15.1.04
Irelandclick.com
Milltown Mystery
15 Jan 2003
This is the holdall and fire extinguisher that cops failed to spot during their follow-up search of Milltown Cemetery after Monday's desecration of several graves at the Republican Plot, and which led to a bomb alert at the cemetery. Liam Shannon from the National Graves Association said that the fact that the bag was found by a member of the public shows that the PSNI did not carry out a proper search of the area.
"They had sniffer dogs over the whole scene. "I think it's a bad reflection on the police."
BEYOND CONTEMPT
Sinn Féin and the National Graves Association have slammed the PSNI for failing to find a bag containing a suspected bomb during a sweep of Milltown Cemetery after the destruction of headstones. It was later found by a distraught relative.
Police went to the cemetery early on Monday morning after reports that a device had been left at the republican plot by a group calling themselves "hoods in West Belfast."
The group contacted the Samaritans in Bangor and read the following statement.
"The hoods in West Belfast have left a device in the republican end of Milltown Cemetery.
"This is a protest against republican actions."
PSNI officers who responded to the report found that several graves in the republican plot had been smashed.
They sealed off the scene and with sniffer dogs carried out a search of the area for the device. PSNI officers found nothing and the site was reopened.
Members of the National Graves Association, Sinn Féin, family members of those buried in the plot and a number of journalists went to the scene to survey the damage once the site had been cleared.
However, a few hours later a holdall was found behind a wreath in the republican plot by a family member. The area was again sealed off and controlled explosions carried out. It was later declared a hoax – a fire extinguisher was all that was in the bag.
Liam Shannon from the National Graves Association said that the fact that the bag was found by a member of the public shows that the PSNI did not carry out a proper search of the area.
"They had sniffer dogs over the whole scene and swept the area so I think it is a bad reflection on the police."
Sinn Féin councillor Michael Browne said that the PSNI at the very least had demonstrated a "couldn't-care-less attitude"
The councillor said that if the bag had contained a bomb the outcome could have been tragic.
"The area was sealed off and nobody was allowed near the plot," said Councillor Browne.
"The PSNI were acting on a tip-off and were looking for a device yet they didn't find it, somebody else did.
"It is very lucky that this wasn't a bomb as it doesn't take the wildest imagination in the world to work out what would have happened if it had been a bomb."
In response a police spokeswoman said: "Police initially carried out a search of the Milltown area using dogs trained in sniffing out explosives and nothing was found.
"The second incident at the cemetery involved an object that didnot contain explosives although the ATO was tasked and a controlled explosion carried out as a precaution."
This is the second time in four years that there have been unusual circumstances surrounding damage at the republican plot at Milltown.
In January 2000 a member of Sinn Féin received a phone call from a newspaper informing her that graves had been damaged.
Liam Shannon from the National Graves Association hurried to the scene at 9pm and found no damage had been caused.
He left the cemetery at 9.45pm. At 11.00pm he was contacted by the police who said that they had discovered damaged graves in the
republican plot. The PSNI are now investigating whether or not the fire extinguisher may have been used to damage the graves.
The extinguisher, which was made in 1988, has been tested for fingerprints and the PSNI are awaiting the outcome of these tests.
Footage from a surveillance camera on Andersonstown barracks has been examined by the PSNI but did not show anything suspicious according to the PSNI.
It is estimated that up to £12,000 damage was caused at the newly refurbished republican plot, with 22 grave stones being damaged.
The grave of hunger striker Bobby Sands was among those destroyed as was that of the parents of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams which is near the republican plot.
Sinn Féin councillor Michael Browne said that the desecration of the graves was "an outrageous act of wanton vandalism."
Councillor Browne bitterly condemned the attack.
"I have spoken to a number of families who have loved ones buried in the plot and they are extremely distressed at what happened overnight. This is not simply a memorial, it is the actual graves of many IRA volunteers and Sinn Féin activists killed over the past 30 years. Those responsible for this attack are beyond contempt."
The NGA has vowed to repair the plot as soon as possible and are calling on local people to help raise money for the project. Anyone interested in donating money to the fundraising campaign should contact Liam Shannon on 90 619875.
Journalist:: Roisin Cox
Milltown Mystery
15 Jan 2003
This is the holdall and fire extinguisher that cops failed to spot during their follow-up search of Milltown Cemetery after Monday's desecration of several graves at the Republican Plot, and which led to a bomb alert at the cemetery. Liam Shannon from the National Graves Association said that the fact that the bag was found by a member of the public shows that the PSNI did not carry out a proper search of the area.
"They had sniffer dogs over the whole scene. "I think it's a bad reflection on the police."
BEYOND CONTEMPT
Sinn Féin and the National Graves Association have slammed the PSNI for failing to find a bag containing a suspected bomb during a sweep of Milltown Cemetery after the destruction of headstones. It was later found by a distraught relative.
Police went to the cemetery early on Monday morning after reports that a device had been left at the republican plot by a group calling themselves "hoods in West Belfast."
The group contacted the Samaritans in Bangor and read the following statement.
"The hoods in West Belfast have left a device in the republican end of Milltown Cemetery.
"This is a protest against republican actions."
PSNI officers who responded to the report found that several graves in the republican plot had been smashed.
They sealed off the scene and with sniffer dogs carried out a search of the area for the device. PSNI officers found nothing and the site was reopened.
Members of the National Graves Association, Sinn Féin, family members of those buried in the plot and a number of journalists went to the scene to survey the damage once the site had been cleared.
However, a few hours later a holdall was found behind a wreath in the republican plot by a family member. The area was again sealed off and controlled explosions carried out. It was later declared a hoax – a fire extinguisher was all that was in the bag.
Liam Shannon from the National Graves Association said that the fact that the bag was found by a member of the public shows that the PSNI did not carry out a proper search of the area.
"They had sniffer dogs over the whole scene and swept the area so I think it is a bad reflection on the police."
Sinn Féin councillor Michael Browne said that the PSNI at the very least had demonstrated a "couldn't-care-less attitude"
The councillor said that if the bag had contained a bomb the outcome could have been tragic.
"The area was sealed off and nobody was allowed near the plot," said Councillor Browne.
"The PSNI were acting on a tip-off and were looking for a device yet they didn't find it, somebody else did.
"It is very lucky that this wasn't a bomb as it doesn't take the wildest imagination in the world to work out what would have happened if it had been a bomb."
In response a police spokeswoman said: "Police initially carried out a search of the Milltown area using dogs trained in sniffing out explosives and nothing was found.
"The second incident at the cemetery involved an object that didnot contain explosives although the ATO was tasked and a controlled explosion carried out as a precaution."
This is the second time in four years that there have been unusual circumstances surrounding damage at the republican plot at Milltown.
In January 2000 a member of Sinn Féin received a phone call from a newspaper informing her that graves had been damaged.
Liam Shannon from the National Graves Association hurried to the scene at 9pm and found no damage had been caused.
He left the cemetery at 9.45pm. At 11.00pm he was contacted by the police who said that they had discovered damaged graves in the
republican plot. The PSNI are now investigating whether or not the fire extinguisher may have been used to damage the graves.
The extinguisher, which was made in 1988, has been tested for fingerprints and the PSNI are awaiting the outcome of these tests.
Footage from a surveillance camera on Andersonstown barracks has been examined by the PSNI but did not show anything suspicious according to the PSNI.
It is estimated that up to £12,000 damage was caused at the newly refurbished republican plot, with 22 grave stones being damaged.
The grave of hunger striker Bobby Sands was among those destroyed as was that of the parents of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams which is near the republican plot.
Sinn Féin councillor Michael Browne said that the desecration of the graves was "an outrageous act of wanton vandalism."
Councillor Browne bitterly condemned the attack.
"I have spoken to a number of families who have loved ones buried in the plot and they are extremely distressed at what happened overnight. This is not simply a memorial, it is the actual graves of many IRA volunteers and Sinn Féin activists killed over the past 30 years. Those responsible for this attack are beyond contempt."
The NGA has vowed to repair the plot as soon as possible and are calling on local people to help raise money for the project. Anyone interested in donating money to the fundraising campaign should contact Liam Shannon on 90 619875.
Journalist:: Roisin Cox
