Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Topics - randomtask

#1
http://ulsterherald.com/2013/05/06/police-officers-face-prosecution-over-youtube-incident/

A NUMBER of Omagh police officers could face criminal proceedings after the findings of an independent investigation by the Police Ombudsman's Office was presented to the Public Prosecution Service.

The investigation was sparked by a controversial incident in the John Street area of Omagh on December 10 2012.

Two Omagh men were charged following the early morning incident, which sparked debate over police tactics after it was captured on video and spread online using social media.

Leo McCullagh (24) of Lambrook Drive and Stephen Murphy (19) of Lammy Drive in Omagh, were charged with a number of offences including assaulting police and disorderly behaviour after police became involved with a group of high-spirited men outside a John Street takeaway.

In March, the Ulster Herald revealed how all charges were dismissed by a local judge after the defence team utilised CCTV footage to largely undermine the claims of a number of police officers made during a Magistrates' Court hearing on February 26. Both men have now initiating civil proceedings against the PSNI.

FOOTAGE

Constable Sheldon Irvine-Monteith was accused during the February court contest of being "the aggressor" by the defence, after the footage, which captured the entire fracas, appeared to show him grab and push Mr McCullagh in three motions up against a car.

The 24-year-old is shown throwing his hand out at the officer in a sharp pushing action, to which Constable Irvine-Monteith responded with a punch to the head, sending the Omagh man sprawling into the crowd.

The police constable claimed he was acting to clear the road to allow traffic to safely pass.

Chief Constable Matt Baggott asked the Police Ombudsman's Office to conduct an independent investigation into the actions of his officers following the dismissal of the case.

CRIMINAL

Last week the monitoring body told the Tyrone Herald that it had now forwarded its findings onto the PPS. A spokesperson said that while the majority of its investigations result in recommendations to the disciplinary branch of the PSNI, "more serious" and potentially criminal incidents are sent to the PPS.

"We have now completed those enquiries and, in line with normal procedure, have submitted a file to the PPS for their consideration."

It's unclear at this point how many police officers face potential prosecution.

Would this have happened a number of years ago? Personally cant imagine so, very glad that justice is being done here. Incidents like this give me a little faith, that maybe the PSNI is moving in the right direction finally.
#2
Republican dissidents join forces to form a new IRA

Three of the four main dissident republican terror groups in Northern Ireland are to merge and reclaim the banner of the IRA, in a major escalation of attempts to destabilise power sharing.

The Real IRA has been joined by Republican Action Against Drugs, which has been running a violent vigilante campaign in Derry, and a loose coalition of independent armed republican groups – leaving only the Continuity IRA outside the group.

In a statement released to the Guardian, the new organisation claimed it had formed a "unified structure, under a single leadership". It said the organisation would be "subservient to the constitution of the Irish Republican Army".

This is the first time since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that a majority of the forces of dissident republicanism has coalesced.

Republican sources have told the Guardian that the new paramilitary force includes several hundred armed dissidents, including some former members of the now disbanded Provisional IRA who have been conducting a campaign of shooting and forcible exiling of men in Derry City, whom they accuse of drug dealing.

It also includes what the statement described as "non-conformist republicans" – smaller independent groups from Belfast and rural parts of Northern Ireland.

Republican Action Against Drugs and the Real IRA will now cease to exist, one source close to the dissidents said.

The new organisation is planning to intensify terror attacks on the security forces and other targets related to what it regards as symbols of the British presence, according to the source.

Such targets could include police stations, the regional headquarters of Ulster Bank and the UK City of Culture 2013 celebration in Derry – which the dissidents have described as "normalising British rule".

In its statement, the new group said: "In recent years the establishment of a free and independent Ireland has suffered setbacks due to the failure among the leadership of Irish nationalism and fractures within republicanism" – a reference to the divisions between hardline republicans opposed to the peace settlement and Sinn Féin which has followed a political strategy. Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, was a leading figure in the Provisional IRA.

In a clear dig at Sinn Féin's participation in the power-sharing executive with unionists, the dissidents' statement said: "The Irish people have been sold a phoney peace, rubber-stamped by a token legislature in Stormont."

It said that the "necessity of armed struggle in pursuit of Irish freedom" against what it described as "the forces of the British crown" would only be avoided by the removal of the British military presence in Northern Ireland. It demanded "an internationally observed timescale that details the dismantling of British political interference in our country".

It also attacked the Northern Ireland secretary, Owen Paterson, over the arrest of several key republican figures, referring to him as an "overlord". "Non-conformist republicans are being subjected to harassment, arrest and violence by the forces of the British crown; others have been interned on the direction of an English overlord. It is Britain, not the IRA, which has chosen provocation and conflict."

It is understood that among the republicans who have joined the new organisation are those responsible for the murder in April 2011 of Constable Ronan Kerr, a Catholic recruit to the police service of Northern Ireland, and the terrorists who targeted Peadar Heffron, another Catholic police officer, who was seriously injured in January 2010 when a bomb exploded inside his car as he was driving to his police station.

The recruitment of Republican Action Against Drugs activists in Derry marks a major step up in the terror campaign in the city. Dozens of former Provisional IRA members have been involved in shooting and intimidating mainly young Catholic men whom they accuse of drug dealing in Derry.

Republican Action Against Drugs' campaign has become notorious around the world since an investigation by the Guardian earlier this year into the wave of shootings and forced expulsions in Northern Ireland's second city.

Republican factions

Until this week there were four separate violent groups opposed to Sinn Féin's peace strategy. As a result of this merger three republican terror groups have become one, reclaiming the banner of the IRA:

The Real IRA was formed out of a split within the Provisional IRA (PIRA) in 1997 and was responsible for the Omagh atrocity a year later.

Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) – a group comprising ex-PIRA members whose purpose was to run an armed vigilante campaign against drug dealers. It has agreed to coalesce with other anti-ceasefire republicans.

Independent republican factions – until now an amalgam of terror groups operating in Northern Ireland. They are sometimes referred to collectively as Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Continuity IRA, the fourth republican faction, remains wholly independent.

The adoption of the name IRA is an attempt by the dissident republicans to reclaim from history the title of the movement that dominated republican politics in the 20th century. Since the Irish war of independence there have been several mutations of the IRA from a mass movement of armed fighters in the 1918-1921 Anglo-Irish war to a small band of diehards who conducted the 1958-62 border campaign. Its use has withered since the peace agreement in 1998.

Interesting. Disturbing turn of events? or is this a desperate move to gain resources/man power?
#3
General discussion / Old Firm Documentary
April 03, 2012, 02:01:26 AM
I happened to come across this very recent documentary based upon Glasgow's two famous teams. Found it very interesting and any one who is interested in learning about the old firm history, as well as todays rivalries should watch it. It also details the relationships to republicanism and imperialism in Ireland and Britain.

http://www.vice.com/rivals/rangers-celtic-part-1/
#4
GAA Discussion / Joe Brolly
July 31, 2011, 05:28:31 PM
Looking forward to hearing Joe's prognosis of the Mayo/Cork game, should be great craic on the sunday game tonight if him and Tony are in the panel  :D :D 
#5
Was thinking about this the other day, who do you honestly like from our neighbouring island apart from family and relatives. Personally i have an awful lot of time for rowan atkinson. I think he is a legend, if anyone seen his appearance in top gear a few weeks ago he seemed like an civil down to earth fella. Add to that he is a comical genius. Anyone else have any favourites?
#6
Hurling Discussion / Antrim hurlers
June 25, 2011, 05:46:13 PM
Is anybody in the same position as myself im from tyrone and ulster and i am a massive fan of Antrim hurlers. I follow them closely and love seeing them win, great win today with plenty of room for improvement. Can anyone tell me what's wrong with liam watson this season, him and neil mc manus are up there with the best in the country.
#7
General discussion / explosion in omagh
April 02, 2011, 05:20:05 PM
Explosion on the gortin road in omagh (beside healy park), apparently serious injury to a police officer. Police helicopters and cars are everywhere
#8
General discussion / Lent
March 09, 2011, 12:16:26 AM
With all this talk of prayer and god do people still believe in lent for religious reasons? Or is it now more a convenient calender date to stay healthy?

Personally im going of gambling, goodluck to anyone who is going of something :D
#9
General discussion / Zizou documentary
March 07, 2011, 12:41:59 AM
just started on bbc2, ive heard its an excellent doucumentary
#10
GAA Discussion / Paul Galvin advert
February 27, 2011, 05:05:02 PM
Did anyone see this advert during half time of the cross crokes match. it shows paul advertising an irish language dvd for beginners which is given free to irish daily star readers. Now correct me if i am wrong but during paul much talked about documentary did he not give out throughly about this paper and others??. yet he is willing to advertise for them on national television, this just shows the lack of integrity that this man has and how he will do anything for publicity. complete tube
#11
I think that this election will have a big bearing in the north particulary for nationalist voters. Will nationalists see the gains made by sinn fein and think that a united ireland is now possible through the medium of politics? will some SDLP voters transfer their vote to sinn fein because of this? 
#12
GAA Discussion / Ulster under 21 club championship
December 30, 2009, 05:49:34 PM
anyone see the back page of the Irish news, creggan are now going to hold an under 21 ulster championship. personally think it would be a good idea, any idea of what teams will be competing and who would be the favourites?
#13
General discussion / Smoked!!
October 22, 2009, 11:47:07 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8321157.stm

hilarious as you will see this was a clip from the controversial question time that included nick Griffith leader of fascist movement the BNP(British national party) watch from 2:15 onwards where he humiliates Jack Straw British foreign secretary. His face is priceless
#14
GAA Discussion / who are you Paddy Heaney?
October 20, 2009, 06:07:12 PM
anyone read the irish news today where he quotes many people on this very site. So paddy are you goin to tell us who you are?
#15
General discussion / wind up the southeners!
September 08, 2009, 12:41:29 AM
had to be done, give it your best lads :D il start us of

#16
GAA Discussion / ulster colleges gaa 2009-2010
September 06, 2009, 06:14:34 PM
with all the schools settling back into their routine this week means only one think, a new season of top notch schools football  :). who are the movers and shakers in this years mc cormick/macrory ?