Vindictive RUC raids in Derry
The RUC carried out a series of house raids, described as
``vindictive'' by local Sinn Fein councillor Peter Anderson, in the
nationalist Brandywell area in Derry on Thursday 10 September.
The raids are believed to stem from an incident during the 8
August Apprentice Boys march, when an RUC man fired a number of
live shots in the air after he was assaulted by a number of
youths.
derson was contacted on the Thursday morning and told of the
raids. The councillor also claims that following the raid the RUC
left a copy of their search warrant that stated the operation was
designed to retrieve an RUC man's hat. According to Anderson, ``in
a vindictive twist the RUC then informed the Housing Executive
that the house was unoccupied, despite knowing that a family
lived there''.
The Housing Executive attempted to board up the house and were
only halted when concerned neighbours intervened.
derson claims that as the elected representative for the
Brandywell area he approached the RUC as they attempted to smash
their way into a house whose owners were not present. He was then
thrown from the house and told it was nothing to do with him.
derson said, ``during the raids the RUC destroyed property
whilst physically and verbally assaulting other residents who
tried to intervene.
``The violence and intimidation of nationalists during these house
raids by the RUC is in direct contrast to the RUC's response to
the ongoing loyalist violence in Portadown that has left
nationalists on the Garvaghy Road under siege for the past two
months.
``What nationalists in Derry witnessed this morning is the actions
of a force which clearly relishes the opportunity to inflict as
much damage as possible. Rather than deliver an impartial system
of justice as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement the RUC has
once again demonstrated exactly why we require the creation of a
new policing service. I hope Chris Patten takes note of what
happened in Derry.''
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