The mask slips again for North’s political justice system
Posted by Jim on October 17, 2016
A court has thrown out politically-motivated charges against a prominent
County Tyrone republican after British prosecutors abandoned the case.
David Jordan was accused of trying to kill a member of the Crown forces
in May 2008 in an attack later claimed by the breakaway ‘Real IRA’, but
the case was withdrawn during a hearing in Strabane this week.
Last month Mr Jordan was appointed as the first chairman of newly
established anti-agreement political party Saoradh – which is Irish for
liberation.
Mr Jordan, who denied any part in the 2008 attack, said he was
previously questioned about it eight years ago and released without
charge. He described the decision to charge him as “vindictive” .
Restrictive bail conditions imposed on Mr Jordan included a ban on
having a mobile phone or accessing the internet. He was also ordered to
report to the PSNI daily, abide by a curfew and wear an electronic tag.
He described the timing of his arrest as “suspicious”.
“It put me off the road for ten and a half months,” he said. “I feel it
is part of a campaign on the part of the British to stabilise the six
counties.
“Any vocal opposition to the status quo in the six counties is met by
internment by remand and stringent and draconian bail conditions.”
ANTI-INTERNMENT CAMPAIGN
Meanwhile, pressure is growing for the release of Derry political
activist Tony Taylor. Protests are due to take place in Dublin and
Glasgow on Saturday, October 29 by anti-internment groups in both
countries.
In March this year, Mr Taylor was arrested while on a family outing in
Derry following order for his internment by then Direct Ruler Theresa
Villiers, who claimed he was a risk to the public. He has been held at
Maghaberry prison since then without charge or trial.
This week, prominent Derry priest Fr Paddy O’Kane lent his support to
the campaign for Taylor’s release.
“The case simply boils down to this,” he wrote. “They should either
charge him or release him. The fact is however they are in no rush to do
so and seem quite happy to simply sit on their hands and keep Tony
locked up. That is where the injustice lies.”
Sinn Fein has also renewed its calls for the release of the Derry man.
In a recent meeting with the current Direct Ruler James Brokenshire,
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said he told him the continued detention
of the Derry man was “unacceptable” and made it clear that, in the
absence of due process, he should be “released immediately.”
