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30/08/2002
Paramilitaries are behind unrest say PSNI
One of the PSNI's most senior officers has thrown doubt on the status of both loyalist and republican ceasefires, declaring that east Belfast violence is "being orchestrated by paramilitary groups".
The statement by Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan will put pressure on Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid who has pledged to take a tough stance over paramilitary-related violence in a speech to the Commons four weeks ago.
ACC McQuillan said that there was no doubt as to terrorist involvement in the Short Strand – which has seen dozens of police and army casualties in recent weeks. In the past three weeks, 32 police officers have been injured and on Wednesday night 16 soldiers were injured whilst policing the nationalist Short Strand and loyalist Cluan Place areas.
Mr McQuillan said: “It is quite clear to us that this is, on both sides, being orchestrated by paramilitary groups.
“On the republican side, it is being orchestrated by the Provisional IRA, and on the unionist side it is quite clearly being orchestrated by the UVF, and we have no doubt about any of that.”
He went further, saying that the police "know who is organising this”.
Mr McQuillan said he was not suggesting the two groups were responsible for everything, but they were the main instigators and organisers of violence which has continued now for months.
Mr McQuillan was not optimistic about the prospects for an end to the street violence.
“My intelligence suggests, and all the information available to me suggests, it is not going to get any better – that there is a desire within paramilitary organisations on both sides to continue this fight,” he added.
(GMcG)
The statement by Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan will put pressure on Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid who has pledged to take a tough stance over paramilitary-related violence in a speech to the Commons four weeks ago.
ACC McQuillan said that there was no doubt as to terrorist involvement in the Short Strand – which has seen dozens of police and army casualties in recent weeks. In the past three weeks, 32 police officers have been injured and on Wednesday night 16 soldiers were injured whilst policing the nationalist Short Strand and loyalist Cluan Place areas.
Mr McQuillan said: “It is quite clear to us that this is, on both sides, being orchestrated by paramilitary groups.
“On the republican side, it is being orchestrated by the Provisional IRA, and on the unionist side it is quite clearly being orchestrated by the UVF, and we have no doubt about any of that.”
He went further, saying that the police "know who is organising this”.
Mr McQuillan said he was not suggesting the two groups were responsible for everything, but they were the main instigators and organisers of violence which has continued now for months.
Mr McQuillan was not optimistic about the prospects for an end to the street violence.
“My intelligence suggests, and all the information available to me suggests, it is not going to get any better – that there is a desire within paramilitary organisations on both sides to continue this fight,” he added.
(GMcG)
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Five released by police investigating murder
Five people arrested for questioning in connection with a police inquiry into the murder of a Co Antrim man last month, have been released without charge. Ballyclare man, John Allen, 31, died after being shot in the head and legs by two masked men at a flat in the town on November 8. He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital were he later died.
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Five people arrested for questioning in connection with a police inquiry into the murder of a Co Antrim man last month, have been released without charge. Ballyclare man, John Allen, 31, died after being shot in the head and legs by two masked men at a flat in the town on November 8. He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital were he later died.
04 June 2002
City Police Chief says paramilitaries behind violence
The Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast Alan McQuillan has said he believes loyalist and republican paramilitaries are responsible for the recent violence in east Belfast in which five people were shot.
City Police Chief says paramilitaries behind violence
The Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast Alan McQuillan has said he believes loyalist and republican paramilitaries are responsible for the recent violence in east Belfast in which five people were shot.
04 April 2002
Police blame paramilitaries for north Belfast violence
Loyalist paramilitaries are being blamed by police for orchestrating a night of violence against the security forces in north Belfast. The Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said the Ulster Defence Association had organised a heavy and highly violent attack on police personnel on Wednesday evening.
Police blame paramilitaries for north Belfast violence
Loyalist paramilitaries are being blamed by police for orchestrating a night of violence against the security forces in north Belfast. The Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said the Ulster Defence Association had organised a heavy and highly violent attack on police personnel on Wednesday evening.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy. Also mainly dry at first this evening but then occasional outbreaks of rain developing overnight. Light southwest winds, and staying mild. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
