10 days in the life of North Belfast Protestants

10 days in the life of North Belfast Protestants

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Wednesday, 26 June 2002 10:18:50 UTC+1)

Proof That Violence and Terrorism Pays In Northern Ireland

13th June 2002 - Young widow living in Upper Ardoyne, whose husband

was murdered by INLA 9 years ago, house was attacked in the middle of
the night, smashing windows and paint-bombing both the inside and
outside of the house

13th June 2002 - Car entering Hesketh Road, Upper Ardoyne was attacked
by male adolescents on their way to attend a nearby catholic secondary
school - they had the bricks in their schoolbags - the owner/driver of
the car has just started a football club in Upper Ardoyne to help
divert young people from the interface

15th June 2002 - The same young widow from 13th June incident receives
a threat through the mail telling her “the next time it will be petrol
bombs”

18th June 2002 - Wheatfield Primary School (on the other side of the
road from Holy Cross PS) receives a phone call from the Catholic
Reaction Force

18th June 2002 - A senior citizen from the Upper Ardoyne area is
manhandled in Ardoyne shops while going to collect her old age
pension, she was left distressed and disorientated in the street to
find her way home

19th June 2002 - Springfield Primary School - a protestant primary
school situated in a nationalist area receives through the mail a
threat from the Catholic Reaction Force

19th June 2002 - Contractors Threatened and walked off the site when
installing CCTV on Ardoyne Roundabout/Twaddell Interface

20th June 2002 - Suspect bomb left on Roundabout at Ardoyne/Twaddell
Interface where CCTV contractors were working

20th June 2002 - A female student standing at a bus stop on the
Crumlin Road adjacent to Upper Ardoyne was surrounded harassed and had
sectarian abuse hurled at her by approx 20 adolescent schoolboys from
a nearby catholic boys school

21st June 2002 - A married Couple both approx. 80 years receives
threat through the mail from Catholic Reaction Force, saying their
homes will be bombed

21st June 2002 - A senior citizen living on her own in Twaddell Avenue
receives threat through the mail from Catholic Reaction Force, saying
her home will be bombed

21st June 2002 - A woman aged 76 living on her own in Glenbryn Estate
receives her second threat from Catholic Reaction Force, saying her
home will be bombed

21st June 2002 - Nationalist attack an orange parade in the Duncairn
area of North Belfast - a parade route which was passed by the parades
commission

22nd June 2002 - Continuity IRA issues a death threat to contractors
installing CCTV to identify rioters etc. Via North Belfast News -
“Anyone installing or maintaining CCTV in Ardoyne area will be
executed”

22nd June 2002 - Continuity IRA issues threat to contractors who are
making any attempt to build a wall at Ardoyne Road near Holy Cross
School, “We are making it clear that we will attack any contractor who
attempts to build any such wall”.

Of course this list is only the last two weeks - ASK YOURSELF what has
happened then over the past year.

Mother's plea to 'IRA beating gang'

Mother's plea to 'IRA beating gang'

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Tuesday, 25 June 2002 16:29:42 UTC+1)

BBC
Tuesday, 25 June, 2002, 12:21 GMT 13:21 UK
Mother's plea to 'IRA beating gang'

The mother of a man shot 13 times in paramilitary-style attacks has
appealed to the IRA to leave her son alone.
Bernadette Fegan from west Belfast admits her son Steven is a drug
addict, but she said the attacks would not help improve his behaviour.

Mr Fegan was shot six times in the hands, ankles and elbows last
Thursday.

It is the latest in a series of attacks on the 20-year-old from New
Barnsley.

His mother said she was not aware of all the activities he had been
involved in.

Mrs Fegan told BBC Radio Ulster: "Please give me the chance to see can
somebody help me to help Steven."

She said "shooting wasn't helping him and beating wasn't helping him".

She added: "Give me time, please give me time."

Mrs Fegan said she was a republican and that the people who were
carrying out the attacks would know her.

She said her son was recovering in the Royal Victoria Hospital
following the latest attack.

IRA Gardai Collusion in murder of Ian Sproule

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Friday, 21 June 2002 14:54:13 UTC+1)

From Lost Lives

3193. April 13, 1991
Ian Sproule, Tyrone
Civilian, Protestant, 23

From Lisleen Rd, Killen, near Castlederg, he was shot by the IRA as he
was parking his car outside his house. It later emerged that his
photograph was among a list of loyalist suspects in Gardai files. He
appeared on a Garda document with 'UVF' marked beside his name. The
IRA gave a copy to a Londonderry journalist. The document said Ian
Sproule was wanted in connection with the planting of incendiary
devices in business premises at Ballybofey, Castlefin and Letterkenny
on February 7-8, 1987.

These firebombings, however, had been claimed by the UFF rather than
the UVF. The IRA's possession of the Gardai document caused a major
security row. The dead man was one of a number of members of
Castlederg First Presbyterian Church who were killed by the IRA. The
minister at the church said that Ian Sproule's funeral was the 23rd
IRA victim's to pass along Main Street in the town. He said he had
buried nine of those dead and that "no one has been charged for any".
The first of these victims was Private William Bogle.

Garda spies helped IRA to murder 12 people

Garda spies helped IRA to murder 12 people

Karl Brophy
GARDA Commissioner Pat Byrne has ordered a fresh inquiry into
allegations that two gardaí colluded with the IRA resulting in the
murder of at least 12 people.
A senior Garda officer has been appointed to examine files relating to
the dozen deaths over a period of eight years, Justice Minister John
O’Donoghue told the Dáil yesterday.
Fine Gael TDs, Charles Flanagan and Jim Higgins, have demanded an
investigation at the highest level into claims that two named gardai
co operated with the IRA to organise a series of ambushes, shootings
and bombings.
Commissioner Byrne has ordered an investigation into five separate
incidents to ascertain if there is enough evidence to bring charges
against the gardaí who allegedly acted as IRA moles.
It is believed the accused gardai, who were based in the border
region, passed on information about meetings, security handovers and
travel arrangements of senior RUC police officers to the Provisionals.
The crimes include:
The 1991 abduction, torture and subsequent murder of a Louth man, Tom
Oliver, who informed gardaí of IRA activity in the county.
The killing of four RUC men on May 20, 1985. Tracy Doak, 21, Steven
Rodgers, 19, David Baird, 22 and Bill Wilson, 28, died in a bomb
explosion when travelling in two unmarked RUC patrol cars. The bomb
exploded as they approached a secret location, agreed beforehand with
the Garda authorities. They were due to take over responsibility for
the escort of security van from the gardaí at that secret location.
The killing of Northern Ireland’s Lord Justice Lord Gibson and his
wife Cecily in an IRA bomb explosion on April 25, 1987. Again, the
explosion happened at the precise point where a garda escort passed
over the responsibility for security to the RUC, a location only known
to a small section of the Republic’s police force.
A botched IRA attempt to kill another judge, Eoin Higgins, and his
wife in April of 1988 which resulted in the murder of three members of
a Northern Ireland family. Robert Hanna, 45, his wife Maureen, 44, and
their son David, 7, were all killed in an explosion at the point where
the RUC was supposed to take over the escort duty for Judge Higgins’
car.
The killing on March 20, 1989 of RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt
Bob Buchanan who were ambushed and shot by the Provisional IRA. The
police officers had travelled to a Garda station near the border for a
highly secret meeting with senior gardaí.
An investigation in the early 1990s was carried out into the
allegations but Justice Minister John O’Donoghue told the Dáil no
tangible evidence was uncovered at the time which could result in
prosecutions.

Gardai/IRA collusion

Gardai/IRA collusion

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Thursday, 20 June 2002 11:07:33 UTC+1)

A report appeared indicating further cases of Gardai collusion with
Republican terrorists has appeared in an article in the Irish Times
dated 10/03/00. It shows out the hypocrisy of nationalist Ireland in
pointing out cases of complicity with terrorism within the RUC but
ignore equivalent cases relating to Gardai collusion with Republicans.

It appears that the Gardai were passing intelligence to the IRA
concerning movements of members of the RUC and members of the
judiciary which led to the deaths of a number of people at the hands
of Republicans. Of course IRA moles within the Gardai have never been
caught or punished for their crimes.

One of these attacks led to the deaths of four RUC officers in May
1985: Tracy Doak, Steven Rodgers, David Baird and William Wilson. Such
a comprimise in border security failed to raise any eyebrows north or
south of the border.

Two years following this, information passed on from this mole led to
the murder of Lord Justice Gibson and his wife Cecily when the car
they were travelling in was bombed crossing the border.

1988 saw the murder of three members of the Hanna family whose car was
bombed in an attempt to kill Judge Eoin Higgins and his wife. Once
again information relating to the movements of the judge had been
passed on from the Gardai.

In 1990 RUC Chief Superintendents Harry Breen and Robert Buchanan were
ambushed and killed following a meeting with Dundalk Garda. In
complying with Irish law they were both unarmed when they met their
deaths thanks to the Garda mole.

The final target was Tom Oliver, a man who had been passing on
information about IRA activities in the Cooley peninsular to the Garda
who was tortured and then murdered. It was noted that no member of the
Fine Fail government was present at his funeral. His death failed to
lead to an internal inquiry. When the RUC traced the identity of the
mole, he was merely moved to another posting until his retirement.

As victims we find such complicity and cover-up disgusting, especially
when members of the current Irish government would criticise the UK
government for alledged RUC collusion and call for public inquiries.
We demand that a public inquiry into this takes place and that any
involved are brought to justice. We have contacted the Taioseach
regarding collusion within both police and government but have not
received adequate an response. We are not saying that all Gardai are
corrupt, however the high number of unsolved murders along the border
requires attention, especially when such details have become apparent.

IRA stir up violence claim

IRA stir up violence claim

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Thursday, 20 June 2002 13:40:25 UTC+1)

UTV
THURSDAY 20/06/2002 13:09:47          

IRA stir up violence claim

Senior Republicans are bussing members of the IRA into interface areas
in Northern Ireland in an attempt to create instability ahead of next
year's Assembly election, it was claimed today.

Members of the loyalist Ulster Political Research Group told a press
conference in east Belfast that members of the third battalion of the
IRA in Belfast were involved in different sectarian clashes around the
city.

UPRG spokesman Frankie Gallagher said: ``We believe the people who are
carrying out the violence in north Belfast and east Belfast and to a
degree in the Markets area in south Belfast are part of the third
battalion of the IRA.

``They are controlled and manoeuvred, bussed around by leading members
of the republican movement, and mainly ex-prisoners of the Provisional
IRA.``

Mr Gallagher said that the republican movement had been engaged in a
tactical use of armed struggle since the ceasefires.

He alleged that the current series of street clashes was designed to
drive a wedge between the loyalist and nationalist communities and
between Catholics and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The UPRG said that, with moderate nationalist SDLP members on the
Police Board, Sinn Fein was hoping to use its rival`s participation as
a means of persuading Catholic voters not to support Deputy First
Minister Mark Durkan`s party.

Mr Gallagher called on the government to declare the IRA ceasefire
over.

The UPRG, he claimed, had passed on information to the government
about how the IRA was orchestrating street violence.

Video evidence had also been compiled showing leading republicans
involved in instigating the clashes.

Belfast loyalist councillor Frank McCoubrey urged his community not to
be drawn into street clashes as doing so would contribute to a
republican master plan.

Mr McCoubrey said: ``What we want is the Secretary of State (John
Reid) to come clean with the Protestant people of north, south, east
and west Belfast and throughout the province and tell us if there is a
clear breach of the IRA ceasefire, and if there is, what is he going
to do about it?``

The UPRG also produced an eight-page document on the republican
approach to the peace process, which detailed allegations that the IRA
was adopting a tactical use of armed struggle.

Earlier today, it emerged that Sinn Fein representatives in
Londonderry had criticised nationalists who were involved in recent
street clashes in the city.

An open letter, signed by Sinn Fein minister Martin McGuinness,
national chairman Mitchell McLaughlin, Assembly member Mary Nelis and
10 city councillors, distanced republicans from clashes near the
loyalist Fountain estate.

The letter said: ``Attacks that took place on Tuesday and other recent
times on the Fountain estate by a number of young thugs intent on
doing damage are unacceptable and must not be tolerated.

``These individuals are not republicans or nationalists and should not
be given the dignity of such descriptions.

``Sinn Fein is an Irish republican party founded on the principles of
unity of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter.

``Sectarianism is the antithesis of everything that republicanism
espouses and we reject attempts to portray those who participate in
acts of sectarianism as representing any shade of republicanism.

``The Sinn Fein leadership and all its elected representatives in
Derry are calling on those responsible for recent sectarian attacks to
desist from such actions. They are wrong, unacceptable and cannot be
tolerated.``

The statement was issued last night just hours before further violence
erupted in Nailor`s Row.

As police officers made an arrest, they were surrounded by a crowd of
40 youths throwing bottles, stones and other missiles including paint
bombs.

One officer fired shots in the air and the patrol managed to withdraw.
There were no reports of any injuries.

Reign of terror on flag row estate

www.newsletter.co.uk
Reign of terror on flag row estate      19th June
Residents who objected to the flying of Irish Tricolours in a
nationalist estate have been subjected to a reign of terror from
within.
In some cases, dead birds have been left outside people's doors,
excrement pushed through letterboxes and cars, gardens and homes
damaged.
The majority of people living on the Fisherwick estate in Ballymena
are opposed to the flags and just want to live in peace, two SDLP
representatives claim.
MLA Sean Farren and councillor Declan O'Loan, in a joint statement,
said residents were caught between Sinn Fein defending the flying of
tricolours and the PUP threatening to hold street protests at the
mouth of the estate.
Several people have already fled the area and others were trying to
sell their homes but could not because the flags controversy has seen
a drop in house values, said the SDLP men.
The SDLP statement said: ''Since that time, there has been a campaign
of intimidation against residents who were perceived as being opposed
to that sort of involvement.
''This has included the erection of tricolours outside their houses,
broken windows, verbal abuse and name-calling, personalised graffiti,
damage to cars, birds killed and left at houses, excrement through at
least one letterbox, a sharp knife left pointing at a house, stones
thrown at windows, trashing of houses after people have left,
snowballing by young people in hoods and balaclavas, entering and
damaging gardens and close observation of movements.
''We have been told that, as a result of this, people have been in
great emotional distress. They have been in a constant state of
apprehension and frightened to report incidents.
''Children will not go out of the house except when taken to school;
adults will only go in and out of the estate by car; a young person
was found crawling to the toilet so as not to be observed.
''People have felt powerless in the face of this campaign and a number
of residents have left the estate.''
The statement said that, after the flags controversy blew up last year
''Sinn Fein activists rapidly involved themselves in the estate,
providing Tricolours, leafleting houses, issuing statements and
seeking support among the residents.
''The great majority of the residents were strongly opposed to the
flying of flags in their estate.
''They did not want their estate to be politicised. A number of them
publicly expressed this view to Sinn Fein representatives who had come
into the estate.''

Cluan Place - House ablaze in petrol bomb attack

House ablaze in petrol bomb attack

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Tuesday, 18 June 2002 10:48:28 UTC+1)

House ablaze in petrol bomb attack

BBC
Monday, 17 June, 2002, 21:55 GMT 22:55 UK

House ablaze in petrol bomb attack

 
Police believe recent violence was orchestrated

A house has been set on fire in a petrol bomb attack in east Belfast.
The attack took place in the loyalist Cluan Place. It has been the
scene of sporadic sectarian violence in recent weeks.

The trouble began on Monday night after a peaceful protest by a group
of loyalist women on the Albert Bridge Road.

Bricks, bottles and stones were thrown in the area and across the
interface in Clandeboye Drive. There were no reports of any injuries.

Last week, loyalist paramilitaries vowed not to initiate any violence
against republican communities in an effort to defuse tensions in
interface areas of Belfast.

In a statement from the Loyalist Commission at midday on Friday, the
paramilitaries pledged to adhere to a "no first strike" policy.

The recent violence in north, south and east Belfast has led to fears
that the situation will get worse rather than better during the
summer.

But efforts have been made to ease the tension.

The police believe recent republican violence was
orchestrated.

Ambulance attack by fans condemned

Ambulance attack by fans condemned

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Wednesday, 12 June 2002 15:51:06 UTC+1)

Ambulance attack by fans condemned

An attack on an ambulance by Republic of Ireland football supporters

in County Tyrone has been condemned by the Ambulance Service.
The incident took place after the Irish team beat Saudi Arabia on
Tuesday to progress to the last 16 of the World Cup.

Teenagers climbed onto the bonnet of the vehicle and dented it.

Station officer Sammy Nicholl was in a line of traffic in the town
centre when they started climbing on the vehicle.  

  "They were on the roof, on the sides of the vehicle and on the
windows.

"I had ground to a halt and couldn't move at all and was pretty
terrified," said Mr Nicholl.

Adrian McAuley of the Ambulance Service said it was an ordeal that
should not have happened.

"This has been a terrifying attack for a member of our staff and for
him to go into a town centre and be accosted by so many youths who
were intent on doing damage to the vehicle and possible to the vehicle
itself."

The Ambulance Service said it wanted to be left to get on with its
work without the fear of such attacks.

RoI football supporters attack ambulance County Tyrone.

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Wednesday, 12 June 2002 14:35:33 UTC+1)

UTV

Hussey condemns ambulance attack
A UUP MLA today condemned an attack on an ambulance by Republic of
Ireland football supporters in County Tyrone.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
Derek Hussey, Assembly member for West Tyrone, said he was appalled by
the incident which he said took place after the Irish team beat Saudi
Arabia to progress to the last 16 of the World Cup.

Mr. Hussey last week appealed directly to the Football Association of
Ireland to issue a statement asking Irish supporters not to carrying
out further attacks on buses carrying schoolchildren to and from
Strabane Grammar School.

He said he was angry at the latest development.

He stated: “I cannot understand the mentality of those who cause
damage to an ambulance. It defies logic. Do they not stop to think
that ultimately they could well be depriving someone of the right to
life?

“If the ambulance has to be withdrawn from service for repairs, it
will place a further burden on the already hard pressed Ambulance
Service.

“Thankfully the driver was unhurt but this attack must have been a
dreadful ordeal which no member of the emergency services should have
to endure. It is scandalous that we live in an environment where
attacks on ambulance drivers, firefighters and bus drivers are
commonplace.”

Cork protestant church attacked

Cork protestant church attacked

Original post   (by Irish Republican Watch, added Wednesday, 12 June 2002 14:34:20 UTC+1)

UTV

Cork protestant church attacked
Irish police were today investigating a fire attack on a Protestant
church in Co Cork.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
The overnight blaze badly damaged the 100-year-old St Peter`s Church
of Ireland building in the seaside village of Castletownbere.

Local rector Canon John Willoughby said the church was likely to be
unusable for the foreseeable future, but a full assessment of the
damage had still to be carried out.

He added: ``When I investigated after the alarm had been raised, I
found fires had been started in five different places and a window had
been smashed with a large block to gain access.

``A fire had been started on the altar. There is fire, water and smoke
damage.

``The local gardai (police) are following a line of inquiry. I find it
very disturbing. But the church will be fully restored after
consultation with the local community.``
 

More Nationalist attacks on Protestants

More Nationalist attacks on Protestants

Original post 

Belfast Telegraph

NorthWest: Residents at end of tether

      By Sarah Brett

FIVE weeks of nightly intimidation have pushed residents of a Londonderry
estate to breaking point, it was claimed today.

Residents of the predominantly loyalist Fountain Estate say old people were
targeted during the latest incident at the Bishop Street interface.

It is alleged that pensioners living in sheltered accommodation opposite the
flashpoint were stoned by nationalist youths as they moved their cars during
disturbances last night.

Fountain resident William Temple believes the youths turned on the elderly
people when they realised they had alerted the police.

He said local people were under the constant threat of violence.

"For five weeks steady we have been subjected to everything from stone
throwing to petrol bombs on a nightly basis.

"The same people are responsible and while there have been arrests, it has
made no difference because they are just replaced by other youths.

"We have spoken to people from the top to the bottom, from the Security
Minister to local police constables.

"The only resolution is for these people to stop or be stopped."

Police in Derry today confirmed there had been minor stoning incidents at
the peaceline last night.

But Fountain resident Valerie Moore says people are at breaking point.

"Young nationalists come up and they get up on the security wall and stone
and paint bomb, they shout and they gloat and last night was just
unbelievable.

"If the police cannot police the area properly its up to the residents to
come out and take the law into their own hands if need be because you can
only take so much."

Republicans attacking kids again

Republicans attacking kids again

Original post  

Londonderry Journal

Principal condemns sectarian abuse

A STRABANE school principal yesterday condemned 'cowardly and dangerous'
sectarian attacks on his pupils.
Children attending Strabane Grammar School were the target of sickening
abuse by drunken soccer fans in the wake of Ireland's World Cup draw against
Germany on Wednesday.
Two buses taking pupils home from the Liskey Road school were stoned as they
passed through the town's Market Street area.
The controlled grammar school is attended by mainly Protestant pupils, but
there is also an increasing number of Catholic children.
Terrified pupils, some as young as 11, screamed in horror as a window was
broken in one bus and shattered in another.
Mr. Lewis Lacey, the headmaster, revealed that some junior pupils also had
beer thrown over them.
He said: "Some of the people celebrating Ireland's success in the World Cup
decided it was appropriate to attack Strabane Grammar School pupils going
home on the bus or in the street.
"Some junior pupils had pints of beer thrown over them and a bus was stoned
as well."
Mr. Lacey said: "Attacking young children with stones or threatening them is
cowardly and dangerous and should be condemned by everyone.
'Enemy'
"It is regrettable that the school should be regarded as an enemy and
targeted for sectarian abuse. There is no reason to suppose that pupils
would not be as delighted with the progress of the Ireland team as anyone
else. Why do these people turn a football tournament into a political and
sectarian issue?"
Mr. Lacey revealed that in a separate incident, a group of people broke into
the school later in the evening, causing damage and made an attempt to set
fire to the building.
"Pupils and staff are in the middle of a busy examination period and this
kind of behaviour is disruptive and very upsetting for all concerned," the
headmaster said.
Local Ulster Unionist Councillor and MLA, Derek Hussey, said he had been
contacted by the parents of several of the children whose buses were stoned.
The children and their families were totally shocked and mystified as to why
people celebrating a football result should attack school buses.
Phone box
Mr. Hussey claimed that two young girls had gone to a phone box after the
incident to phone home, when three men approached and wrapped a tricolour
around the phone box.
"I am as exuberant about sport as anyone but this is no way for someone to
celebrate a satisfying result for the team they support," he said.
DUP Councillor Allan Bresland said he had also been contacted by several
parents outraged by the incidents.
"It was a sheer shame and disgrace. The two parents that phoned me had
children in their first year at the school. They were scared out of their
wits and didn't want to go back again," he said.
Colr. Bresland added: "Martin McGuinness, the Education Minister, said he
would make every school a safe haven. This is the latest in a series of
attacks on buses taking pupils from Strabane Grammar School.
"They had to change buses at Abercorn Square and there was more hassle then.
The only solution I can see is to change the location of the grammar
school," the DUP councillor said.
Sinn Fein Councillor, Jarlath McNulty, said: "Anybody from any side of the
community who attacks school buses has to be ostracised. We have seen what
happened to young children at Holy Cross P.S. in Belfast and we abhorred
that.
"Children should be free to come and go from school in a normal society and
attacks of this nature are ridiculous."
Robert Burke, supervisor at the Ulsterbus depot in Strabane, said a window
was cracked in one of the school buses attacked, and a window "put out" in
the other bus.
Different route
He said that instead of dropping off his passengers as normal, one of the
drivers had taken a different route to get back into the town.
Mr. Burke said bus drivers and pupils had also been subjected to verbal
abuse by members of the large crowd milling about after the match.
"There is a group that goes round and I think they are more interested in
creating a bit of trouble. I don't class them as Irish supporters.
"I have been speaking to different people and they seemed to go out and
enjoy the game, have a few drinks and go on home. We have had phone calls
from genuine supporters saying they are disgusted about what happened," he
said.

Police say IRA is behind East Belfast attacks

Original post   (by nick.clarke1, added Sunday, 9 June 2002 15:09:53 UTC+1)

The Times
            June 05, 2002

            

Police say IRA is behind East Belfast attacks

            By David Lister, Ireland Correspondent

            THE Provisional IRA is orchestrating attacks in East Belfast in
order to turn the area into a flashpoint between Roman Catholics and
Protestants, security sources believe.

            As a massive security force presence prepared for retaliatory
attacks on Catholics after five Protestants were shot, one source said that
security forces had obtained video footage of leading IRA members, including
many from outside East Belfast, co-ordinating trouble in the Short Strand
district.

            "There's no doubt that the Provisional IRA has been working this
up," a senior security source said. "There's clear evidence that the
Provisional IRA has been co-ordinating what is going on and has been
bringing a mixture of weapons into the Short Strand. They want to turn the
east of the city into another North Belfast, another Ardoyne."

            John Reid, the Northern Ireland Secretary, telephoned Gerry
Adams, the Sinn Fein president, to appeal for calm yesterday. The Government
was reassessing the ceasefires of the IRA and the loyalist Ulster Volunteer
Force after Alan McQuillan, Belfast's most senior police officer, said that
the Provisionals, the UVF and the Ulster Defence Association had all been
involved in the weekend's violence.

            Security sources believe the INLA, a splinter republican group,
may also have been involved in one shooting.

            Loyalists believe the IRA wants to turn East Belfast into a
major flashpoint to consolidate Sinn Fein's electoral position in the city
ahead of next May's elections to Stormont. They say nationalists from North
Belfast have been moved to East Belfast.