Policing and Justice
By Edward Maxwell Kate Hoey’s questioning of the Chief Constable during the Northern Ireland Affairs committee went some way to exposing the shaky legal rationale for the PSNI’s seizure of both historic, and conflict related, loyalist memorabilia. Recent search warrants obtained under Schedule 5 of the Terrorism Act have been authorised on the basis of seeking […]
Prominent MP Kate Hoey, who was once a member of Tony Blair’s Government, has this morning challenged PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton in relation to the seizure of historical and conflict related UVF memorabilia, which it has been suggested is not actually a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act. Ms Hoey quizzed the Chief Constable […]
Why criminalising loyalism is designed to serve a political purpose By Jamie Bryson When Tony Blair said “I will deal with republicans, the Chief Constable will deal with the loyalists” it wasn’t just a flippant remark, but rather a Government policy that prevails until this very day. It is not just a policy pursued by […]
The East Belfast Community Initiative has expressed “grave concerns” after the arrests of two loyalists in East Belfast on Monday. A spokesperson for the EBCI said; “We have grave concerns at the circumstances of these arrests. We predicted from the very start of this farce that the agenda was all about felon setting […]
This is a sermon delivered by Pastor Mark ‘Tatty’ Gordon on the subject of paramilitarism. The sermon can also be listened to here http://www.shilohchristianfellowship.co.uk/media/uploads/Paramilitaries.mp3 1 Timothy 2v1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and […]
The PSNI have confirmed that they “will not speculate” as to who was behind the alleged threats to homes in a shared housing area in east Belfast. This is a pretty solid indication that the PSNI are not laying the blame at the door of the UVF and as such it makes the prevailing […]
The East Belfast Community Initiative, which mediates on behalf of ex-combatants linked to east Belfast UVF, has responded to allegations originating from Sinn Fein that the UVF has threatened residents in a shared housing area; “Sinn Fein, within their own comments, made clear that the PSNI did not identify the UVF when delivering these […]
Today’s announcement of a large scale PSNI operation against individuals that are alleged to be involved in the ‘North Belfast UVF’ comes as the Red Hand Commando made an application to be de-proscribed. This application will, of course, be a matter primarily for the Northern Ireland Office and the Secretary of State, not the Home […]
Convicted IRA bomber Gerry Kelly today told the BBC Talk Back program that an individual being sentenced to prison was no longer a member of the IRA. In this context the Sinn Fein MLA stated he left the IRA when he went into prison. Despite this Mr Kelly’s own account of the Maze escape […]
A serving PSNI officer has this morning been arrested as part of an investigation into inappropriate use of social media, including leaking confidential information into live Police investigations. The Ombudsman has received a number of detailed complaints, at least one of which included the names of officers involved. It is also understood the […]