28.4.04
IOL.IE
BLAIR REJECTS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE FINUCANE INQUIRY
28/04/2004 - 13:41:19
Calls for an immediate public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane were rejected by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, today.
Mr Blair stuck to his insistence that all criminal proceedings must be concluded before a probe can be launched despite mounting pressure to speed the inquiry.
Former SDLP leader John Hume demanded swifter action when he raised the issue at Commons question time.
He asked: “Following the death of Pat Finucane and the enormous suffering of his family and given their consistent request for a public inquiry, do you agree that the time has now come for such an inquiry?”
The British government promised to hold any inquiry recommended by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, who was asked to investigate claims of security service collusion in four high-profile killings.
But when his report was published, Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy said Mr Finucane’s death would only be investigated after a prosecution was concluded.
Mr Blair replied to the question: “We have announced inquiries into certain of these cases. We stand by the commitments that we gave at Weston Park.
“There are inquiries proceeding now because of the prosecution in respect of Finucane. We believe it is important that that is taken through its proper process.”
In one of the most controversial killings during the Troubles, Pat Finucane was hit 14 times when gunmen opened fire on him in his north Belfast home in February 1989 as he ate an evening meal with his family.
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u.tv
WEDNESDAY 28/04/2004 17:38:01 UTV
SECOND GUN FOUND IN CO ANTRIM
Police mounting a concerted drive against the activities of loyalists
in north Antrim uncovered a second high-powered weapon today.
By:Press Association
The high velocity rifle and two magazines were found during the
search of the garage of a house at Ballyclough Road outside the
village.
On Tuesday police found a heavy machine gun at a neighbouring house,
the discovery of which they said had dealt a "severe blow" to
loyalist paramilitaries in the area.
Two men were arrested following the first find, one has been released
without charge but the other remains in custody, said a spokesman.
----------------------------------------
IOL.IE
TRIO TO STAY IN COLOMBIAN PRISON 'FOR PROTECTION'
28/04/2004 - 22:17:01
Lawyers for three Irish men who were convicted of using false passports said today they won’t pay a fine to free the men from prison until Colombian authorities provide them with protection.
Supporters of James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley said they feared the three men would be killed by Colombian right-wing death squads that target suspected rebel collaborators.
The three, who deny being IRA members, must remain in Colombia pending resolution of a government appeal of their acquittals on terrorism charges.
“What is the point of paying for them to be out on the street but unable to enjoy their freedom?” asked Pedro Mahecha, Monaghan’s lawyer.
“It is safer for them inside the prison.”
Caitriona Ruane, who led the “Bring Them Home” campaign seeking the trio’s release, said she met earlier in the day with government leaders to request security for the men.
“We have not received the response we expected,” Ruane said outside La Modelo Prison where the men are being held. “We are very, very concerned about the situation. It is up to the Colombian government to ensure their safety.”
Ruane did not say whether supporters had come up with the $19,500 (€16,500) needed to secure their freedom.
Monaghan, Connolly and McCauley were convicted on Monday of travelling on false passports when they were arrested in August 2001 after visiting a rebel safe haven in Colombia’s southern jungles.
They were acquitted of training members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in bomb-making and terrorist tactics.
Mark McLarnon, a spokesman for Sinn Féin, said the political group won’t be contributing to the fines - even though Connolly was Sinn Féin’s Havana-based Latin America representative when he was arrested.
“I presume the ‘Bring Them Home’ campaign will pay them,” McLarnon said of the fines, speaking in Belfast.
“We won’t be paying a thing. Sinn Féin’s role is politically lobbying the Colombian and Irish government authorities to arrange for the men’s safe return.”
He echoed concerns for the trio’s safety.
“You could get into a situation where they’re released on to the street and killed,” McLarnon said.
On convicting the trio on the false passports charges, Judge Jaime Acosta sentenced them to prison terms ranging from two years and two months to three years and eight months, but he decided they had already served sufficient time and ordered them free on payment of a fine of $6,500 (€5,500) each.
The jailed trio claimed to have met with FARC leaders only to learn about Colombia’s now-defunct peace talks between the rebel army and the government.
The FARC and a smaller Marxist group have been battling to topple Colombia’s government for four decades.
------------------------------------------------------
BLAIR REJECTS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE FINUCANE INQUIRY
28/04/2004 - 13:41:19
Calls for an immediate public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane were rejected by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, today.
Mr Blair stuck to his insistence that all criminal proceedings must be concluded before a probe can be launched despite mounting pressure to speed the inquiry.
Former SDLP leader John Hume demanded swifter action when he raised the issue at Commons question time.
He asked: “Following the death of Pat Finucane and the enormous suffering of his family and given their consistent request for a public inquiry, do you agree that the time has now come for such an inquiry?”
The British government promised to hold any inquiry recommended by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, who was asked to investigate claims of security service collusion in four high-profile killings.
But when his report was published, Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy said Mr Finucane’s death would only be investigated after a prosecution was concluded.
Mr Blair replied to the question: “We have announced inquiries into certain of these cases. We stand by the commitments that we gave at Weston Park.
“There are inquiries proceeding now because of the prosecution in respect of Finucane. We believe it is important that that is taken through its proper process.”
In one of the most controversial killings during the Troubles, Pat Finucane was hit 14 times when gunmen opened fire on him in his north Belfast home in February 1989 as he ate an evening meal with his family.
----------------------------------------------
u.tv
WEDNESDAY 28/04/2004 17:38:01 UTV
SECOND GUN FOUND IN CO ANTRIM
Police mounting a concerted drive against the activities of loyalists
in north Antrim uncovered a second high-powered weapon today.
By:Press Association
The high velocity rifle and two magazines were found during the
search of the garage of a house at Ballyclough Road outside the
village.
On Tuesday police found a heavy machine gun at a neighbouring house,
the discovery of which they said had dealt a "severe blow" to
loyalist paramilitaries in the area.
Two men were arrested following the first find, one has been released
without charge but the other remains in custody, said a spokesman.
----------------------------------------
IOL.IE
TRIO TO STAY IN COLOMBIAN PRISON 'FOR PROTECTION'
28/04/2004 - 22:17:01
Lawyers for three Irish men who were convicted of using false passports said today they won’t pay a fine to free the men from prison until Colombian authorities provide them with protection.
Supporters of James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley said they feared the three men would be killed by Colombian right-wing death squads that target suspected rebel collaborators.
The three, who deny being IRA members, must remain in Colombia pending resolution of a government appeal of their acquittals on terrorism charges.
“What is the point of paying for them to be out on the street but unable to enjoy their freedom?” asked Pedro Mahecha, Monaghan’s lawyer.
“It is safer for them inside the prison.”
Caitriona Ruane, who led the “Bring Them Home” campaign seeking the trio’s release, said she met earlier in the day with government leaders to request security for the men.
“We have not received the response we expected,” Ruane said outside La Modelo Prison where the men are being held. “We are very, very concerned about the situation. It is up to the Colombian government to ensure their safety.”
Ruane did not say whether supporters had come up with the $19,500 (€16,500) needed to secure their freedom.
Monaghan, Connolly and McCauley were convicted on Monday of travelling on false passports when they were arrested in August 2001 after visiting a rebel safe haven in Colombia’s southern jungles.
They were acquitted of training members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in bomb-making and terrorist tactics.
Mark McLarnon, a spokesman for Sinn Féin, said the political group won’t be contributing to the fines - even though Connolly was Sinn Féin’s Havana-based Latin America representative when he was arrested.
“I presume the ‘Bring Them Home’ campaign will pay them,” McLarnon said of the fines, speaking in Belfast.
“We won’t be paying a thing. Sinn Féin’s role is politically lobbying the Colombian and Irish government authorities to arrange for the men’s safe return.”
He echoed concerns for the trio’s safety.
“You could get into a situation where they’re released on to the street and killed,” McLarnon said.
On convicting the trio on the false passports charges, Judge Jaime Acosta sentenced them to prison terms ranging from two years and two months to three years and eight months, but he decided they had already served sufficient time and ordered them free on payment of a fine of $6,500 (€5,500) each.
The jailed trio claimed to have met with FARC leaders only to learn about Colombia’s now-defunct peace talks between the rebel army and the government.
The FARC and a smaller Marxist group have been battling to topple Colombia’s government for four decades.
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