Aftermath at Ardoyne

On Saturday 27th June, Orange parade, four residents received gunshot wounds.

then returned after an Three people died.

and could have prevented, bling regime was masters and curb this kind of parade.

Much later, five men from the Hooker Street area were charged with 'causing an explosion! i.e. firing guns. The police opposed bail but a high court granted it. These men could return to their wives and children to await the trial months later. But this didn't suit the R.U.C. On their way from the court they were rearrested and charged with murder, Now this poses an interesting question - why weren't they charged with that originally? Obviously because the police had no evidence. Certainly the people of Ardoyne know that this is clearly police’victimization, an attempt to appease the Orange side who, for once, suffered more casualties.

It is not our function to take sides in riots which, regrettably have sectarian overtones, but a few points must be made to counteract some of the more blatant distortions of the police at the recent inquests. Firstly, the British Army was in charge of security on the Hooker Street side of the road - an army not noted for its partiality towards the people of that area, and yet they fired the obscene C.S. gas indiscriminately at the mob of people who were trying to get IN to Hooker Street and then into Hooker Street itself.

Clearly they're not so happy about the police story of a '"muderous ambush''. And what about the men and following a provocative a crowd attacked Hooker Street and Fire was interval of stone-throwing. The incident was all too typical but the Mad Major's crum., in no position to oppose its Orange women in Hooker Street who received gunshot wounds before anyone else? Since when did a ''Peaceful religious procession" have gunmen in its ranks? People who are attacked have a right to defend themselves. vlearly the picture is confused to an outsider, but the point at issue here is not. When there is virutally no evidence against a person he is entitled to bail, no matter how serious the charge, otherwise he may be acquitted - and yet have served six months in jail on remand!

Especially obnoxious is the practice of rearresting people who have already been granted bail. This makes a mockery of the courts (who've already been doing their best to discredit themselves anyway) and smacks of the South African 90 day law. There you can be jailed for 90 days with no charges being preferred and rearrested for another 90 days immediately on your release. The only difference here is that having failed to produce sufficient evidence for one charge, another is invented.

From all the evidence we have these men are innocent. Ona matter of principle we must give solidarity to these men who are being used as scapegoats. Army and police victimization is becoming even more commonplace. There is a time for a stand to be made!

The following article was written before the resignations of Messrs. Freeland and Young.

Those who are desirous for unanimity between the gallant forces protecting us from 'extremists of all hues' will doubtless be as distressed as we were to learn of the ‘dispute’ between Sir Arthur Young and General Freeland in the latter's Lisburn office. Incredulous bystanders speak of 'fisticuffs' and certainly relations since have been, to say the least, 'strained'. The row was, it seems, over the withdrawal of the army and the rearm-_ ing of the police. Freeland wants to withdraw 5,000 troops and advocates giving the police back their guns. Young opposes both, knowing the partisan leanings of many of his merry men. Young, however, to the jubilation of the right wingers will be returning to London soon -while Freeland's position is none too secure either - he is due to be replaced by General Crum (sic) before next February. Although it may be hard to believe, it is widely rumoured that even more soldiers hate Freeland than policemen hate Young.

Anyone wishing to receive confirmation or denial of these malicious rumours should ring Lisburn 6712 and ask the answering soldier what he thinks of this vile rumour. Alternatively, the police rumour spokesman can be reached at Belfast 586464. Let us know what they say.

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