The new evidence, uncovered from national archives in London by

the human rights outfit The Pat Finucane Centre, throws doubt
over the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

It includes a letter dated 1977 from then-home secretary Merlyn

Rees to then-prime minister James Callaghan in which he states
his view that the decision to use 'methods of torture in Northern
Ireland in 1971/72 was taken by ministers - in particular Lord
Carrington, then secretary of state for defence'.

Mr Rees added that 'a political decision was taken'.

The Irish government had until December 4 - six months after

the new evidence came to light - to inform Europe if it wanted the
case reopened.

A High Court case was launched in Dublin seeking to compel the

Cabinet into acting.

Amnesty International said the reopening of the case would help

the surviving 'Hooded Men' and the families of those who have
died to their right to truth and justice

'The UK withheld from the European Court what it knew about the
terrible suffering deliberately inflicted on them and its being
sanctioned at the highest levels of the UK Government,' said
spokesman Colm O'Gorman.

'Ireland's decision today bravely flies the flag for human rights
and the universal and unconditional prohibition of torture.'

Liam Shannon, one of the 14 men, said they were absolutely

delighted.

'We've waited 43 years and we want to thank everyone involved,

our legal team and all the researchers who turned up the relevant
information in order that we could make a case and we'd
particularly like to thank Amnesty International for their
assistance,' he added.

Paul O'Connor, of The Pat Finucane Centre, said three successive

British governments had deliberately deceived the European court
over the case, which has since been used to justify techniques in
Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo.

'The recently discovered documents show the British government

withheld vital medical, legal and policy documents from both the
European Court and the Irish government in respect of the case
taken by the Irish state on torture,' he added.

======================
Dad claims religious hatred fuelled violent anti-Semitic attackers

10 September 2015 Last updated at 10:20 BST

The father of a teenager who was beaten up at a tram stop has

said his son's attackers became more violent when they realised
he was Jewish.

Moshe Fuerst, 17 suffered from a fractured skull when he was

attacked at Bowker Vale Metrolink station near Prestwich on
Saturday.

His dad says his religion made the situation worse - and police
are treating the attack as an anti-Semitic hate crime.

BBC North West Tonight's Suzanne Hailey reports.

------------