PSNI stop and search ‘disproportionately targeting’ minority communities | Irish Legal News

PSNI/RUC – Rebranded – Still Sectarian

17th February, 2023.
Human rights campaigners have raised concerns about the disproportionate use of stop and search by the PSNI on people from minoritised ethnic communities and on children.

Figures published this week show that 21,190 people were stopped and searched in Northern Ireland by police last year.

People from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds accounted for 1,259 stops, or almost six per cent of the total, despite making up just 3.4 per cent of the total population according to the 2021 census figures.

Irish Travellers were the ethnic group most disproportionately searched by the PSNI, accounting for 353 stops, 2.7 per cent of the overall figure, despite making up just 0.1 per cent of the population as a whole.

Children aged 13 to 17 make up only six per cent of the population but accounted for almost 11 per cent of all stop and searches in Northern Ireland.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International UK’s Northern Ireland director, said: “If you are from an minoritised ethnic community you are almost twice as likely to be stopped and searched by the PSNI than if you are from the white majority community. The police need to explain why this is the case.

“Black and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland tell us they feel over-policed, yet under-protected when they themselves are victims of racist hate crime.

“The use of stop and search on children is also deeply disturbing. There were almost 3,000 stops of children under these powers last year, yet very few searches resulted in an arrest, suggesting the vast majority of stops were wholly unnecessary.

“We note with regret the PSNI’s continued failure to record the community background of those subjected to stop and search, despite repeated calls by the Policing Board for it to do so.

“Every unnecessary stop and search can leave a negative impact on community relations, with thousands of people left feeling unfairly targeted. In the long run, that is bad news for police community relations.”

With many thanks to the: Irish Legal News (ILN) Email:http:newsdesk@irishlegal.com for the original story.

Follow this link to to find out more on this story: https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/psni-stop-and-search-disproportionately-targeting-minority-communities

Former British soldier to be sentenced over Aidan McAnespie murder

Aidan McAnespie, 23,was shot in the back from a British army observation (checkpoint) post in Aughnacloy on 21st February, 1998.

Friday, 27th January, 2023.

A former British soldier who shot a Co Tyrone man dead as he walked to a GAA match 35 years ago will be sentenced later today.

David Holden, 53 was convicted in November of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie, who was shot in the back on his way to a GAA Football match.

He is the first British army veteran to be convicted since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Whatever sentence is imposed, Holden will benefit from the agreement’s early release scheme for prisoners and will serve a maximum of two years.

Mr McAnespie, 23, was shot in the back from an army checkpoint in the village of Aughnacloy on the Tyrone/Monaghan border on 21 February, 1988.

He was walking to a game in the nearby GAA ground.

The former soldier, who was 18 at the time and serving in the Grenadier Guards, claimed the shooting had been an accident.

But the judge ruled he had pointed a machine gun at Mr McAnespie from an observation sanger in the checkpoint and pulled the trigger, assuming the weapon was not cocked and ready for use.

That was an assumption he should never have made and as a result he was guilty of manslaughter “by gross negligence”, the judge ruled.

He dismissed the soldier’s claim that it happened as he handled the weapon with wet gloves and that his finger had slipped onto the trigger.

The British Army observation post (left) from where the British soldier fired the fatal shot

The judge described that as a “deliberately false account” and said the expert evidence had been that it took nine pounds of pressure on the trigger to fire the weapon.

Three rounds were fired in a short burst. One of them ricocheted off the road and hit Mr McAnespie in the back.

During the trial, the court was told that Mr McAnespie was a “person of interest” to the security forces.

He had complained of regular harassment at the checkpoint and often parked his car and walked through it to the GAA grounds to avoid lengthy delays caused by searches of his vehicle.

Mr McAnespie’s family is expected at court in Belfast for the sentencing.

The case concludes as the British government’s controversial legacy plans continue to make their way through Westminster.

They have been rejected by all of Northern Ireland’s political parties and the Irish Government and face considerable opposition in the House of Lords where they are currently being debated.

The plan would effectively end all criminal and civil cases and inquest hearings relating to the Troubles.

Instead, there would be a truth recovery process in which former paramilitaries would be encouraged to participate, in return for an amnesty from prosecution.

The funeral of Mr McAnespie as it passes underneath the observation post from where he was shot dead from 1988 Photo copyright PACEMAKER

The British government has promised amendments in the face of overwhelming criticism, but has been accused of tinkering at the edges.

The legislation follows a Conservative party commitment to legal protections for British army veterans.

After the sentence is handed down by the court, Holden’s legal team must apply to Northern Ireland’s Sentence Review Commissioners to have it commuted.

With many thanks to: RTÉ News and Conor Macauley (Northern Correspondent) for the original story.

Follow these links to find out more on this story: Former British soldier to be sentenced over Aidan McAnespie killing

With many thanks to: RTÉ News and Connor Macauley (Northern Correspondent) Follow@TVconormac for the original story.

Follow this link to find out more on this story: https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0127/1352056-mcanespie-court-ruling/

Predictions for 2023: The Protocol stays, Biden comes, and Donaldson goes – Irish Border Poll

#IRISHUNITY

https://irishborderpoll.com/2022/12/28/predictions-for-2023-the-protocol-stays-biden-comes-and-donaldson-goes/

THE BASTARD STATE

https://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-bastard-state/

Peace in Northern Ireland is in danger – Johnson’s lies and inaction offer no help | Northern Ireland | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/11/boris-johnson-posturing-has-put-northern-ireland-fragile-peace-at-grave-risk

Relatives reject claims Frazer supplied arms to loyalist Paramilitaries

ALLEGATIONS that victims’ campaigner Willie ‘Wullie’ Frazer was involved in supplying arms to loyalist Paramilitaries are “false”, his family said yesterday.

“It is false to say he was linked to the importation of the arms. He was never, at any stage, arrested or questioned by the RUC/PSNI about such activities” Frazer Family Statement 

A new BBC documentary has linked ‘Wullie’, who died earlier this year, to the distribution of automatic rifles and rocket launchers imported from Africa. The weapons were reportly used in the murders of at least 70 people. But Mr Fraser’s family have rejected the claims made in the latest episode of Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History, describing them as “trail by television”. A statement issued by the family said: “We repudiate in the strongest terms the sensational claims made against William.

“It is false to say he was linked to the importation of the arms. He was never, at any stage, arrested or questioned by the RUC/PSNI about such activities.” The programme identified Mr Frazer, who supported victims of republican violence in the South Armagh area, as a key distributor of arms from the Ulster Resistance Movement to loyalist Paramilitaries. Multiple sources were said to have confirmed his role. However, the late campaigners relatives expressed shock at the “grave” allegations and vowed to defend his reputation.

“The documentary, which said it had evidence to link him to such actions, failed to provide a scintilla of evidence,” the family’s statement said. “Their claims were based on so-called multiple sources. The sources are anonymous, untested, their number is unknown as is their calibre and reliability. They are not witnesses. “Unlike evidence, the public have no way of knowing the truth of what these sources said, but are being asked by the BBC to accept at face value the truth of anonymous claims. “No official document was provided by the programme makers in support of their claims. “This was not evidence but trial by television.”

Referring to any journalist visits to Mr Frazer while he was in hospital, the family said he had been “medicated, suffering from infections and was easily confused”. The statement added: “William was a high-profile figure in the North of Ireland for over two decades but at no time was any suggestion of this nature ever made, yet within two months of his death these accusations are raised for the first time in a blaze of publicity. “This has added to the family’s distress at a difficult time. We wish to reiterate that the Frazer family reject the false allegations against William and deplore the way the BBC has behaved towards the late William and the hurt caused to our family.”

With many thanks to: The Irish News and Connla Young for the original story 

 

 

Retired general denies British Army tried to cover up Ballymurphy shootings

Relatives of those who were murdered on Bloody Sunday in Derry and in Ballymurphy embraced each other as they entered Belfast Lagan side Courts today

A former head of the British Army has rejected a suggestion that it tried to cover up the shooting of civilians in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast in August 1971.

Giving evidence at the inquest into the deaths, retired General Mike Jackson described the claim as preposterous.

He was responding to questions from Michael Mansfield QC, representing the family of Joseph Corr, who died after being shot on 11 August 1971.

The barrister began his questioning by stating that Mr Corr “was not a gunman, wasn’t armed, wasn’t a member of the IRA and wasn’t associated with the IRA.”

Mr Mansfield said there was no evidence that any soldiers who fired their weapons on the day that Mr Corr was shot had been interviewed by the Royal Military Police at the time.

He said this was a breach of the British Army’s policies and asked General Jackson if that was because there was a desire to cover up what happened.

“That is a preposterous allegation to make,” said the retired general, who was a captain with the Parachute Regiment in Ballymurphy at the time of the shootings. “It simply doesn’t add up.”

He told the inquest he did not know whether any soldiers had been interviewed at the time, and that it was possible there may have been a break in the British Army’s normal procedures because of the pressure it was under at the time.

“What I do know is we don’t do conspiracies,” he said.

The comment was greeted by muted laughter from the packed public gallery, while relatives of those killed shook their heads.

Earlier, General Jackson accepted it was likely that he was a Parachute Regiment captain quoted in a newspaper report on 11 August 1971 stating that two men shot dead by soldiers early that morning had been IRA gunmen.

He told the court part of his duties included briefing the media about the regiment’s activities.

Questioned by Sean Doran QC, representing the coroner, he accepted that no weapons had been found on the two men shot dead that day.

In his statement to the inquest, which was read to the court, Mr Jackson said he had “absolutely no doubt” the IRA had engaged members of the regiment in a fierce gun battle that morning.

The statement said 600 soldiers had come under a “hail of gunfire” when they moved in to remove barricades in the area. It also said two gunmen had been shot dead and their bodies recovered.

Mr Jackson confirmed that he had witnessed the men being shot or seen their bodies. “In retrospect of course I should have said alleged gunmen,” he added.

Mr Doran then asked the retired general if he wished to say anything to relatives of those who were killed, 15 of whom were sitting directly across from him in Court 12 at Belfast Laganside Courts.

“Let me say to the families who so long ago lost their loved ones, for me it is a tragedy,” he said.

“It’s a tragedy which is hugely that is hugely regrettable, but I would say anybody who loses their loved one as a result of violent conflict is also a tragedy. I too have lost friends so be it.

“My sympathies to you and I’m sorry that it is only now after so long that you feel you can come to terms.”

With many thanks to: RTÉ News and Vincent Kearney (Northern Correspondent) for the original story

 

Imperva creates 220 cyber-security jobs in Belfast

This company seems to have set-up companies in Israel. So I don’t know what Israeli connection they have. BDS

A range of positions are being created across the company

A Silicon Valley cayber-security company is creating 220 jobs in Belfast.

Imperva is establishing a new base in the city and aims to create the jobs over the next three to five years.

Invest Northern Ireland has offered more than £1.4m towards the creation of the roles. The average salary on offer is more than £30,000.

Imperva already has bases in California and Israel, and the company said it was setting up in NI to “tap into the tremendous talent in the region”.

NI hub for cyber-security experts
There are a range of positions being created across the company and they will provide opportunities for graduates and experienced staff.

‘High-level education’
Yoav Cohen, from the company, told BBC News NI it had been liaising with the universities.

“We chose Belfast because of the large population of cyber-sec experts in the region, which is supported by high-level education in that field,” he said.

Chris Hylen, President and CEO of Imperial (center), with the company’s leadership team. Image Copyright © LIBBY GREENE/NASDAQ INC.

“We are working with Ulster University and Queen’s University and we have attended graduate recruitment fairs.

“We are living in a more digital and connected world and rely on apps and data on a daily basis.

“Imperva helps protect these applications from cyber criminals who seek to gain financial reward by extortion or selling our private data online.

“We are part of a group of successful cyber-group companies, which chose Belfast as the area in which they want to grow.”

The company said setting up in Belfast would allow it to support customers in Europe.

Alan Wilson, from Invest NI, said the Imperva move was the largest cyber-security investment into Northern Ireland so far.

“This has come on the heels of several other investors and they are coming for a reason – primarily because we have the best talent for cyber-security globally.”

Imperva’s project could have gone anywhere, he added, so Invest NI’s support of £1.4m was necessary to bring the jobs to Northern Ireland.

With many thanks to: BBCNI for the original story.

Related Topics
Cyber-securityBelfastNI economy

REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN ULSTER: THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS IN THE NORTH, 1913 – 1923.

Saturday 14th November 2015, Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library & Archive, 15 Moy Road, Co Armagh.

****

REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN ULSTER: THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS IN THE NORTH, 1913 - 1923.

http:// https://m.facebook.com/298089060237150/photos/a.298830516829671.66854.298089060237150/945028322209884/?type=3&source=57&ref=m_notif&notif_t=like

With many thanks to: The History Festival of Ireland: –
http:// https://m.facebook.com/The-History-Festival-of-Ireland-298089060237150/?ref=m_notif&notif_t=like

THE GRIM REAPER – Greysteel psycho is freed from jail….again

Greysteel killer walks free for second time as prison staff tell us “He’s a nasty nutter”

‘TRICK OR TREAT‘ 

HORROR GUNMAN

RELOADED – SO HE

COULD KILL MORE

TWISTED Grey steel killer Stephen Irwin is back walking the streets of Ulster, we can reveal. The 40-year-old UFF murderer walked out of Maghaberry Prison on Wednesday, in a shock decision which is certain to cause distress for the families of his eight victims.

Irwin was responsible for one of the darkest days of the Troubles when he walked into the Rising Sun Bar on Hallowe’en night in 1993 armed to the teeth. Wearing a boiler suit and a balaclaver he fired around 44 shots, killing eight innocent people, and even stopped at one stage to replace his magazine clip so he could cntinue his bloody rampage. Last night the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) confirmed Irwin had been released. The Sunday World has learned that Irwin – regarded as a hero within some loyalist circles – was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement for a SECOND time. Irwin – who revelled in the nick-name given to him ‘Stevie Greysteel’ – was released after convincing a panel of Sentence Review Commissioners (SRC) that he was fit to be set free.

The move has shocked senior prison officers who say Irwin is “extremely violent”. Irwin had already been given an undeserved second chance when he was originally released under the terms of the 1998 peace agreement. But the blood-thirsty thug was returned to jail to serve out the remainder of his eight life sentences when he was involved in a vicious knife attack during the Irish Cup Final in 2005. He was given another four years on top for slashing the throat of another football van in a frenzied attack in Windsor Park. But he was told at the time of that court case that even after the four years had been served he would have to convince the SRC that it was safe for him to be set free. It means instead of serving the other eight life sentences Irwin is currently living in the Shankill area of Belfast.

Refused

After he was released from prison the first time he refused to return to his home in Co Derry and instead moved into the Shankill because he had fallen in with Johnny Adair and his ‘C’ Company crew inside. There had been speculation within Maghaberry Prison that Irwin had been released on the orders of the Secretary of State, Teresa Villiers. However a spokesperson for the NIO said Ms Villiers had no involvement in Irwin’s release. The spokesperson said: “Mr Irwin applied to the Sentence Review Commissioners (SRC) for early release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. “The SRC is an independent body and it is for them, not the Secretary of State, to determine prisoners ‘ suitability for release.”The Sentence Review Commissioners determined that Mr Irwin’s application for early release should be granted.” Last night prison sources said officerd in Maghaberry said they were shocked Irwin had been deemed fit for release. “He had a very bad reputation inside the jail,” said the source. “In fact the prison officers used to call him Stevie ‘what the f**k are you looking at ‘ Irwin because that’s usually how he spoke to people. “He was a real nutter, an nasty little piece of work when he was in here and was responsible for a number of assaults. “Nobody could believe it when they heard he was being let out. “And nobody will be remotely suprised when he walks back through the gates at Maghaerry!” The UFF targeted The Rising Sun Bar in Graysteel because it was a Catholic area, however two of the eight people murdered were Protestant. Irwin subsequently bragged to his fellow inmates about how he prepared for his deathly bussiness when he opened fire on drinkers in the pub. The incident became known as the ‘Trick or Treat’ murders because Irwin messed up his speech.

Nervous

He was supposed to read out a prepared UFF speech but got nervous and shouted ‘Trick or Treat’ instead. A woman in the bar, who thought it was a Hallowe’en prank said, “that’s not funny” and Irwin shot her first. It followed an IRA bomb attack on the Shankill Road in West Belfast just days earlier in which 10 people, including one of the bombers, were killed. One of his accomplices, Torrens Knight, was handed 12 life sentences for his part in the massacre and for his role in the separate murders of four workmen. He too was returned to jail in 2009 for attacking two woman who rowed with him and his wife in a bar. He also applied to the SRC and was released a year later. In 2006 the Sunday World published photos of Stephen Irwin inside the Old Maze prison partying with other loyalists and taking drugs. At the time it had been claimed he had penned a sick poem called ‘The Reaper’ which glorified the Greysteel massacre. His mother had contacted the Sunday World to deny her son had had anything to do with the poem. But we recieved photos of him sitting in his cell with the gruesome poem painted on his cell wall aloneside another of a gravestone with the words Trick or Treat – Rest in Pieces on it. Former inmates told us he bragged about his heinous crimes. “He was very proud of what he did at Graysteel and he showed no remorse at all,” said a former inmate. “He told everyone how he practised for a whole week to change the magazine on his AK-47 so he could re-load and kill as many people as possible,” said the former inmate. “He said he needed to be able to do it in five seconds just in case anyone tried to attack him when the first clip ran out. He said he practised it over 200 times.”

With many thanks to : Steven Moore, Sunday World.

Related articles

• Maghaberry Prison -THE ONGOING NEGLECT AND TORTURE BEING INFLICTED ON Gary McDaid – Maghaberry Prison !!!! (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
• Cops Probe Bonefire Rape of Girl, 14 !!! (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
• End Internment – Release Martin Corey (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
• Uvf and Protestant Coalition’s Blood Riots (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)