Tag: raymond murray

Constable Kerr murder ‘linked to other dissident incidents’

Constable Ronan Kerr Constable Ronan Kerr was killed when a booby-trap car bomb exploded
 
Detectives investigating the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr have said they have linked the killing to nine other dissident incidents

Constable Kerr, 25, died when a bomb exploded under his car at Highfield Close in Omagh in April 2011.

Detectives are also trying to identify 11 vehicles and one man in the vicinity of Highfield Close in the days leading up to the murder and on the day itself.

Police have said they could be valuable witnesses or suspects.

They have put a map of the murder scene and the vehicles on the PSNI website.

Detective Superintendent Raymond Murray said the police investigation had Constable Kerr’s murder at its core, but included several linked incidents.

These included an arms find, attempted murders, armed robberies and a number of other terrorist attacks.

“We are 10 months into this investigation but there is a long way to go,” Det Supt Murray said.

“We have trawled through an enormous amount of information obtained from our enquiries and material gleaned from previous appeals.

“But there are still gaps which we are endeavouring to close in terms of building up a complete picture of the events leading up to the explosion.

“To date, there have been 56 searches, 10 arrests and one person charged as part of the overall investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives on 028 8225 6687

Ronan Kerr murder: Graffiti lauding bomb ‘disgusting’

Bogside graffiti A police officer looks at one of the slogans painted in Londonderry overnight
 
Graffiti praising the murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr and threatening further attacks has been daubed on walls in Londonderry

The slogans were painted in the Bogside estate, an area with a predominantly republican population.

One read: “GAA cops, look what use (sic) got”. It refers to Constable Kerr’s membership of a Gaelic football club.

The graffiti is being painted out and has been condemned by politicians.

Constable Kerr, 25, was killed when a booby-trap bomb exploded underneath his car in Omagh, County Tyrone on Saturday afternoon.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for the attack.

They are opposed to the police and have repeatedly targeted officers in both gun and bomb attacks.

They are believed to be deliberately targeting Catholic officers in order to try to deter Catholics from joining the PSNI.

Last year, Peadar Heffron, a Catholic officer who played for the PSNI Gaelic football team, lost his legs in a similar booby-trap bomb attack.

Outgoing SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey said that it was the second day that such “despicable and disgusting” slogans had appeared.

‘Outraged’

He added: “People really are outraged by this.

“This is not indicative of the feeling among the people of the Bogside and that is why those responsible skulked around in the dark of night and did their deed.

Bogside graffiti The graffiti was being erased by volunteers on Tuesday morning

“They are not standing up and saying it, they are using the same cowardly tactics of those who callously murdered Pc Kerr.

“The people of the Bogside are angry this morning, they have been angry since Saturday, just like the rest of the north.

“They do not deserve to be tarnished with this and the good name of PC Kerr does not deserve to be tarnished like this.”

Constable Kerr’s funeral is due to take place on Wednesday and will be attended by NI First Minister Peter Robinson as well as Irish prime minister Enda Kenny

WITH MANY THANKS TO BBC NEWS

Related articles

Marian Price moved from Maghaberry to Hydebank

Old Bailey bomber Marian Price has been moved from Maghaberry to the women’s prison at Hydebank outside Belfast.

   

On Thursday night a priest described her continuing detention as a form of internment.

The claim has been “entirely refuted” by NI Secretary Owen Paterson, who revoked her release licence last May.

The prison service has told the BBC the decision to move Price was taken on clinical advice from healthcare staff at the South Eastern Trust.

It said that since being returned to prison nine months ago the prison service and the trust have, on a number of occasions, discussed and reviewed her needs while in custody.

She was returned to prison last May after appearing at a dissident republican rally in Derry and has since been charged in connection with the murders of two soldiers at Masserene a charge she denies.

‘Form of internment’A meeting of supporters campaigning for her release was held in Londonderry on Thursday night.

Former prison chaplain Monsignor Raymond Murray said Mr Paterson’s decision had echoes of the past for nationalists.

“This is a form of internment,” said Monsignor Murray, who was prison chaplain in Armagh for almost 20 years.

“I am just shocked that the secretary of state wouldn’t be aware of how seriously nationalist people look on internment.

“We thought it had all ended and here it is coming under a form of revocation, revoking a license.

“He would have to explain to us and explain the process of law as regards Marian Price.

“In any way has she broken the law? That would have to be provided but it is not provided by shoving her into prison on a pretence in an unjust way.”

‘Protection of the public’However, the Northern Ireland Office said: “Following a recommendation from the independent parole commissioners, the secretary of state revoked Marian McGlinchey’s licence on 15 May 2011.

“In accordance with the provisions of the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2011, the secretary of state may revoke a licence where it is necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm and to prevent the commission of further offences.

“Those released on licence have an obligation to act within the terms of their release.

“Mrs McGlinchey has been charged with two offences under the Terrorism Act 2000, one of which is in connection with the Masserene murders.

“In these circumstances, and considering the need to protect the public, Mrs. McGlinchey’s licence was revoked. An independent panel of parole commissioners is now considering her case.

“The secretary of state entirely refutes the allegation that this is internment without trial.

“Due process has been followed at all times: Mrs McGlinchey is aware of the case against her and has an opportunity to challenge it, and submit evidence on her behalf, during the course of the parole hearing.”

Marian Price ‘internment’ claim refuted by NIO

 

The Northern Ireland Office has said the secretary of state “entirely refutes” the allegation that republican Marian Price is being effectively interned without trial.

Earlier, a priest described the continuing detention of the Old Bailey bomber as a form of internment.

She has been in custody in Maghaberry Prison since May last year.

Secretary of State Owen Paterson revoked her licence after she appeared at a dissident republican rally.

A meeting of supporters campaigning for her release was held in Londonderry on Thursday night.

Former prison chaplain Monsignor Raymond Murray said Mr Paterson’s decision had echoes of the past for nationalists.

“This is a form of internment,” said Monsignor Murray, who was prison chaplain in Armagh for almost 20 years.

“I am just shocked that the secretary of state wouldn’t be aware of how seriously nationalist people look on internment.

“We thought it had all ended and here it is coming under a form of revocation, revoking a license.

“He would have to explain to us and explain the process of law as regards Marian Price.

“In any way has she broken the law? That would have to be provided but it is not provided by shoving her into prison on a pretence in an unjust way.”

‘Protection of the public’

However, the Northern Ireland Office said: “Following a recommendation from the independent parole commissioners, the secretary of state revoked Marian McGlinchey’s licence on 15 May 2011.

“In accordance with the provisions of the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2011, the secretary of state may revoke a licence where it is necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm and to prevent the commission of further offences.

“Those released on licence have an obligation to act within the terms of their release.

“Mrs McGlinchey has been charged with two offences under the Terrorism Act 2000, one of which is in connection with the Masserene murders.

“In these circumstances, and considering the need to protect the public, Mrs. McGlinchey’s licence was revoked. An independent panel of parole commissioners is now considering her case.

“The secretary of state entirely refutes the allegation that this is internment without trial.

“Due process has been followed at all times: Mrs McGlinchey is aware of the case against her and has an opportunity to challenge it, and submit evidence on her behalf, during the course of the parole hearing.”

 
Related articles

Marian Price being held is ‘internment’: Priest

A Catholic priest has described the continuing detention of the Old Bailey bomber Marian Price as a form of internment.

    
She has been in custody in Maghaberry Prisonsince May last year.Secretary of State Owen Paterson revoked her licence after she appeared at a dissident republicanrally.A meeting of supporters campaigning for her release was held in Londonderry last night.Former prison chaplain Monsignor Raymond Murray said Mr Paterson’s decision had echoes of the past for nationalists.

“This is a form of internment,” said Monsignor Murray, who was prison chaplain in Armagh for almost 20 years.

“I am just shocked that the secretary of state wouldn’t be aware of how seriously nationalist people look on internment.

“We thought it had all ended and here it is coming under a form of revocation, revoking a license.

“He would have to explain to us and explain the process of law as regards Marian Price.

“In any way has she broken the law? That would have to be provided but it is not provided by shoving her into prison on a pretence in an unjust way.”

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey critical of Marian Price detention

The continued detainment of alleged dissident republican Marian Price has “unintentionally provided a recruiting tool” for dissident republicans, an SDLP MLA told the assembly on Monday.

    
 Pat Ramsey tabled a motion calling on Justice Minister David Fordto liaise with the secretary of state to review the conditions of her detention.Price has been in custody in Maghaberry prison since May 2011, when Owen Paterson revoked the release from prison on licence of the Old Bailey bomber.”This action provided the dissidents the opportunity again to rouse the long-held suspicion of the British justice system imposing its role on the people across Northern Ireland,” Mr Ramsey said.Ms Price, also known as Marian McGlinchey, had been charged with encouraging support for an illegal organisation, the IRA, following a dissident republican rally in Londonderry on Easter Sunday.

The judge granted her bail on that charge, although her licence was later revoked.

InternmentSpeaking at the time, Mr Paterson said he made the decision because the threat posed by Price had “significantly increased”.

Before members discussed the motion, Speaker William Hay warned that nothing could be said which would jeopardise the current prosecutions with the courts.

Sinn Fein’s Jennifer McCann said her party had attempted to get an amendment to the motion to acknowledge republican prisoner Martin Corry.

She said she saw Price’s case as “tantamount to internment without trial”.

The DUP’s Paul Givan, who is also chair of the justice committee, said the motion was “irresponsibly tabled by the SDLP”.

“Mr Ramsey not once commented on Marian Price’s history and why her licence has been revoked,” he said.

He added that the secretary of state had a “duty to protect the wider interests of society”.

Price was jailed for the IRA bombing of the Old Bailey in London in 1973. She was released on compassionate grounds in 1980.

Responding to the debate, Justice Minister David Ford said the revocation of the licence and the case was led by Mr Paterson and the responsibility now lay with the parole commissioners.

He said under devolution, it fell to the secretary of state to recall those released on a life licence if the rationale was determined to be of a “national security nature”.

Mr Ford said he therefore had “no role” and it would be “a serious danger if this house would instruct me to do something which is outside my responsibilities”.

“My opinion on this matter would carry no more weight than any other member of the assembly,” he added.

He denied claims that Price’s medical needs had not been addressed during her time in custody, claiming that she had been provided with the care she required.

Mr Ford also explained that Price had been placed in Maghaberry – an all-male prison – as she was seen to be high risk and Hydebank Wood Women’s Prison was deemed unsuitable.

The motion was rejected.

Related Stories

Related articles
%d bloggers like this: