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By Deborah McAleese
Friday, 12 June 2009
Victim: Damien Fleming remains seriously ill in hospital
Belfast Telegraph
LOYALIST paramilitaries have issued a sinister threat to the family of sectarian attack victim Damien Fleming to get out of Coleraine, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
Several members of Mr Fleming’s family, including a brother, sister and a number of nieces and nephews, have been warned that if they do not leave the town they will be burnt out of their homes. The threat is against five households in the troubled Heights area.
Mr Fleming (46) remains in a serious condition in hospital after he was attacked and his neighbour Kevin McDaid (49) murdered by a loyalist mob during sectarian disturbances last month.
Victim: Damien Fleming remains seriously ill in hospital
His family told the Belfast Telegraph that they will not be intimidated from their homes.
“We will not be going anywhere. This is our home and they will not frighten us away. We are not moving. Our homes have been targeted by loyalists before and we are fed up with it but we will not be going anywhere,” said one family member who asked not to be named.
He added: “It is shocking that they are threatening people out of their homes. Do they not think they did enough killing Kevin and leaving Damien in hospital? We can’t get to sleep at night because we are just waiting for something to come through the window.”
Another family member said: “I got a separate death threat from them recently and now this one. But I’m not going anywhere either. My mum is really shocked about it all. She doesn’t need this after everything that has happened.”
The warning, from a “loyalist paramilitary organisation” stated that the family members had 24 hours to get out of Coleraine or their homes will be subject to arson attack, was delivered by police to the family on Tuesday night.
A spokesman for the PSNI said: “When we believe someone needs to review their personal security we inform them immediately.”
Mr Fleming was left fighting for his life after last month’s attack. His family told the Belfast Telegraph that there is a slight improvement in his condition, however tests still have to be carried out to determine the full extent of his brain injuries.
“He is able to sit up now but he still can’t talk or anything so the police are not able to interview him. We still don’t know how damaged his brain is,” a relative said.
The warning against Mr Fleming’s family comes just days after a main police witness in the case against a number of men charged in connection with the murder of Mr McDaid and the attempted murder of Mr Fleming was told his life is under threat.
Peter Neill said the death threat was from a loyalist group.
“I have been told my life is under threat because I gave evidence to police. I know they want me dead. They have wanted me dead for a long time. I will not let them intimidate me,” said Mr Neill.
Mr McDaid’s son Ryan has also been warned his life is under threat.
The 22-year-old, who was informed about the threat against him just days after his father was killed, said he will not be intimidated by the threats.
By Victor Gordon
Belfast Telegraph
Friday, 12 June 2009
With three weeks to go to Drumcree Sunday, the two sides of the parade dispute were in agreement — the Parades Commission “has done virtually nothing to bring the two sides together”.
Breandan Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and Darryl Hewitt, the Portadown Orange District Master, claimed the commission “has virtually ignored us over the past year during which there hasn’t been a single step forward”.
Mr Mac Cionnaith told the Belfast Telegraph that the coalition had written several times to the commission — including in the past week — for a survey to be carried out along the contentious route of the return Drumcree parade, via the Garvaghy Road, to ascertain their feelings.
“There was an independent survey some 10 years ago showing that 90%-plus of the residents were opposed. Some people suggested it was flawed — which we deny — but we have been consistently asking the commission to organise an independent poll,” he added. “They could do it as part of a Public Procession Attitude Research, but it seems they can’t be bothered.”
Mr Hewitt said he was aware of the coalition’s approaches and that he too would welcome a survey. “But it must be extended to the 1,000-or-so members of the Portadown District,” he insisted.
“The survey should also contain a question on face-to-face talks. We have been pressing for talks with the coalition, without preconditions, but they have been running away from them.
“I believe the Garvaghy Road community would favour face-to-face talks as a way of coming to an agreement. I also doubt whether Brendan McKenna is actually representative of the people of the area, as he is an official of the republican splinter group eirigi, but that’s up to the people of the area.
“We would want a proper survey carried out by the likes of Mori or Gallup, but given the commission’s inaction, we are not holding our breath.”
A spokesman for the commission said that any moves towards a survey would be much too late for this year’s parade, which is on Sunday July 5.
“A proper survey would take time and resources and it would be impossible to carry out within such a time frame,” he added.
“We have the Tour of the North and Whitewell parades in Belfast to consider and Drumcree will not be on our agenda until June 24.”
The likelihood is that the commission will ban the return parade, as has been the case since the last parade went down the Garvaghy Road in 1997 — even though the Orange District applies every Sunday and is stopped each week at the bottom of Drumcree Hill.
BBC
11 June 09
A Northern Ireland journalist has told a court she will face “grave danger” if she has to give the police her notes linked to stories about the Real IRA.
Suzanne Breen, the northern editor of the Sunday Tribune, appeared at the High Court in Belfast.
The BBC’s John Ware, giving evidence on her behalf, said there was a difference between the Provos and the Real IRA.
“These guys are the Taliban of the republican movement, and we need to be clear about that,” he claimed.
Ms Breen received the Real IRA’s claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers in March and interviewed a representative of the group.
The police say they need the notes as part of the murder inquiry.
In May, a judge said he was “minded” to grant the police application to force the journalist to hand over the material.
However, he said his view could change once he heard arguments from her legal team.
Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead as they collected pizzas outside their barracks in Antrim on 7 March.
Among those who went into the witness box to back Ms Breen’s stance was her editor, Noreen Hegarty, Alex Thomson of Channel 4 News, Liam Clake from the Sunday Times, and media commentator Roy Greenslade, a Professor of Journalism at London City University.
All of them were united in stressing how a journalist must honour any guarantee of confidentiality given to those who provide information.
A journalist making a witness statement to police and handing over their mobile phone records would be an even graver act, in republican eyes, and I would make myself an immediate target for assassination
Suzanne Breen
Ms Breen told the court how the National Union of Journalists code of conduct made it clear that confidentiality for sources must always be protected.
“Our job is to gather information and put it in the public domain,” she said.
“It’s not to act as agents of the state. We chose to become journalists, not to become detectives.”
Ms Breen used the example of the fast food delivery men wounded in the gun attack on the soldiers to back her argument.
She said: “They deliberately shot the pizza men because in some ways simply to serve food to British soldiers… is regarded as an act of collaboration.
“A journalist making a witness statement to police and handing over their mobile phone records would be an even graver act, in republican eyes, and I would make myself an immediate target for assassination.”
Counsel for the police argued that while the material may cause her professional concern it would be of “evidential value” to the police investigation.
He argued that the NUJ code carried no legal force, and claimed there was no current and immediate threat to life.
Any future and verified risk would place an obligation on the chief constable and other state agencies to provide protection, he accepted.
Judge Tom Burgess, the Recorder for Belfast, reserved judgment in the police application and indicated he will give his ruling early next week.
BBC
11 June 09
Rena Shepherd has been appointed as the new chairman of the Parades Commission, by NI Secretary Shaun Woodward.
Ms Shepherd, a former member of the Women’s Coalition, became the commission’s first Jewish member when she joined it in May 2008.
She began her career at consultants Price Waterhouse and is a Development Board Member of the Ulster Orchestra.
Roger Poole announced he would step down as the head of the body in April.
“Rena will provide strong leadership to the Commission and as a serving Commissioner is fully aware of all the challenges her new role brings,” Mr Woodward said.
“Northern Ireland has enjoyed peaceful parading seasons in recent years and the Parades Commission has played an important role in helping to deliver that.
“Rena’s appointment brings stability for the months ahead and the Parades Commission remains the final arbiter in parading matters.”
The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted.
Ms Shepherd was the the shortest serving member who put themselves forward as the commission’s new head.
The others in for the post are understood to include Joe Hendron – former SDLP MP for West Belfast, Anne Monaghan – who was also in the Women’s Coalition, and businesswoman Vilma Patterson – all have been on the commission since 2006.
The commission’s next meeting is on 17 June and will consider applications for 10 loyalist parades.
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