Simon Harris reiterates support for Omagh public inquiry in meeting with Benn
By Gráinne Ní Aodha and Cillian Sherlock, PA, Irish News, February 26, 2025
The Tánaiste met with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Dublin on Wednesday evening
Tánaiste Simon Harris has reiterated his Government’s commitment to support the Omagh Bombing Inquiry during a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Dublin.
The meeting, their first to be held in person, featured discussions on political stability in the north and the UK Government’s controversial Legacy Act.
Mr Harris said their conversation was “warm and constructive”.
The Tánaiste said: “We welcomed the ongoing political stability in Northern Ireland and agreed on the need for Northern Ireland’s devolved institutions to ensure that they deliver for the people of this island.”
He added: “A priority for both governments in the period ahead is removing the influence of paramilitaries on society in Northern Ireland.
“We discussed the report of the Independent Reporting Commission, and our joint announcement that we will proceed with the appointment of an independent expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment.
“We stressed our common understanding that there is no predetermined outcome to this work, that the process is in no way about providing funding to paramilitary groups, and that policing and criminal justice efforts to tackle paramilitary and organised crime of course need to be maintained in full.”
Committed to playing ‘full part in legacy processes’
The Tánaiste said there had been a “substantive and forward‑looking exchange” on legacy issues.
He said: “I reiterated the Government’s commitment to play our full part in legacy processes, including facilitating and supporting the Omagh Inquiry, and updated the Secretary of State on our engagement with the inquiry to date.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Irish Justice Minister said he had “concerns” about establishing a separate inquiry into the Omagh bombing in the Republic of Ireland.
However, Jim O’Callaghan said the Dublin Government would co-operate with the UK inquiry.
“What happened in Omagh was horrific,” he said. “My department is co-operating with the Omagh Inquiry. We’re finalising a memorandum of understanding in respect of ensuring that any relevant evidence that we have in the South is provided to the inquiry.
“I have concerns about establishing a separate inquiry down here. There’s one inquiry which has been conducted at present, the Irish Government is going to co-operate with it, we are co-operating with it. I think that’s where all our focus should be
Hardline republicans to hold more protests at PSNI-Community meetings
Connla Young, Irish News, February 27th, 2025
Details of a planned protest in Co Armagh today have emerged after two meetings linked to the PSNI were disrupted in Belfast this week.
On Monday members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32 CSM) and Saoradh disrupted a Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) meeting at St Comgall’s in west Belfast.
The following day members of Saoradh, some wearing masks, also disrupted a similar PCSP gathering at Girdwood Hub in north Belfast. It is understood the 32 CSM was not involved in Tuesday’s protest. The disruptions have been widely condemned.
PCSPs, which include elected representatives and members of the public, hold regular meetings about local policing and community safety issues.
It is understood Saoradh is now planning to hold a similar protest at an Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon PCSP meeting in Craigavon today.
A message posted by the partnership on social media confirms “local police will be in attendance” for the “community engagement meeting”, which will take place at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre.
A protest was held at a similar “community engagement” event in the Kilwilkee area of Lurgan earlier this month.
After Tuesday’s protest Saoradh said: “To re-iterate again, the PSNI is an occupying police force that is controlled by MI5. Rejecting this sectarian militia and their policy of normalisation must be the only course of action for all republicans.”
Understood the 32 CSM also plans to stage more protests.
In a statement about Monday’s protest, it said the PSNI was “complicit in collusion” and continued to refuse truth to the families of loved ones “murdered by the state”.
Policing Board Vice Chair Brendan Mullan condemned the protests.
“Everyone has the right to protest but they do not have the right to disrupt meetings by ‘shouting others down’ and denying their right to participate in public meetings,” he said.
Both west Belfast and north Belfast PCSPs are chaired by Sinn Féin elected representatives.
The party’s north Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín slammed the protests.
“It’s disgraceful that protestors, mostly masked, entered this meeting in a cynical attempt to intimidate local residents. While we uphold the right to protest, that right is not absolute.
“It does not embrace masked protestors with the clear intent on disrupting a community forum designed to hold police to account.”
Police say they are investigating both incidents and are reviewing video evidence.
‘Seven racist and sectarian incidents in North every day’
Connla Young, Irish News, February 27th, 2025
FIGURES released by a paramilitary monitoring group reveal there are seven sectarian and racist incidents in the north every day.
A report by the Independent Reporting Commission, published this week, reveal reports of racist incidents are up, while those for sectarianism are down.
Figures show the number of racists incidents recorded in 2023/24 stood at 1,353 – an average of almost four a day.
This was up by 132 on the previous 12 months, during which 1,221 incidents were recorded.
The number of racist crimes recorded in 2023/24 was 839, which was a decrease of 41 from 880 the previous year.
The report points out that the figures for 2023/24 cover the period from April 2023 to March 2024 and do not include “the period of unrest during the summer months in 2024”.
Troubles erupted after far right protesters went on a rampage around downtown Belfast last August during which property was torched and cars set alight.
Over the July period, a series of race-hate attacks were carried out by an LVF-linked gang in Antrim.
It was reported that up to eight families, originally from Africa, were forced to flee the Ballycraigy estate as a result of the attacks.
Fresh racist graffiti and anti-immigration signage appeared in the town the following month.
Racist graffiti and signage also appeared in parts of Belfast and Tyrone during the summer months.
It is thought figures relating to racist incidents will be further impacted when the events of last summer are added to official statistics.
While the number of sectarian incidents for 2023/24 is down by 147 on the previous year, 1,091 were recorded – an average of almost three a day.
Police say that during the same period 730 sectarian crimes were recorded, an average of two a day.
That figure was down 191 on the previous 12 months.
Link between Paramilitarism and incidents
Alliance Executive Office spokeswoman and south Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw said there had been advances in some locations over the last decade.
“What we have also seen over the past decade is a persistent spate of sectarian attacks, with two sectarian crimes recorded daily, and an alarming rise in racist attacks,” she said.
“It is also distressing to see in the IRC report that an average of seven racist or sectarian incidents are reported every day in Northern Ireland.”
Ms Bradshaw said there was a link between a “failure to end paramilitarism” and the “failure to address sectarianism and racism to the degree we would have anticipated 27 years ago at the time of the Good Friday Agreement”.
“Still we see no evident progress from the Executive Office on meaningful, concrete action to reform its good relations approach, put in place a refugee integration strategy, nor even to update the hopelessly outdated race relations order,” she said.
“The fact is we should be a decade or more beyond the existence of paramilitaries, we should be tackling racism head-on, and sectarian attacks should be a thing of the past, Ms Bradshaw said.
The Executive Office was contacted.
Calls for police probe into ‘Bic’ McFarlane tribute at Celtic game
Adrian Rutherford, Belfast Telegraph, February 27th, 2025
Scottish police have been urged to investigate after a banner honouring an IRA bomber was unfurled during a Celtic match.
Club fan group the Green Brigade held up the tribute to Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane at Tuesday night's game against Aberdeen, which the home side won 5-1.
McFarlane, who died last week, was sentenced to life for his role in the 1975 Bayardo Bar bombing which killed five people. He was also part of the Maze Prison breakout in 1983.
The tribute read: “They said he was a rebel then, he's a hero now.”
Former Sinn Fein MP Elisha McCallion shared the image on her social media feed, adding: “This is why I love @CelticFC. It was my privilege to have known you Bik. Rest in peace my friend.”
However, the banner drew anger after photos surfaced online. One post branded it “sick, grotesque and deeply warped”.
DUP MLA Phillip Brett said he had written to Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson, copying in the Scottish Football Association and Uefa, insisting the club can't turn a blind eye to what happened.
He said: “That anyone with any sense of morality would seek to define such an individual as a hero is beyond comprehension, but given the display at their stadium, it is incumbent on Celtic Football Club to take immediate action.
“Those responsible for this disgraceful display must be identified, and Police Scotland should investigate the matter under the Terrorism Act 2006.
“The steps they take now will be a clear indication of how seriously they treat the hurt and offence caused to innocent victims of terror.
“I have written to Celtic Football Club to express my revulsion, and the revulsion of the wider community of the Shankill, at this display and to demand that firm action be taken.
“There can be no place in football, or in society, for the glorification of terrorism.
“We await evidence that Celtic Football Club will act decisively.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "No complaints have been received at this time.”
DUP MP Gregory Campbell has tabled a motion in Parliament about the banner and a Scottish academic who shared the image online.
Mr Campbell said the banner had “caused great hurt and offence”.
Disrespects victims
“This was an abhorrent act that disrespects the memory of his innocent victims and causes deep hurt to those who suffered at the hands of terrorism,” he said.
Celtic FC and the SPFL were contacted for comment.
The row came hours after McFarlane's funeral in Belfast, which was attended by senior republicans including former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, North Belfast MP John Finucane and North Belfast MLA Caral Ni Chuilin. Mr Adams was among those who acted as pallbearers as the tricolour-draped coffin was carried along the Cliftonville Road before being transported by hearse to Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast.
McFarlane, originally from the Ardoyne in north Belfast, died on Friday at the age of 74 after a short illness.
Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly delivered the graveside oration.
McFarlane was sent to the Maze after being convicted of the bomb attack.
The victims were civilians Linda Boyle (19), Joanne McDowell (29), Samuel Gunning (55) and William Gracey (63), and UVF member Hugh Harris (21). Sixty others were injured.
McFarlane became the officer in command of the H-Block prisoners during the 1981 hunger strike.
In 1983 he was among 38 IRA inmates who escaped from the high-security prison. They used smuggled guns and knives to overpower warders before hijacking a food lorry and driving to the main gate. One prison officer died of a heart attack after being stabbed and six other officers were stabbed or shot during the breakout.
McFarlane was recaptured with Mr Kelly in the Netherlands.
Mr Kelly said McFarlane went on to “throw himself into local politics and community work” following his release from jail in 1997.
Government in breach of human rights, court told
Alan Erwin, Irish News, February 27th, 2025
THE UK government has unlawfully failed to order a public inquiry to establish the full extent in which a murderous IRA interrogation gang was penetrated by state agents, it was claimed in the High Court.
Counsel for the family of a Belfast woman abducted and killed more than 30 years ago argued a major report has established that infiltration of the Internal Security Unit (ISU) went well beyond the top army spy codenamed Stakeknife.
Caroline Moreland, a 34-year-old Catholic mother of three, was shot dead by the IRA in July 1994 on suspicion of being a British informer.
Her murder formed part of the £40m Operation Kenova investigation centred on the criminal activities of Stakeknife, widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci.
Scappaticci, an IRA executioner and undercover agent, died in 2023.
In an interim report published last March, the Operation Kenova investigation team then led by current PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher found that Stakeknife probably cost more lives than he saved while operating at the heart of the republican movement.
At the time the government acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but declined to comment on the substance until the conclusion of all related litigation.
Ms Moreland’s family have now launched a legal challenge, alleging the Secretary of State has declined to hold a public inquiry into the ISU – the IRA’s so-called ‘nutting squad’.
Issues wider than Stakeknife
In court yesterday, Hugh Southey KC, representing her son Marc Moreland, claimed the refusal to set up a statutory tribunal at this stage breached Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
He contended that the interim Operation Kenova report highlighted a failure to regulate agents and raised questions about the potential failure to take action to “dismantle” the ISU.
“The issues are potentially wider than just Stakeknife,” Mr Southey insisted.
“There is an ongoing breach of Article 2 which arises because of the failure to hold a thematic investigation with the family’s involvement.”
Counsel for the secretary of state responded that the challenge was unsustainable because no decision has been taken at this stage.
Judgment was reserved in the application for leave to seek a judicial review.
IRA victim ‘recruited as informer after threats by security services’
Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent, Irish News, February 27th, 2027
A WEST Belfast man killed by the IRA was told his father would be shot by loyalists and his siblings taken into care to force him to become an informer, his family has been told.
Joseph Mulhern was abducted and killed by the IRA in 1993 and it was later claimed he was an informer.
His family has now revealed they were told by an investigation set up to examine the activities of the British agent known as Stakeknife that Mr Mulhern became an agent after being told his father would be shot by loyalists or jailed and that his siblings taken into care.
Mr Mulhern’s father Frank later said he was given an account of his son’s death by senior IRA man Freddie Scappaticci, who also worked for the British army’s Force Research Unit.
In 2016 Operation Kenova was set up to investigate the activities of the notorious agent who was known by the codename Stakeknife.
He was a former commander of the IRA’s Internal Security Unit (ISU), which hunted down and killed informers and agents.
In a new book, best-selling author Martin Dillon has suggested that Stakeknife is a “British intelligence project” rather than a single individual, although this is disputed by Operation Kenova.
In March last year, Operation Kenova published a detailed interim report with a final document yet to be completed.
It emerged last year that hundreds of pages of information were suppressed by MI5 before the interim document was made public.
Mr Mulhern has now revealed that his family has been told his brother was put under pressure to work for the state.
“Kenova can neither confirm nor deny that Joseph was an informer,” he said.
“But we have been led to believe that there had been threats by the security services which may have forced him to become one.
“The inquiry itself has verbally confirmed to me that such threats existed, either in the form of the security forces using loyalist proxies to have our father shot or using the legal system to have our father sent to prison and so the children taken into care as our mother had died a few years before.”
Critical of state forces
Mr Mulhern is critical of state forces, who he believes backed his brother “into a corner” due to the threats.
“The IRA may have pulled the trigger – but the security forces manufactured the circumstances that led to the gun being loaded in the first place,” he said.
Mr Mulhern said revelations that MI5 withheld information from Operation Kenova have dented his confidence.
“The truth is we’ll never know if these inquiries have the whole truth – the constant feed of ‘accidentally misplaced’ evidence means the final conclusion of the inquiry can never really be trusted if there’s a reasonable chance it’s based on insufficient information,” he said.
“The inquiry will only have been given the information the security services wants it to have.”
Mr Mulhern, who is a qualified solicitor, said: “I can’t fault the inquiry staff I’ve dealt with. But in terms of the government, it feels like inquiries are a good way to kick the issue into the long grass.
“They make it look like you’re doing something while leaving the victims and their relatives waiting years for answers.”
Mr Mulhern also raised his “disappointment” at delays in producing the final Kenova report.
He added the death of his brother had a huge impact on his father, and was critical the slow pace of progress within the legal system.
“Dad took the government and PSNI to court years ago, but since his own death in 2023 it feels like nothing has happened as those proceedings have been in a closed system ever since, with ‘independent counsel’ deciding what will happen,” he said.
“For the last 30 years of his life our father had to live with the stigma surrounding Joseph’s death and the belief that he had somehow failed to protect his own son.”
Mr Mulhern said he has been ignored by the British political establishment, including Secretary of State Hilary Benn.
Frank Mulhern said his brother’s murder had a huge impact on their father who ‘had to live with the stigma surrounding Joseph’s death and the belief that he had somehow failed to protect his own son’
“He finally responded after several chasers,’ Mr Mulhern said.
“And fobbed me off to the Northern Ireland Office.
‘Over 600 legacy claims’
“In turn, they said they couldn’t comment and referenced the fact that the legal system in the province is wrestling with over 600 legacy claims.”
Last week, Operation Kenova confirmed that Stakeknife was not involved in the murder of IRA informer Caroline Moreland more than 30 years ago.
In his new book, Mr Dillon claims the mother-of-three was having an affair with a senior republican who was also working for British intelligence at the time of her death.
Mr Mulhern’s solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, said he shares his client’s “frustration”.
“It’s misleading to think of Kenova as book-ending any investigation of state collusion and ISU.
“It’s a launch pad for an inquiry into much wider allegations starting with a judicial review challenge [launched yesterday].
“The case of Caroline Moreland is expected to look at systemic issues beyond her murder in 1994.”
Operation Kenova did not comment.
A spokesman for the NIO said: “The government has enormous sympathy for all of those killed and injured as a result of the Troubles, and the many families who have lost loved ones.
“We will consider the Operation Kenova report when it is published in full.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further given ongoing civil proceedings.”
