Family of Stephen McConomy supports call on SoS to release Whitters files
| 15 April 2019
Statement on behalf of the McConomy family. This is an open letter to Karen Bradley (SOS) supporting the call for these files to be open to the families. File named: CJ4/4402 Paul Whitters: killed by a plastic baton round, April 1981 (1981-83); closed for 75 years. Health & Safety, Personal...
PFC has become aware that a file directly relating to the death of Paul Whitters is held with the National Archives, but is closed until 2059 on the grounds outlined below. There are other files relevant to those that were killed by plastic bullets closed for 84 years, until 2071. This includes the...
The family of Stephen McConomy have written to the Attorney General requesting he exercise his power under section 14 of the Coroners Act (NI) 1959 to direct a fresh inquest into his death.
MOD treating Kathleen Thompson family with 'contempt'
| 13 November 2018
The family of a Derry mother-of-six, shot dead in her own back garden, says Britain’s Ministry of Defence is treating them – and an inquest into her death - with complete contempt. Even the Coroner hearing the case has expressed deep disappointment at the MoD’s failure to confirm the identities of...
History of the Belgian Congo: Imperialism, Genocide & Atrocities
study.com | 07 March 2015
The Belgian Congo is often cited as one of the most brutal and exploitative colonial regimes in modern history. It stands as an extreme example of the cruelty of European rule in Africa for the sake of economic gain.
Of the Europeans who scrambled for control of Africa at the end of the 19th century, Belgium's King Leopold II left arguably the largest and most horrid legacy of all
For God and Ulster: An Alternative Guide to the Loyal Orders
PFC | 11 April 1998
This alternative guide to the Loyal Orders is an attempt to fill a gap, a gap in information about semi-secret organisations which have played a major role in the history of this island and a gap in understanding as to why a significant number of people have a problem with those organisations. Few...
Outlines criteria for internment – explains why policy does not allow for arrest of loyalists except under certain circumstances. Poor quality copy but other copies below provide same detail.
Letter from Secretary of State William Whitelaw to General Officer Commanding Harry Tuzo outlining criteria for internment orders and why loyalists 'may not fall' within the new Order.
At point 1 (apologies for the quality of the copy) reference is made to a meeting at Stormont Castle on November 29 1972 where the GOC (General Officer Commanding - the British army) was asked to "draft an arrest policy covering the UVF and other extreme loyalist elements, though not the UDA per se."
Discusses the changes that would be required and asked a fascinating question at paragraph 4! Just what did the RUC object to? See memo from AW Stephens above.
Arrest policy for protestants - loose minute December 1972
MoD memo discussing the criteria that might be applied 'if and when' loyalists would be detained. Refers to loyalist violence including 'comparatively harmless vigilante activity'.