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Claim that PSNI protecting dissidents 'an insult'
Thursday, 23 October 2008
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SF and the PSNI clashed today over claims the security forces were protecting informants in dissident republican groups.
Rioting last night in the Craigavon area of Co Armagh was today blamed on dissident republican groups opposed to the peace process.
But when senior Sinn Fein representative John O’Dowd claimed the dissident ringleaders were being protected by the security forces, police said the allegation was an insult.
The area has been blighted by outbreaks of rioting in recent months and Mr O’Dowd said the local community wanted the thugs off their back.
“The question the community is asking more and more is how these individuals continue to operate in the community with apparent immunity,” he said.
“There is a suggestion that some of them are involved in some level as informers or agents and if they are I would call for their immunity to be lifted immediately and for those people to be put through the judicial process.”
There were also unconfirmed reports that shots were fired, with speculation rife that the violence was aimed at drawing police into the area so dissidents could attack officers.
But PSNI Superintendent Alan McCrum denied the allegation that police hands were tied when it came to tackling those dissidents behind the Craigavon activity.
“I would categorically refute what has been said. Nobody is above the law. The police are not in any way protecting informers,” he said. “Police in Craigavon area are seeking to work with the community to get enough evidence and bring people before the courts.”
Fire crews and police officers came under attack during last night’s rioting. The incidences began just after 7pm when three masked men hijacked a bus at the Drumbeg roundabout in Craigavon. Passengers on the bus were ordered off by the gang.
Around 45 minutes later a van was hijacked on the nearby Old Portadown Road outside Lurgan.
A number of roads where the disturbances broke out, including Drumbeg roundabout, Old Portadown Road and Tandragee Road were closed today.
Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council, Sidney Anderson, said the disturbances were an attempt “to lure” police to an ambush.
The DUP councillor added: “Craigavon has moved on. We do not need this type of behaviour dragging us back into the past.”
Independent councillor for the area Mark Russell said: “This is a very difficult job for the police but they need to sit down and look at what they can do to reduce the risk to the public when this type of trouble kicks off. I know of a football team of a unionist background were passing the area at the time. What would have happened if their vehicle had been hijacked?”
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That's rich coming from John O Dowd, if he's not complaining about police being heavy handed, he's saying now that the police are protecting them-rioters. He has more faces than the town clock.
O, I'm surprised he hasn't suggested using the "British" soldiers...
Posted by Lenny Deans | 26.10.08, 22:48 GMT
I live in Craigavon.
Some people living in my state are troublemakers, which deal with drugs, threat the neighbours with paramilitar (IRA?) connections, break windows and doors as they want, (specially if they see the police in your home), and the authorities just do nothing.
In one of many times I visited them in the Police Station to talk about this, asking again how is it possible this people to be still free and acting this way, one of the agents just said: "Maybe they are informers..."
My question is: In this country the police informers are above the law?
Posted by Craigavon resident | 24.10.08, 06:13 GMT
"Disfunctional politics, no real economy, terrible climate."
That pretty much decribes Planet Earth, mate! Good luck on the Moon...
Posted by Steve | 23.10.08, 23:02 GMT
When folk talk about rights it is strange how blinkered they can be.
Too many nationalists focused on their rights and too many on the other side ignored the real greviences of nationalists and in the middle of it all the country suffered years of death and misery and a weakened economic base.
When it comes down to it that is what NI is all about really. Its a tribal contest for a country that has ended up not worth fighting over. The useless economy is the real reason so many just leave. Disfunctional politics, no real economy, terrible climate.
My advice to any young person is leave as soon as you are able. I say this with so much sadness in my heart as I gave the place the best years of my life and worked it all out too late.
Nevermind, at least I got on the boat in 2003 still alive! Born in 1969. Need I say any more?
Posted by Steve Millar | 23.10.08, 17:48 GMT
My comment was made in response to an earlier edition of the article. That article basically said - "There was a riot in Co Armagh last night". The article now approaches the kind of detail we should expect - who was involved, what's the backstory, how do people feel. My point was that anything less is an insult to the intelligent people of this country.
Posted by Knowledgeispower | 23.10.08, 17:12 GMT
bob, wat you mean he wasnt that great? for sum1 to starve themselves to death for the rights of the nationalist community within prison and outside i dont c how u could argue the point.....
for some he was a hero to others he was a friend...
Posted by sean | 23.10.08, 16:24 GMT
bobby sands wasn't so great sean!
what kind of article do you expect to see in the regional paper of NI which reports the goings on of NI Knowledgeispower? strangest comment I've read - other than of course anyone lauding bobby sands!
Posted by BOB | 23.10.08, 14:51 GMT
Robbo - I do not see your point. How can stopping reporting on these thugs be propaganda when nobody would see it or read about it? The only manipulation going on is when these idiots hit the streets and wreck and burn and the media is foolish enough to give this credibility by reporting it without value judgement or condemnation.
Posted by Thos | 23.10.08, 14:31 GMT
The Craigavon area of Co Armagh must be bandit country! I am sure the police tried their best. And certainly the local community must meet together and form Watch areas/groups/patrols with the Police. The people of the community must defend their community.
Posted by Aran Black | 23.10.08, 13:28 GMT
Thos - the media are here to report the news. Are you suggesting that it should be suppressed and if so that is a sad case of propaganda and manipulation?
We are supposedly at peace but that is clearly not the case.
Posted by robbo | 23.10.08, 13:22 GMT
these ppl are nothing but hoods... there is no excuse for this behaviour... as for being class as republicans... they are far from republicans... they are THUGS, only in it for money, drugs etc....
True republicans like bobby sands etc will be turning in their grave at this...
Posted by sean | 23.10.08, 13:21 GMT
Mark Russell states.
"What would have happened if their vehicle had been hijacked? A very dangerous situation could have developed."
What do you call what happened Mr. Russell? A stroll in the park with the dog.
Geez.
Posted by Earl | 23.10.08, 13:13 GMT
Is this seriously considered an article in our region's main newspaper? Where is the journalistic rigor and the investigative thrust? Northern Ireland deserves better than superficial regurgitation of events. Without those we continue on our path to tabloid sensationalism. Thugs and criminals bask in notoriety and count their Sunday Life covers like Paris Hilton's publicist. Or you can lay off the journalists and re-hash the news wires.
Posted by Knowledgeispower | 23.10.08, 11:42 GMT
Why is this thuggery being reported in the first place. All the media are doing are giving these people, who are representing nobody's interests but their own criminal activities, free publicity.
Posted by Thos | 23.10.08, 11:02 GMT
This is patethic, who are these morons and what is there justification for this?
If we are to move forward and have a normal society, then this sort of anti-social behaviour should not be tolerated; there should be zero tolerance to anyone involved in crimal damage and rioting. I have no doubt that no arrests where made, how large groups of people can run rampant causing destruction, throwing petrol bombs and attacking the fire brigade (very brave lads, how I'd love to get them into a room one on one to see how tough they are then), yet no one gets arrested by the police?
No other country in the world would accept this behaviour, try it in Tokyo, Melboure, New York, Berlin, Stockholm or Madrid, you would go to jail! Do you think if a group of idiots tried this in London or Dublin it would be allowed, no, of course not, because it is not acceptable behaviour, but until we stand up and demand that things change, it will continue.
This is NOT normal society, we need to change that.
Posted by Steven | 23.10.08, 09:23 GMT