Ardoyne raided while death squads roam
By Mick Naughton.
At a time when senior RUC members are busy `reassuring'
the nationalist community that they are doing their
best to protect them, the story on the ground is
different.
On Tuesday 20 January, against a background of loyalist
killers stalking the streets, the crown forces raided
nationalist homes in Ardoyne.
The home of a Sinn Fein activist murdered by the UDA
was raided and 16 year old Daniel arrested (for
security reasons the families do not want surnames
released).
Two other homes were raided at the same time and 17
year old Aidan was taken away. Another 16 year old,
Brendan, was also raided although the youth was not
home, having left for work earlier. His mother told An
Phoblacht how shocked she and her family were after
their ordeal.
``I first thought the RUC had apprehended loyalists in
the street, but was totally shocked when they ran down
the path and battered down the door. They put me and my
family under `room arrest' refusing my request to see
what they were searching through upstairs. They were up
there for over 15 minutes and could have placed
anything, a bug, camera or anything. It left us feeling
our home was violated by these thugs. Once they
realised Brendan had left for work they seemed intent
on making the rest of us suffer for them not getting
him. They left saying Brendan would be continually
harassed until I agreed to work for them as an
informer. It's despicable what they are getting away
with.''
The RUC accused all three youths of riotous behaviour
at a Sinn Fein youth protest for the release of
prisoners in Ardoyne last November 20.
Local councillor Mick Conlon advised them to pursue a
rigorous defence. ``This stinks and is an RUC attempt to
deter young people. It really says it all that when a
sustained murder campaign is being waged against
nationalists, especially given the callous slaying last
weekend in Ardoyne of Liam Conway, the RUC are pursuing
Catholic teenagers over spurious charges.''
Brendan, accompanied by his solicitor, surrendered
himself two days later. Before this the RUC told some
of Brendan's friends, ``we'll get that other bastard and
if we don't, the LVF will''.
The only evidence against the youths so far is
statements from three notorious RUC members from
Oldpark RUC barracks.
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