Continuity IRA 'shot NI policeman'

[Ronski]

Continuity IRA 'shot NI policeman

The dissident republican Continuity IRA has claimed responsibility for the murder of a policeman in Northern Ireland.
Constable Stephen Carroll, 48, from Banbridge, Co Down, became the first member of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland to be shot dead on duty when he was attacked in Craigavon, Co Armagh, on Monday night.
The murder prompted rank and file police representatives to call for an urgent security review after the officer became the third victim in as many days of a new campaign of violence in Northern Ireland blamed on dissident Irish republicans.
The Real IRA, another dissident group, claimed responsibility for the shooting dead of two soldiers outside the front gates of Massereene Military barracks in Co Antrim on Saturday night.

As Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness postponed a planned visit to the United States, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde was urged to call in the SAS in a bid to thwart the dissident republicans.
Pc Carroll, a married man with a family, was gunned down after he and colleagues answered a woman's call for help, apparently made after a window was broken. They had pulled up in two cars at a housing estate, not far from a Catholic Church at Lismore Manor. An assassin was hiding nearby and opened fire, killing the constable - the first PSNI member to be murdered by terrorists.
Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, who are due to meet with President Obama at the White House on St Patrick's Day next Tuesday, were about to catch a flight from London when they decided to return to Belfast. They may travel to Washington later.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the condemnation, insisting: "There will be no return to the old days." He added: "These are murderers who are trying to distort, disrupt and destroy a political process that is working for the people of Northern Ireland. They will never be allowed to destroy or undermine the political process."
British soldiers Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, were shot dead outside the front gates of Massereene Military barracks at Antrim on Saturday night. Two other soldiers as well as two pizza delivery men were badly wounded in that attack.
Terry Spence, chairman of the Police Federation, said the terrorists were attempting to drag the people of Northern Ireland back into the morass of a bloody past. He added: "We are seeking an urgent re-appraisal of all aspects of the security situation and of the safety of members of the police and security services."
Last Updated: Tuesday, 10 March 2009, 14:39 GMT

[BASEL]

Goodbye freedom and hello bag searches

[Ronski]

Two arrests over shooting of Northern Ireland policeman

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

Two men, aged 17 and 37, have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll, police said today.

Constable Carroll, 48, was gunned down last night as he responded to a call for help from a frightened woman who said her house was being attacked.

He was shot from behind as he got out of his car, investigators have revealed today.

The officer was struck in the head by a single bullet that passed through his back window.

It is understood that Constable Carroll was due to retire from the force next year.

Dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA, said they were behind the the murder.

Both of those arrested are being questioned in Antrim police station.

In a coded message, they said the shooting in Craigavon was carried out by their north Armagh battalion.

The message said: "As long as there is British involvement in Ireland, these attacks will continue."

The killing followed the murder of soldiers Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, outside the Massareene Barracks in Antrim on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Minister today called off their trade mission to America a second time following the Craigavon killing.

Peter Robinson said: “Our future isn't dependent on the evil of those who seek to destroy our society, but rather it depends on the good that there's found in those throughout our community who want to build a stable, peaceful and democratic society,� he told MLAs.

Deputy First Minister McGuinness, a former IRA commander, described the dissidents as "traitors to the island of Ireland."

He called for the traditional code of silence to be broken and for tips to be passed to police.

"I want to join with Peter Robinson to wholeheartedly appeal to everyone, and anyone, who has any information whatsoever about these killings, to pass that information to the police, north and south," said McGuinness.

"We need to pledge our support to Hugh Orde."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said there was no support whatsoever in the republican or nationalist communities for what happened and his party would support the apprehension of those involved.

In a show of solidarity, they were supported by the Ulster Unionist, SDLP, Alliance, PUP and Green Party leaders.

[Ronski]

Teenager arrested for constable’s murder has an alibi, claim parents

By David McKittrick and Lesley-Anne Henry
Thursday, 12 March 2009

The parents of a teenager being questioned over the murder of a PSNI constable have insisted their son is innocent.

Speaking moments after police officers armed with sub-machine guns swooped on the teenager, his mother said: “He isn't interested in politics, he only likes football.�

The boy's stepfather, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told The Daily Telegraph: “It's a disgrace that he's been arrested. He likes a drink but he would never harm anyone. He's a good boy.�

He claimed his stepson had an alibi — that he was at his girlfriend's house drinking at the time Constable Carroll was shot on Monday night.

The teenager was held outside his stepfather's house in a strongly republican area of Craigavon, Co Armagh, as he was walking along the street with his girlfriend.

He was held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, placed in a forensic suit, and taken to a police station in Antrim, his stepfather said.

Police then used a battering ram to enter his stepfather's house and officers in forensic suits spent an hour searching it. They also raided his girlfriend's house nearby.

His stepfather, who was not arrested, said: “They've taken things like computers and shoes. They told me he was being arrested and I haven't been allowed to speak to him. But when it happened he was round at his girlfriend's having a drink.

“It's terrible the way they are treating people. There used to be Provisionals around here in the past but they don't really exist any more, it's just a small faction of people.

“But the police aren't giving the people a chance. There's been a man shot and they need to do something about it, it's one of their own. But when you do something like this, arresting him, it encourages people to join these organisations.� He claimed his stepson had an alibi — that he was at his girlfriend's house drinking at the time Pc Carroll was shot on Monday night.

After the house was searched officers in forensic suits also examined and underside ofa car outside as marksmen armed with sniper rifles guarded the immediate area.

Police investigating the murder are also questioning a 37-year-old man.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the political wing of the Continuity IRA (CIRA) has said that the shooting dead of Mr Carroll was not murder.

Despite the strong wave of condemnation which followed the shooting, Richard Walsh, publicity director for Republican Sinn Fein, said: “It’s inevitable that this was going to happen.

He said:“I certainly don’t recognise it as murder, no.�

On the declaration of Martin McGuinness that those who carried out the killing were “traitors to the island of Ireland�, he responded: “Well, I think he’d need to look closer to home for who are the traitors, frankly.�

“I haven’t really heard any real reaction to it other than what’s in the papers, and I think a lot of that is scripted, to be honest, choreographed. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised by it.�

And, Eirígí, the hardline republican group opposed to Sinn Fein’s power sharing position, have released a statement saying the time was not right for an armed struggle.

The statement, which did not condemn the shooting of the two soldiers and the police officer was posted on the internet last night.

Spokesman Breandán MacCionnaith, who left Sinn Fein over its decision to sit at Stormont, said: “Eirígí does not believe that the conditions exist at this time for a successful armed struggle against the British occupation.�

The group claimed their statement was released following “repeated requests for Eirígí to clarify its position with regard to recent events�.

Added Mr MacCionnaith: “Over the course of the last two-and-a-half years, Eirígí has organised countless public events aimed at building public opposition to British rule and imperialism in Ireland.

Eirígí’s protest in opposition to the controversial RIR parade in Belfast in November past is an example of just one such event.

“While supporting the right of any people to defend themselves from imperial aggression éirígí does not believe that the conditions exist at this time for a successful armed struggle against the British occupation.�

[Rossco]

It's all very strange to me. Quiet for what? 10-11 years! Then not one but two pop up in the space of days....strange!

[Ronski]

Two held over PSNI murder released

Belfast Telegraph
Monday, 23 March 2009


Two men arrested over the murder of a policeman were released without charge tonight.

The men, aged 31 and 27, have been questioned by police for seven days about the murder of PC Stephen Carroll, 48, in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Five other people arrested for questioning about the murder, and four detained over the murders of two soldiers - Sappers Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, and Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham - 48 hours before PC Carroll's murder, remain in custody.

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for murdering the soldiers as they collected a pizza from a delivery driver at the gates of the Massereene Barracks in Antrim earlier this month.

The Continuity IRA said they were responsible for the murder of the policeman.

Six of the nine still in detention have launched a High Court action in Belfast challenging their extended detention.

They are the first people to be held in Northern Ireland under the Terrorism Act of 2006 which means they can be held for up to 28 days.

Only one of the six, prominent Craigavon republican Colin Duffy - being questioned about the soldiers' murders - was identified; the others were granted anonymity.

Lawyers representing the six are seeking an urgent judicial review on the basis that their extended detention is unlawful and breaches their right to liberty under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Duffy was allowed into court under police guard for the hearing.

The three judges are expected to rule tomorrow whether the judicial review can go ahead and test the legislation.

[Ronski]

Teen in court on officer Carroll murder charge

BELFAST TELEGRAPH

Boy did not speak in interviewsBy Victoria O'Hara
Tuesday, 24 March 2009


A 17-year-old boy appeared in court today charged with the dissident republican murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.

Lisburn Youth Court was told today that the teenager — who cannot be named because of legal reasons — refused to speak during police interviews.

The 48-year-old officer from Banbridge was shot in the head in Craigavon, Co Armagh earlier this month as he responded to an emergency call.

Under heavy security at Lisburn Courthouse this morning, the boy was formally charged with the policeman’s murder on March 9.

The teenager, who did not speak during his court appearance, was also charged with having a firearm with intent to endanger life and membership of a proscribed organisation, the Continuity IRA.

He was also charged with collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists.

Detective Inspector John Caldwell told Magistrate Rosie Watters that he could connect the youth to the charge.

Defence solicitor Paddy Moriarty asked the officer how long his client had been held for and how many times he had been interviewed during that period.

Det Insp Caldwell told the court the boy had been held in custody for 13 days and said he believed the number of times he had been questioned was “in the late teens�.

Mr Moriarty also asked him if his client had made any admission during this time.

Det Insp Caldwell told the court: “He refused to speak throughout the interviews.�

The solicitor said his client would be denying all the charges, but made no application for bail. The teenager was remanded in custody and is due to appear via videolink in Craigavon on April 3.

Earlier on Monday, two men aged 27 and 31, who were arrested in connection with the murder, were released without charge. Four other people are still being questioned about Constable Carroll's murder on March 9.

[Ronski]

Second man charged over PSNI murder

BELFAST TELEGRAPH

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Another man has been charged with the murder of Northern Ireland policeman Stephen Carroll.

The 37-year-old suspect is also accused of possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life and will appear in court tomorrow.

PC Carroll, 48, was shot dead in Craigavon, County Armagh, earlier this month.

The dissident Republican Continuity IRA claimed responsibility for his killing in an effort to endanger the peace process.

A 17-year-old man appeared in court today charged with the murder.