Further collusion suspected over missing notebook
Posted by Jim on September 22, 2018
There are renewed concerns over collusion after it emerged that a
notebook containing details of republicans — including their names,
addresses and car number plates — has been “lost” by the PSNI police in
a UDA stronghold.
The personal log also detailed names and car registrations of
republicans from west Belfast who had been searched by the PSNI, along
with Crown Force codenames for various operations.
The notebook went “missing” in the first week of September during an
investigation into the activities of the breakaway South East Antrim
UDA, one of the most active loyalist paramilitary groups.
The PSNI said only that they are carrying out enquiries, but admitted
that it was now likely that loyalist paramilitary figures have access to
the notes.
This is the second similar episode in recent weeks. In July it was
established that a USB drive containing information on local citizens
and businesses was “inadvertently” passed to suspected loyalist
paramilitaries. The database was passed to UDA paramilitaries along
with other items which were being returned following a search.
Eirigi’s Padraic Mac Coitir said its “pathetic” that constitutional
nationalists continue to say the PSNI are reformed. “The PSNI/RUC has a
history of colluding with unionist murder gangs,” he said.
Saoradh warned that “the worrying trend of collusion will no doubt
affect every member of our communities, just as it has done before”. But
the incident came as no surprise to them.
“With uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the issue of refortifying the
partitionist border, the rebuilding of armed Republicanism and the ever
present question of a reunified Ireland, Britain’s paid assassins will
no doubt be eager in their attempts to target Nationalists and
Republicans,” they said.
“Saoradh would urge everyone, republican or otherwise, to exercise
caution in the coming weeks and months as loyalist death squads rearm
themselves at the behest of the British establishment.”