Statement from Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs re 'Hooded Men'
Dec 2014 | 23 October 2017
Statement issued by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan TD in which the government requests of the EcHR that the case of the 'Hooded Men' be reopened in light of new revelations.
PSNI CHIEF CONSTABLE REFUSES TO ACT ON HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT
BRIAN FEENEY/IRISH NEWS/WED 20 DECEMBER 2017 | 20 December 2017
Leading "Irish News" columnist, Brian Feeney, asks why the most senior police officer in Northern Ireland is defying a court order and refusing to even talk about completing a report on collusion into 120+ murders?
PFC letter to Chief Constable following the arrest and detention of Derry republican Tony Taylor
PFC | 06 May 2016
The PFC has maintained on-going contact with the solicitor acting on behalf of Derry republican Tony Taylor and we share the widespread concerns at his continuing detention without trial. We have raised these concerns with the Chief Constable and at meetings with different Justice Ministers and...
Priest joins calls for release of Derry republican prisoner Tony Taylor
Seamus McKinney, The Irish News | 08 October 2016
A DERRY priest has joined a campaign for the release from prison of leading dissident republican Tony Taylor. Holy Family parish priest Fr Paddy O’Kane said he also prayed for Taylor’s case during Sunday Mass last week.
Orwellian legal advice on UDA roadblocks from 1972 Advice note from Ministry of Home Affairs dated 22 August 1972 (by this date the duties of this Ministry had been taken over by the Northern Ireland Office) which seeks to retrospectively justify UDA roadblocks which were frequent throughout Belfast and elsewhere in the summer of 1972. The advice note states that...
"SECURITY FORCE" ACCESS TO ACTIVE UDA "TERRORISTS" USEFUL
In this June 1981 memo, a NIO official calls to mind a concern expressed by the Northern Ireland Secretary, Humphrey Atkins, that banning the UDA would deprive the "security forces" of the access they had to its members "active in terrorism". Accordingly, "it would not be right at present to proscribe the UDA".
CJ4-3963 - Memo from Colin Davenport to Mr. Fergusson - 22 September 1981
Following renewed calls for the proscription of the UDA on the basis that the UDA and the UFF were 'one and the same' Davenport noted that that UDA had denied any connection with the UFF. He continued cynically: 'In terms of the politics of proscription, we have always regarded the existence of such denials as more important than their accuracy.'
CJ4-3963 Telegram to British Ambassador, Washington from Lord Carrington, S of S for Defence, 4 November 1980
Carrington, in this telegram, is instructing the British Ambassador to the USA on the line to take relating to murders of prominent Republicans in 1980 - Miriam Daly, John Turnly, Ronald Bunting and Noel Little. 'The UDA as an organisation has never admitted to the use of terrorist violence to achieve its aims.' This is very carefully and ambiguously worded.
An internal briefing paper headed 'A Guide to Paramilitary and Associated Organisations' dated 2 September 1976 - the UFF is fictitious.(No file ref.)
This document also states that Andy Tyrie was 'not averse to killing Catholics, even those who have no Republican connections, if he thinks it necessary at any particular point in time.'
Memo to Lt Col Pownall, MoD from JF Howe, Civil Adviser to GOC re UDR - Membership of UDA, 31 July 1972
In this memo examples are given of possible joint membership of the UDR and UDA. Howe goes on to state: 'One important (but unspoken) function of the UDR is to channel into a constructive and disciplined direction Protestant energies which might otherwise become disruptive...it would be counter-productive to discharge a UDR member solely on the grounds that he was a...
CJ4-4198 - Memo to PWJ Buxton from Stephen Boys-Smith re possible proscription of UDA in light of recent discovery of arms and ammunition at its HQ - 2nd June 1981
A rather telling memo that illustrates the British Government's ambiguity to the UDA: 'The UDA was not engaged in violence although it might be ready to resort to or encourage violence in extreme situations. Boys-Smith noted that the Secretary of State was anxious that the Government and police be seen as even-handed. He had noted that there had been no...
CJ4-3734 - Memo to unknown recipient from James Allan re Andy Tyrie - 24 March 1975
In a follow-up to his meeting with Tyrie, James Allan sent a memo to a recipient whose name has been redacted. He reported on Tyrie's personal security concerns and his request for help in procuring a firearms certificate. Allan had suggested that Tyrie's bodyguard might be able to obtain one. Tyrie later rang Allan who told him to apply immediately...