The following news shorts have been collected through the Irish American Information Service, Irish American Post staff and other news outlets. 

Jan. 2, 2001

US Bans Ulster Paramilitaries

Owen Bowcott
The Guardian

The U.S. has named five paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland as illegal
organizations - the Continuity IRA, Loyalist Volunteer Force, Orange Volunteers, Red Hand Defenders. and the Ulster Defense Association.

The five had been put on a European Union list of suspected terrorists published after Christmas. Inclusion in the U.S. treasury department list empowers US agencies to seize assets, investigate activities and prevent fundraising.

Continuity IRA is the paramilitary wing of Republican Sinn Féin, established in the 1980s following a split with the Provisionals. It has been less active than the other dissident group, the Real IRA.

Continuity IRA has, however, carried out attacks in Northern Ireland. In December, Irish gardai raided a meeting of Republican Sinn Féin in Limerick, and later eight men were charged with membership of an illegal organization.

There is evidence that both groups have continued to raise funds in the U.S. since Sept 11. The Real IRA was designated a banned organization by the U.S. Treasury two months ago.

The other four groups are loyalists opposed to the peace process. The largest is the Ulster Defense Association, whose gunmen operate as the Ulster Freedom Fighters. Last October, the Northern Ireland secretary, John Reid, declared the UDA's ceasefire over after attacks on Catholic homes. The Red Hand Defenders is a cover name used by the UDA for killings. The Loyalist Volunteer Force, the only loyalist paramilitary group to hand in weapons after the Good Friday agreement, has also returned to violence.

The Orange Volunteers is relatively new. It has threatened to bomb Dublin in retaliation for Real IRA attacks on the mainland.

For more information: http://www.guardian.co.uk/>The Guardian

Jan. 3, 2002

Bill of Rights Is Not a Threat, Says SDLP

The Irish American Information Service

The planned Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland is an opportunity for all and a threat to none, the nationalist SDLP said today. The party made its response to proposals published last year by the Human Rights Commission.

SDLP chairman and justice spokesman Alex Attwood said a Bill of Rights could become "one of the most positive and widely owned aspects of the Good Friday Agreement for all of the citizens and communities of the North."

Attwood, leading a party delegation to the Commission to deliver its formal response, said a Bill provided the opportunity to agree standards of protection that could
replace disagreement over rights in the past with a new order of rights for all in the future.

"It can provide a basis of stability and security that can allow communities to rebuild relationships," he said. He warned that the British government must not adopt a "minimalist" approach to the proposed bill. "If the laws of the British parliament legislate across economic, social and cultural issues for the particular circumstances of the North, then all of those circumstances should be reflected in the Bill of Rights."

Backing the proposed bill, Attwood said it was "a substantial document, not a minimalist document." But he added, "Certainly there are areas where we think there should be some enhancement to see its core values retained."

The party was adamant that "social and economic rights" — such as the right to health care and education — should be included.

"Given our education system and the minimum wage, these rights, which already exist in practice, should be given legal standing to confirm and clarify the exact rights of citizens` entitlement and allow people to call their government to account if their basic entitlements are infringed," Attwood added.

However, Sinn Féin said the proposed Bill "fails the Good Friday Agreement test."

Human Rights spokesman Pat McNamee said they welcomed many aspects of the Commission`s proposals and acknowledged progress had been clearly made in relation to democratic rights, social and economic rights and the rights of children.

However, he said basic human rights were not negotiable. "It appears that the Commission believes that it can draft a Bill of Rights acceptable to the British government, or those within unionism who are opposed to change without regard to those who have actually suffered from institutional discrimination for decades. As it stands at present the proposed Bill of Rights does not meet the requirements set by the Good Friday Agreement. This situation is unacceptable."

The agreement had provided the Commission with a platform to develop a Bill of Rights which would be the envy of the world.

"The minimalist approach to this task has so far resulted in their proposals falling well short of this mark," said McNamee.

Jan. 16, 2002

Haass Urges Sinn Féin to Join Police Board

Irish American Information Service

The United States special envoy to Northern Ireland has urged Sinn Féin to join the Police Board of Northern Ireland's Policing Board. After meeting the Northern Ireland secretary in London yesterday, Richard Haass said the support of Sinn Féin would "make it easier for the British Government to take decisions to continue the normalization of security."

Sinn Féin has refused to take the two seats it is entitled to on the board, saying the reforms do not implement what the Patten report had recommended. In particular, Sinn Féin points out the emasculation of the powers of the Police Board and the continued role of the Special Branch in the Force as reasons why it is reluctant to join the Board.

The Policing Board came into being in November when the Royal Ulster Constabulary became the new Police Service of Northern Ireland as part of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Haass also confirmed that the FBI had agreed to provide training for the new Police Service, after the U.S. Congress had lifted previous restrictions.

 Haass said it was in republicanism's own interest to put forward representatives to serve on the board. "I believe that Sinn Féin taking the decision to appoint people to the Police Board, to stop discouraging people from joining the new police service, is clearly something that would be in the interest of all the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

"That seems to me to go a long way towards creating a safer and more secure environment and that in turn will, I believe, make it easier for the British Government to take decisions to continue the normalization of security."

Secretary of State John Reid said the FBI training would specifically deal with methods for tackling organized crime. This would anticipate the potential for paramilitary groups turning fully to "ordinary crime," he said.

Jan. 16, 2002

Red Hand Defenders Lift Death Threats

Irish American Information Service

The Red Hand Defenders have lifted their death threats against Catholic teachers and postal workers after meeting with unionist politicians.

The loyalist group said in a statement that it stands by its earlier announcement.. "All death threats to Catholic postal workers and teachers have been lifted indefinitely," the statement read.

Last night, the UDA/Ulster Freedom Fighters said it "unreservedly" condemned the death threats issued and ordered the Red Hand Defenders to stand down within 14 days. The Red Hand Defenders is widely seen as a cover name used
by the UDA.

However, the SDLP MLA for North Belfast, Alex Attwood, said this morning that he believed the UDA were engaging in a game of "smoke and mirrors" with the statements.

"They are trying to cover their tracks and distance themselves from what is happening because everybody knows the UFF, the UDA, the Red Hand Defenders are one and the same group of people whatever name they call themselves. Given that it is the same people, this does not change anything and people will treat their claims with caution."

"If there are further statements by that group of people withdrawing threats against everybody including postal workers, teachers and the Catholic community, then that
would be more of a step forward," Attwood said.

Jan. 17, 2002

Haass Meets with Sinn Féin in Belfast

Irish American Information Service

US Special Adviser on Northern Ireland Richard Haass said today he had agreed to disagree with Sinn Féin over its refusal to join the new policing board. But he expressed the hope that republicans would soon join the 19-member board, set up under the Good Friday Agreement, intending hold the new Police Service of Northern Ireland to account.

After an hour-long meeting with Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams at Stormont, Ambassador Haass repeated his view that republicans would be in a better position to influence policing reform from the inside.

"I thought, perhaps as an American, the best way to influence political institutions tends to be from within the inside. It`s a way of exerting your influence. We essentially in that case agreed to disagree. I respect his position, I think he respects mine. I`m hoping that ultimately Sinn Féin will see its way to appointing to the
police board."

Haass said that with more Catholics joining the police board, he believed it would evolve over time. "This was not something cast in cement. It had the potential to change like any other institutions in any other society," he added.

The special envoy denied that relations with the U.S. administration and Sinn Féin had become cooler over Adams` recent trip to Cuba or his refusal to sign up to policing. He indicated the two men were in regular contact by phone and would meet up again in a few weeks time when the Sinn Féin president visited New York.

Speaking after the meeting, Adams insisted that Sinn Féin`s position on refusing to join the board was the right one. "I put it to the ambassador that the U.S. did have a role to play in trying to create a policing board that people could
have some confidence in," he said.

Adams added the fact that the nationalist Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP), which has signed up to the board, had to meet the Security Minister Jane Kennedy to express a lack of confidence in police handling of the loyalist campaign of violence, showed its lack of powers.

"What the British need to do is return democratic control to a policing board," Adams claimed. He added he was not surprised the US administration was keen to see Sinn Féin endorse policing, given the position of the SDLP and the Irish Government. "The British Government haven`t got the policing issue right. They know that. The US administration`s position is no surprise, given what is happening domestically here in Ireland on that issue."

Haass also held a round of meetings with other political parties including the SDLP, which has two members on the new board. Party leader and Stormont Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan described his meeting with Haass as very useful and urged republicans to take their seats.

"We have been trying to encourage Sinn Féin to take a more responsible and positively active approach in relation to policing, not because there aren't problems in relation to policing but because there are problems. We don`t think it`s good enough to simply say we`re not fully satisfied with everything and we are leaving it to the British Government before we do anything. 

"We want to play our part in delivering the new beginning. That`s why we are on the policing board. That`s why we want to add to the accountability mechanisms that have already started to demonstrate themselves with the Ombudsman`s Report," he
added.

David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which has links with the Ulster Volunteer Force, said he discussed with the ambassador the ongoing problems within loyalism and the perception that Northern Ireland has become a "cold house" for unionists.

"I think certainly he is of a mind that perhaps our leadership isn`t all that it should be. I think he has a point. We have failed miserably to implement the Good Friday Agreement. We have refused to talk to each other at times of no crisis and only taken the opportunity when there is a crisis," he added.

After Haass left Stormont. he traveled on to a meeting with the head of the decommissioning body, General John de Chastelain.

Jan. 18, 2002

Security Force Collusion in Finucane Murder, Says HR Chief

Irish American Information Service

British security forces colluded with loyalist paramilitaries to murder Belfast attorney Pat Finucane, the head of Northern Ireland's Human Rights Commission said today. Prof. Brice Dickson added that an inquiry into the murder nearly 13 years ago is now a matter of time.

He said the case was just part of a "very nasty can of worms" regarding the handling of police informers in Northern Ireland.

Last month`s report by Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O`Loan was just some indication of unexposed "horrors" in this area, he said.

In his speech today, he added to calls from Mr. Finucane`s family yesterday for an independent judicial inquiry into the killing, saying existing plans for an international judge to investigate the death as one of six incidents would not "go far enough."

Human rights lawyer Finucane was shot dead outside his home nearly 13 years ago. Former Ulster Defense Association quartermaster William Stobie was tried for conspiracy to murder him, but the case collapsed at the end of last year when a key witness was deemed "medically unfit" to give evidence. 

Following his acquittal, Stobie called for an investigation of the role of the RUC Special Branch in the killing. Less that one month later, Stobie was shot dead outside his
Belfast home.

Today, Dickson told the conference at Dublin Castle, "To date we have been sufficiently convinced by the quantity and quality of the evidence available to us that there has been collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the British
security forces in the murder of Patrick Finucane - or at the very least in the failure to bring people to book for the killing. We have therefore added our names to the long list of those who are calling for a public judicial inquiry into Mr. Finucane`s murder."

He added, "I do not think the inquiry called for by the UK and Irish governments in the Weston Park document of August, 2001, will go far enough to allay our concerns on that case."

One of the first incidents investigated by the commission was the 1999 death of human rights attorney Rosemary Nelson.

The conference - organized by Irish-based human rights group Front Line — heard yesterday from her sister Bernadette McQuillan, who again said the family believed there was collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries to kill her.

But Dickson told the conference today, "In the case of Rosemary Nelson, the commission has still not seen enough evidence of collusion to be able to add its name to those calling for a public inquiry."

The commission would keep the issue under review, he added, and a meeting would be held next month over the affair.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, established under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, had been involved in the examination of the work of Special Branch officers in handling police informants in the North, Dickson said.

"I firmly believe that there is a very nasty can of worms to be opened as far as that particular kind of activity is concerned," he said.

"The recent report by the Police Ombudsman Mrs. Nuala O`Loan, regarding the police investigation into the Omagh bombing in 1998 is some indication of what horrors may still need to be uncovered," he added.

The Commissioner paid tribute to Sunday World journalist Martin O'Hagan who was murdered by loyalists last year. He also commended the work of Martin O'Brien and Jane Winter along with investigative journalists who worked to uncover human rights abuses.

Jan. 19, 2002

Adams Calls for Clampdown on Loyalist Violence

Irish American Information Service

The British government's "tolerance" of loyalist attacks on Catholics in Northern Ireland is threatening the peace process, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said as the Sinn Féin national executive and key party members met today in Navan, Co. Meath.

It followed a day of union-organized rallies held around Northern Ireland on Friday to protest against the murder of Catholic postal worker Daniel McColgan by loyalist paramilitaries.

The Sinn Féin meeting was also held to discuss party grassroots concerns about the response to the IRA's decision to decommission some arms last October as a move to progress the political process. The party executive also considered its strategy in relation to the forthcoming general election in the Irish Republic.

Speaking to reporters outside the meeting, Adams was critical of the British government's lack of movement to clamp down on the loyalists who murdered 20-year-old McColgan as he arrived for work in the loyalist Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey last weekend.

He said, "There is a different attitude from the state and from the British establishment to loyalist violence than there would be if the violence was coming from republicans. The discussions so far today reflect very accurately the anger about the way the British Government is handling the loyalist killing campaign. Why does the British Government have a tolerance of those groups and of their existence and their continuing actions?"

The party executive also considered their strategy looking forward to the forthcoming Irish general election. Adams is to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Monday as the party sets up offices at Westminster for the first time.

The Sinn Féin leader said he would be passing on the message that "the only threat to the peace process comes from within unionism, rejectionist loyalism, and the securocrats and rejectionists from within the British system.".

"That is where the threat to the peace process comes from and Tony Blair needs to face up to that," he said.

The Ulster Defense Association admitted carrying out McColgan's murder. It also made a series of threats against all Catholic postal workers and against Catholic school staff and teachers working in north Belfast, under the cover name Red Hand
Defenders.

In October last year, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid redesignated the UDA as a proscribed organization when he declared its ceasefire was over following a sustained campaign of attacks on Catholic homes in north Belfast.

The police had also informed him that the UDA had orchestrated much of the rioting in the north of the city since the summer period.

Sinn Féin's north Belfast assembly member Gerry Kelly said the British government and unionists had failed to acknowledge the significance of the IRA's start to decommissioning.

Kelly said, "It rattled people because it was such a historical step forward, which I don't think was appreciated by the unionist politicians and community. This was a gargantuan move forward and I think people are very nervous and worried about it, especially when they see the continuing violence against Catholics and nationalists."

He added that many party members were particularly concerned about what he called the British government's refusal to respond to the IRA move by scaling down its security installations.

Jan. 21, 2002

Sinn Féin Leadership Meets with Blair in London

Irish American Information Service

The British government has failed to deal adequately with recent loyalist violence, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said, speaking to reporters outside 10 Downing Street in London before a meeting with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
 

Adams said the Blair administration had "not got it right" in dealing with the loyalist killing campaign. "The British prime minister has to face up to the reality that the threat to the peace process comes from within loyalism . . . and agencies of the British state that have run loyalist death squads," he said.

After the meeting, Adams said that it was "fair to say" that Blair did not have any answers to Sinn Féin's concerns.

The Sinn Féin president also accused the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other British agencies of tolerating the loyalist bombing campaign.

Today's meeting comes as Sinn Féin's MPs took offices at the House of Commons for the first time following the lifting of the ban on them using parliamentary facilities. The party's four MPs refuse to take their seats in what they see as a foreign parliament and will not make the oath of allegiance to the Queen required to sit in the Commons.

But they are now able to use Westminster's facilities and receive office allowances after a Commons vote last month that was opposed by unionist parties and the Conservatives. Opponents say Sinn Féin has given no commitments in return for the privileges, but the government says the move will encourage Sinn Féin to become more integrated into the UK's democratic processes.

Speaking in Downing Street before the meeting with Blair, Adams explained the significance of the parliamentary offices. "It's only important as the opportunity to get what was always our entitlement and to build a beach-head to argue for our constituents positions but also to argue for a united Ireland," said the Sinn Féin president.

Adams said the move also allowed his party to engage with public and political opinion on the British mainland. Sinn Féin would use their offices to "pursue the causes of peace and justice," he said.

Jan. 25, 2002

Sinn Féin Up 3% in Irish Poll

Irish American Information Service

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams is the second most popular political leader among voters in the Irish Republic, according to a new opinion poll out today.

The survey for the Irish Times newspaper put the popularity rating of the Sinn Féin chief at 56%, running behind only Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. It was the first time the poll had gauged the popularity on the southern side of the Irish border of Adams, who is MP for West Belfast.

The Market Research Bureau of Ireland figures — the first of their kind for eight months — showed satisfaction with the two-party coalition government of Ahern had dropped by 10 points to 52%.

But there was also bad news for opposition parties attempting to overhaul Ahern`s Fianna Fail, the major party in the administration. The returns put Fianna Fail electoral support at 41%, down 1%, the main Fine Gael opposition party at 21%, down 3%, and Irish Labor at 11%, down 1%.

Sinn Féin, which currently has only one representative in the Irish parliament, increased its support by 3%, to 8%, the Progressive Democrat junior government partners were at 3%, unchanged, the Greens at 5%, also the same as last time, and others at 11%, up 2%.

The popularity figures for the party leaders were: Ahern 68%, Adams 56%, the Progressive Democrats` Mary Harney 54%, Labor`s Ruairi Quinn 41%, the Green`s Trevor Sargent 35%, and Fine Gael`s Michael Noonan 31%.

The figures indicated Ahern`s coalition was more likely to retain power at this year`s general election, expected in May, than a rival alliance of parties.

Jan. 25, 2002

Irish Government Reiterates Call for Independent Omagh Inquiry

Irish American Information Service

The Irish Government last night stood by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman's demand for an independent investigation of the Omagh bombing. This was despite yesterday's rejection of the proposal by the Police Service Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

The Irish premier, Bertie Ahern, said Nuala O'Loan's recommendation that a team led by a senior investigating officer, independent of the PSNI, should be asked to conduct the Omagh bomb investigation "still stands."

He said she had made the recommendation with "considerable expertise" available to her. "I still think that recommendation still stands. I do not see any reason why that should change."

Sir Ronnie yesterday proposed a senior Merseyside police officer be brought in to "quality assure" the PSNI's Omagh inquiry. However, he insisted PSNI Supt Brian McArthur would continue in command.

Several relatives of the bomb victims said they were disappointed by yesterday's meeting with Sir Ronnie. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the 1998 bomb attack, said it had been a very difficult day for the bereaved who, he said, were "by no means happy" with what they had heard.

He said he personally felt disappointed with what he had been told, as Sir Ronnie had told them the police had "done nothing wrong."

"That's hard to accept," Gallagher said. He added that the families would take time to reflect on what they had heard. "We certainly feel it will not end here."

Jan. 26, 2002 

Omagh Families Consider Withdrawing Support for RUC Inquiry 

Irish American Information Service 

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said he agrees in principle with the Omagh bombers being brought to justice. But he said the real issue was how the police had dealt with the information they already had about the Real IRA attack. 

Twenty-nine people died in the bombing on Aug. 15, 1998. Hundreds more were injured. Speaking on Saturday, Adams said he had no problem with those who planned and carried out the Omagh bombing being brought to justice. 

He said people would make their own judgment on whether information should be passed onto the police and that many would see it as "a moral issue." 

"The very fact that part of this investigation had to look at the destruction or loss of hundreds or perhaps thousands of witness statements shows that people are coming forward," he said. 

"Part of the controversy is how that information was dealt with. I don't have any confidence at all in the policing service to deal with this issue. While I'm entirely and absolutely sympathetic to the plight of the relatives, all of this has to be seen in the context of the need for a decent and proper policing service," Adams went on. 

Meanwhile, some of the families of the Omagh bomb victims have revealed that they were close to considering withdrawing support for the police investigation into the bombing. 

The relatives met Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan on Thursday to hear his response to the Police Ombudsman's report which was critical of the RUC's investigation into the 1998 attack.