Hamilton admits UVF behind shared-space intimidation

Posted by Jim on October 7, 2017

The PSNI has been forced to admit unionist paramilitaries were behind
threats which caused four Catholic families to flee their south Belfast
homes.

After coming under pressure over the force’s non-committal response to
the intimidation, PSNI chief George Hamilton finally pointed the finger
at the UVF murder gang this week.

“There are people using the guise of the UVF who we believe are members
of that organisation who are threatening people because of their
community background, because of their religion, to leave their home –
that is not acceptable,” he said.

Although Mr Hamilton said was not sure if the threats were supported by
the leadership of the UVF, which he described as “chaotic and
disorganised”, or if they were made by individual members, when
challenged outright if it was the UVF, he finally replied: “Yes.”

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly, the party’s policing spokesman, vowed to
pressure the PSNI to bring individuals before the courts.

“It is 2017 and the UVF continues to be involved in murder,
racketeering, extortion, drug dealing and issuing sectarian threats,” he
said. “They have no other purpose than to serve their own ends.”

While sectarian intimidation remains common in the north of Ireland —
five Catholic families were recently burned out of the mainly Protestant
Waterside area of Derry — the Cantrell Close and Global Crescent
estates had been promoted as a cross-community ‘shared space’.

Despite efforts to hold up the development as an example for shared
living, loyalist paramilitaries had always sought to claim them as part
of their territory.

The attribution of blame by the PSNI comes after mounting pressure on
the force to confront unionist paramilitaries.

Their hands-off approach has been sharp contrasted by their harassment
of republicans, which has led to protests in nationalist areas. This
week, four men and a woman appeared in court charged with holding an
“unnotified procession” in connection with an Easter Rising
commemoration in Lurgan.

There is also little nationalist confidence in a new panel which began
work this week to monitor efforts to “stamp out” loyalist paramilitaries
and IRA groups. Set up as a result of a 2015 talks agreement, the
‘Independent Reporting Commission’ will report annually on progress to
the London and Dublin governments and will take over the role of the
former MI5-linked ‘Independent Monitoring Commission’.

The four IRC members are former US special envoy to the North of Ireland
Mitchell Reiss, ex-human rights commissioner and political leader Monica
McWilliams, lawyer John McBurney and former Irish diplomat Tim O’Connor.

Mr Reiss said he was grateful for the opportunity to again play a role
in the North of Ireland. “I hope the commission’s initiatives will help
to bring about the continued transformation envisioned by the British
and Irish governments, the local political parties and the citizens of
the North of Ireland,” he said.