October 2002

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2002: Stones, bricks, bottles, fireworks and other weapons rained down on nationalist homes in the Alliance Avenue area coming from the loyalist Glenbryn.

From around 5.30pm a bomb scare closed the Finaghy Road North and part of the railway line for a number of hours. The scare was later said to be a hoax.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2002: Minor stone-throwing took place in the interface areas. On Thursday night around 8pm loyalists targeted Holy Cross Chapel using paint bombs, a number of which were thrown into the grounds from Woodvale Road. There was minor stone-throwing in the Oldpark Road between nationalist and loyalist youths.

Nationalist youths continued targetting of RUC Land Rovers and British APCs as they travelled up and down the Oldpark through the nationalist Bone area.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2002: British Crown Forces raided the Provisional British ministers' office at Stormont. There were also raids in north and west Belfast, leaving the Provos very angry with their British bed-fellows.

It should be noted that the Provisionals have no problem when they send their own policemen to raid the homes of Republicans at the behest of their British masters.

It was also reported that a number of nationalist school children had been attacked in the Ormeau Road area, one boy had been attacked on Thursday and several others on Friday afternoon. All attacks were believed to be sectarian.

Nationalists walking in the Waterworks in north Belfast came under attack from loyalists in the Westland area. The latest attempt on nationalists came around 8pm on Friday when a husband and wife walking their dog were chased by a group of loyalists who came out of a house in the Westland. The loyalists broke up into two groups as they tried to make cut off the escape of the man and woman.

Both, who didn’t wish to me named, told SAOIRSE that it had been some time since they had walked through the Waterworks and they hadn't known about the recent number of loyalist attacks in the Waterworks.

The woman, who was very upset, said they wouldn't go near the Waterworks again. “It’s easy for the loyalists who know who are Catholics and who aren't. I really thought we were going to be killed, I still don’t know how we got away. A group of young nationalist youths came to our aid, only for them, and the fact someone was praying for us, we wouldn't be here now. I really believe that.”

The man added, “The loyalists were watching from one of those houses in the Westland at the end of the Green there. I couldn't say how many came out of that house, it seemed there was no end to them, we've been lucky.”

At around 11.30pm on Friday night a loud explosion was heard over the Oldpark Road area. It brought people to their doors but the origin of the explosion is not known.

At around 12.30am just into Saturday morning, a man was shot dead in east Belfast. It was believed the shooting was part of the ongoing loyalist feud. The dead man as later named as Geoffrey Gray, a member of the LVF.

The Provisionals' offices at Stormont as well as a number of houses in west Belfast were raided by the RUC/PSNI. Hundreds of documents were seized and four people were arrested.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2002: Nationalist houses in the Alliance Avenue were stoned throughout the day, causing damage to roofs. In east Belfast a man was wounded in a loyalist gun attack. The man, a 19-year-old, was said to have links with a leading loyalist. The shooting took place in Ravenscroft and was part of ongoing loyalist feud.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2002: On Sunday afternoon loyalists spilt out of a bar on the Cavehill Road after the Celtic v Rangers match and went on the rampage with nationalists living in that area.

After a time a number of cars were hijacked and burned in the loyalist Westland. Confused loyalism then attacked RUC/Brit occupation forces who moved into the area, with loyalists opening fire on the uniform of the Crown. Three RUC Land Rovers were hit.

Provisional police moved into the Alliance Avenue to carry out a policy action against nationalist youths, who were going to confront loyalists in Ardoyne Road.

On Sunday night loyalists in Cluan Place threw a number of petrol bombs into the nationalist Short Strand with Clandeboye. This attack took place around 11.30pm.

Denis Donaldson, administrator of the Provisionals' office at Stormont was charged at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates' Court on five counts of having documents containing personal details of British Crowned Forces and documents “of secret, confidential and restricted nature originating from government offices”. Also charged was Fiona Farrelly, a caterer from west Belfast who was accused of possessing an IMB laptop which had the “personal details of full-time employees of the Northern Ireland Prison Service”.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2002: There was trouble in a number of areas in north and east Belfast. At around 8pm there was a loyalist gun attack in the Castlereagh area.

Later on around 9pm another loyalist gun attack took place in Euston Street, again in the Castlereagh area. This time a loyalists was hit in the head. Both attacks were part of the loyalist feud.

On the Oldpark Road nationalist youths used paint bombs, fireworks, bottles and stones to target occupation forces patrols moving up and down the Oldpark Road.

At around 10.30pm on Monday night two nationalist men walking in Carrickhill were attacked by a number of loyalists. One of the men, named as Michael Murphy, was very badly beaten, so much so he was left unconscious. He was reported to be recovering in hospital. This attack was another in a long line of sectarian attacks carried out by loyalists.

Alexander McKinley (22) of Portallo Street was shot in Euston Street in the Woodstock Road area. He was believed to be in a critical condition in hospital. Before he was shot, a gunman fired shots at a man aged in his 30s, who was walking along through the Beersbridge Road area. He escaped unharmed. Both shootings were linked to the feud between the Ulster Defence Association and the smaller Loyalist Volunteer Force.

William Mackessy (41) from Ligoniel, north Belfast was charged at Belfast Magistrates' Court with having "documents likely to be of use to terrorists".

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002: Parents walking their children up the Ardoyne Road to Holy Cross Primary School complained that a number of loyalists targeted them and their children with foul sectarian shouts.

There was trouble throughout the day in north and east Belfast. In north Belfast loyalists stoned nationalist homes in Alliance Avenue. The worst trouble was in the Short Strand, where petrol bombs, doctored fireworks, bricks and stones were thrown into the nationalist Clandeboye Drive from the loyalist Cluan Place.

It was also believed that a number of pipe bombs were thrown under the cover of fireworks.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002: Loyalists threatened Fr Troy of Holy Cross Chapel, Ardoyne. Fr Aidan Troy has stood firm with the beleaguered parents and children of Holy Cross Primary School. Reports claimed that Fr Troy’s name has been place on a loyalist website, belonging to the LVF.

Minor stone-throwing took place in the Alliance Avenue area at different times through the day, but again the worst of the trouble was in east Belfast, with nationalists confronting loyalist mobs on the Woodstock link. Here the fighting went on for a time, the area was flooded with RUC and British occupation forces, and tension stayed high.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002: Just after 9am loyalists were once again targeting the nationalist area with fireworks. It needs to be pointed out that these fireworks are doctored in a way which changed them into bombs, many with nails taped around them. In north Belfast at Alliance Avenue nationalists went through an action replay of every other day under loyalist attack on their homes and community. The Short Strand was also attacked throughout the day.

Full-time reservists with the RUC/PSNI will remain in place until at least April 2005. The decision was announced following a meeting of the Policing Board and the Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, in Belfast.

Ciaran Kearney (31) from Commedagh Drive, west Belfast was charged at Belfast Magistrates' Court with possession of documents gathered during raids in west Belfast and the Provisionals' office at Stormont the previous week.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2002: In Alliance Avenue loyalists kept up stone-throwing at the back of the nationalist houses throughout the day. Short Strand was also facing the same as loyalists carried out constant stoning as well as using fireworks and other weapons.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2002: Republican Sinn Féin in Belfast held their monthly white-line picket on the Falls Road. Again there was an RUC presence, two Land Rovers drove up and down past the picket and at one an unmarked car with a number of men and one woman in it was spotted filming the picket with a video being operated from the front of the car and the woman operating another from the back.

It shows clearly that Republican Sinn Féin refusal to bend the knee to British oppression or Irish reformists is seen by both as a threat to the whole sell-out process.

Again through Saturday there was trouble in north and east Belfast. At Ardoyne Road at the top of Alliance Avenue nationalist youths confronted a loyalist crowd around 2pm and fighting took place for a time before RUC/British occupation forces flooded into the area. Tension was high.

In Short Strand, loyalists in Cluan Place attacked the nationalist Clandeboye area; loyalists later claimed that the RUC attacked them during the trouble.

Over the past number of days loyalists in the Westland area have posted posters on walls proclaiming that the PSNI are not welcome in their area by order of the community. Loyalists in the Westland area claimed that the RUC were heavy-handed with them on Sunday last during trouble in the Westland.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2002: News reports stated that the loyalist shot in the head on Monday night in the Castlereagh area died in hospital, the shooting being part of the loyalist feud.

Throughout the day nationalist homes in Ardoyne's Alliance Avenue were attacked by loyalists using stones, bricks, bottles and fireworks.

In Short Strand in east Belfast it was more of the same. Around 8pm a nationalist living on the front line at the Alliance Avenue had a lucky escape when up to three petrol bombs were thrown at him from the Glenbryn area as he was about to get into his car. Tension was at a high level.

Alexander McKinley, shot in the head in east Belfast on October 7 died in hospital. The shooting was linked to the loyalist feud.

Five Dublin men, believed to have links with the Provisionals were charged at the Special Court in Dublin with IRA membership.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2002: Cars were attacked and damaged by loyalist youths throwing stones into the grounds of Our Lady of Mercy school in the Ballysillan area. At least two cars were damaged. Attacks on the school have been going on for years. A number of months ago 20 cars belonging to teachers at the school were badly damaged when loyalist gunmen entered the school in two cars and wrecked them.

Nationalist areas in north and east Belfast come under attack from loyalists. In north Belfast the morning started off with the RUC/PSNI moving into Ardoyne and making a number of arrests.

Those arrested live on or near the Alliance Avenue interface. These arrests follow those of a number of nationalist youths also from nationalist Ardoyne. It has to be pointed out that any arrests made near the interface area have been made in the victims' area, not in that of the area where hostilities emanate from.

Around 5.30pm a Citybus with a number of passengers on it travelling along the Ardoyne Road towards the Alliance Avenue was part of a loyalist attempted hijacking. Passengers were shocked when a crowd of loyalists from the Glenbryn area with petrol bombs and wearing masks attempted to stop the bus.

The action of the driver who drove on without stopping saved passengers on the bus from injury or worse. The driver stopped the bus half-way down the Alliance Avenue to make sure the passengers were alright. This as with many incidents did not make the news or papers.

Trouble in north and east Belfast was sporadic throughout the day with stones, bottles and fireworks being thrown throughout the day.

In Short Strand around 10pm at least two pipe bombs thrown by loyalists went off at the back of nationalist homes in Bryson Street and the night went on in the same way.

British supremo in the Six Counties John Reid announced the suspension of the Stormont assembly and the return to direct rule by London.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2002: Nationalists on interfaces in north and east Belfast went through the day under attack from loyalists using a number of weapons from stones, bricks, bottles and fireworks. In Newington Street loyalists used a number of weapons, mostly doctored fireworks, many with nails taped around them. Pipe bombs were also thrown by loyalists, one thrown into the back of a house that has been attacked countless times. The family living there have refused to be driven out by sectarian loyalism. Short Strand and Alliance Avenue were also victims of the ongoing sectarian loyalism.

Tension stayed high in all these areas as British/RUC occupation forces flooded into all the areas, always facing down nationalists.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002: At 8.30am 14-year-old Emma Connolly from Newington Avenue was walking along the Limestone Road to school when she said a loyalist boy started to call her names. When she walked out of a corner shop he threw a brick at her which hit her on the head. Emma had to be treated in hospital for injuries to her head and shock.

A pipe bomb which was thrown during loyalist attacks on the Newington area of north Belfast on Tuesday night and didn't go off was found at a house in Newington Street.

In Alliance Avenue around dinner time loyalists once again started off yet more attacks on the nationalist homes on the interface; doctored fireworks were used and fell close to the nationalist homes. There were no reported injuries.

In east Belfast at Short Strand the nationalist community there were again under loyalist attack.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2002: Concern is growing within the nationalist community that reports of an end to the loyalist feud will mean a stepping up of attacks on nationalists as has been the case in the past. In north and east Belfast the nationalist community again came under attack, these attacks were sporadic throughout the day.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2002: Friday saw another day of stoning in interface areas; Newington at the Limestone Road, Alliance Avenue at Ardoyne and the Short Strand in east Belfast. In all these areas the attacks started off with stones, then bottles and has always is the case doctored fireworks, many it is claimed with nails taped around them, in fact nail-bombs, hardly fireworks.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2002: Just into Saturday morning a number of nationalist youths standing at Harcourt Street had a lucky escape when a grey car pulled up and a number of shots were fired. Locals claimed that the gunmen were loyalists. The car drove off at speed. This attack took place close to the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast.

Through the say loyalists again attacked nationalist homes on interface areas. Again north and east Belfast were targeted.

On Saturday night the home of John Brown, his girlfriend and baby was attacked by loyalist gunmen. A number of bullets were fired, one went through a downstairs window. This attack took place in Manor Street off the Cliftonville Road and only a street from the earlier gun attack.

A coffee-jar nail bomb thrown into the grounds of Castlederg police barracks, County Tyrone was made safe by British army experts.

The second Nice referendum was passed in the 26 Counties, 62.89% to 37.11% with an increased turn-out from the 2001 referendum. The 'No' vote increased slightly.

Provisional dissident prisoners in Portlaoise jail called for their leadership on the outside to stand down.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2002: At around 12 noon groups of nationalist youngsters confronted loyalists at Ardoyne Road, stoning took place for a time before it subsided and a number of RUC Land Rovers moved into the area.

At around 1pm the wailing of a siren in the loyalist Glenbryn area told of yet more attacks on nationalists in this interface area. As crowds of nationalists took to the streets the loyalists were once again confronted at the Ardoyne Road by nationalists and fighting took place. The loyalists also attacked nationalist homes at the Alliance Avenue. The same was the case in other parts of north and east Belfast, around Limestone Road and in the Short Strand.

SAT./SUN. OCTOBER 19-20: Republican Sinn Féin held its 98th Ard-Fheis in Dublin.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2002: There were a number of bomb scares around Belfast, particularly in the city centre. At one stage a bus was stopped on the Falls Road and a package placed on board by two men, once armed, it was claimed. The driver was then ordered to drive the bus to the city centre. There were a number of scares throughout the day, all turned out to be hoaxes.

In other parts of Belfast the scene was set for yet another day of loyalist stoning of nationalist houses. Again these attacks took place in north and east Belfast.
Fireworks and other weapons were used and these attacks went on into the night.

British army experts examined a suspicious object at found William Street, Lurgan in County Armagh. The area was cordoned off, but the object was later declared a hoax.

It was reported that the forthcoming census results in the Six Occupied Counties will see a dramatic increase in the nationalist population which may be as high as 45% of the population, an increase from 38.4% in the census of 1991.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2002: The very bad weather seemed for the most part to keep the loyalists off the streets with only minor trouble, mostly stone-throwing, which took place in north and east Belfast.

It was reported that a large arms find had been made in the loyalist Rathcoole estate, over ten guns, of which half were machine guns. Also found were a number of bombs, pipe bombs and a keyhole bomb which can be fixed to a door using the keyhole; also there were countless bullets, mainly British army issue. This has gone unquestioned. The Rathcoole estate is run by the UDA/UFF.

Loyalist bombers in east Belfast injured two boys in Short Strand when they threw a bomb over the so-called peace-line. The boys were with a group of other boys when the bomb went off and there is little doubt that all the boys had a very lucky escape.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2002: Work stated to rise the so-called peace-line at the Alliance Avenue. People living in the frontline here don't believe making the "peace-line" higher will afford them any more protection than what they already have, ie none.

Workmen moved in and started work but its still not known how high the timber will go. Again through the day there was stone-throwing. Fireworks were also used.

The publication of the report into the murder of Belfast attorney Pat Finucane has been delayed for a second time. Pat Finucane, a high-profile nationalist solicitor, was shot dead by the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association in front of his family at his home in 1989. London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said he hoped the report would be finalised and delivered before the spring of next year.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2002: Loyalist stone-throwers carried out a number of attacks which went on through the day.

As well as the usual stones and bricks and bottles, doctored fireworks were again used as nationalist areas in north and east Belfast fell victim to the loyalist attacks.

Loyalist bombers threw a pipe bomb at the back of a nationalist house in the Alliance Avenue, already showing that there is no protection from the loyalist bombers even with the so-called peace-line made higher.

The British government appointed Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy British supremo in the Six Occupied Counties after a cabinet reshuffle prompted by the resignation of the British education secretary. He served in Belfast before, as Minister of State between 1997 and 1999.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2002: In a well-planned operation Republican Volunteers made a strike in the heart of Belfast city centre for the first time in a number of years.

On Friday morning a van bomb was placed at Windsor House which houses a number of offices as well as that of the Parades Commission, a body set up by the British government of occupation. A number of warnings were phoned in to TV and radio news rooms.

The caller who was said to be from the Continuity IRA said that a bomb had been placed in a van in Frankin Street at Windsor House. A number of armed Volunteers hijacked a van in Carrigart Avenue in the Lenadoon area of west Belfast at around 9am. The centre of Belfast was in total chaos for a number hours.
Occupation forces set up road blocks in a ring around Belfast but the Volunteers had already withdrawn safe from the area.

Only part of the bomb went off as a British army robot was being made ready to move in. This brought to four the operations which have been carried out by Republicans in recent months in Belfast in which van bombs have been used. Military actions carried out against British occupation and interests in the Six Occupied Counties, actions which clearly show resistance to British occupation is very much alive. As Republicans true to the ideals of the Republic would say “Continuity not compromise”.

Throughout Friday there were a number of bomb scares around Belfast. All turned out to be hoaxes.

Trouble again broke out in north and east Belfast. In Alliance Avenue the nationalist houses on the frontline were attacked with stones and fireworks.

In east Belfast throughout the day loyalists carried out a number of attacks. They later claimed a nationalist gunman fired six shots from the Short Strand, claims questioned by nationalists.

A van containing a bomb was abandoned in Franklin Street in Belfast city centre partially exploded. A warning was phoned into several newsrooms by callers claiming to represent the Continuity IRA.

Three guns and a quantity of ammunition was found by British Crown Forces after a loyalist death squad show of strength in Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2002: For the most part more of the same for nationalists living on the frontlines in Belfast as groups of loyalists stoned nationalist houses once again.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2002: Around 2.15pm nationalist youths confronted loyalists at Ardoyne Road, some fighting took place but subsided after a time.
British army/RUC occupation forces moved into the area with a number of Land Rovers set on Ardoyne Road and the Alliance Avenue. There was more trouble in east Belfast at Short Strand as loyalists attacked the area.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2002: In the small hours of Monday there was an attempt to burn down St Patrick's Catholic School in Lisburn. A car was used to break though the school gates and was then used to ram the building before it was set on fire. The school has suffered a number of sectarian attacks.

There was trouble in north and east Belfast, for the most part only stone-throwing. Fireworks were also used.

A Mark 16 mortar bomb was found by British Crown Forces at a house at Tyrconnell Street in the Bogside area of Derry city. During a seven-hour operation in the area the British Forces came under attack from stones and petrol bombs at Westland Street.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2002: At around 3.15pm up to ten RUC Land Rovers moved into the Ardoyne, police in riot gear jumped from the vehicles and carried out a search of the area around the Havana Streets close to the Shamrock Club.

This went on for some time before the RUC pulled out of the area, nothing w as found in the search. Again there w as stone-throwing at interface areas on a low level.

There were also a number of bomb scares around Belfast city centre throughout the day, all hoaxes.

Tuesday night saw more trouble in north and east Belfast, with the worst of this in east Belfast at Short Strand. Nationalists living in Clandeboye Gardens came under attack from loyalists in Cluan Place. Stones, bottles, fireworks and blast bombs were used, these being thrown over the so-called peace-line.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2002: There was minor stone-throwing in north and east Belfast, fireworks were also used. This went on from early afternoon into the night. During the day there were a number of bomb hoaxes around Belfast city centre.

On Wednesday night eight men believed to be members of the UVF were lifted by the RUC/PSNI on Craigatlet Hills, just outside Belfast. The British police also claimed to have uncovered a number of weapons, including a handgun and a shotgun.

British Crown Forces came under attack while examining a suspect device at a hostel in Naylor's Row in Derry city. A crowd threw stones, fireworks and other missiles.

Anthony Thomas Friel (43) from Elmwood Terrace, Derry was charged before Limavady Magistrates' Court with the unlawful possession of a Mark 16 mortar, launch tube and firing pack and of possessing the devices with intent to endanger life.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2002: Halloween saw stone-throwing from the loyalist Glenbryn area. Again this was minor. Fireworks were also used against the nationalist houses in Alliance Avenue. There was trouble in wast Belfast as nationalists there went through an action replay of recent days.

Loyalist mouth-piece for the UDA/UFF Davy Mahood was knee-capped by his cohorts in the UDA in the loyalist Ballysillan area of north Belfast. Davy Mahood claimed on September 12 last that Republicans tried to shoot him as he drove along Oldpark Road.

Republican Sinn Féin in north Belfast were the only people to rule out any Republican link, and claimed it was part of a loyalist feud. The UDA in a statement claimed they had shot Mahood and stated that he would have been shot dead if it hadn’t been for the good work he has done for a number of years with the loyalist community.

Four men — Seán Kind (42), Walter Nagle (24), Michael Nugent (27) and Kieran Kiely (26), all from Cork —were found guilty of possessing firearms at the Special Court in Dublin and jailed for between four and six years. They are believed to be associated with the Provisionals.

OCTOBER, 2002