Nationalist fury as pipe bomb attack man freed
By Pádraig MacDabhaid
Nationalists along the Antrim coast are irate over the acquittal at
Belfast crown court of a man who lost his right hand after a pipe
bomb went off prematurely.
Richard Hastings (28) of Channel Vista, Glenarm, was cleared of
possessing a pipe bomb with intent to endanger life on 17 December
1997.
Hastings claimed that while he was out walking his dogs on the day in
question, three men approached him in a car. He told the court that
the men threatened to shoot his wife and children if he did not take
a device and throw it at the home of his Catholic neighbour.
Hastings further asserted that he lit the device and was looking for
somewhere to throw it where it would not do any damage when it
exploded in his hand.
Judge Corinne Philpott, in passing judgement, said that ``there were
aspects of the evidence which make me suspicious as to whether or not
Hastings was a willing participant''. Nonetheless, she went on to
release him.
Nationalists, angry at the acquittal, have expressed concern about
the circumstances leading to the decision.
Hastings appeared in court five days after the blast, accused of
possessing a bomb with intent to endanger life and causing an
explosion, but was released that day on bail of less than £2,000.
It is widely known that this area is a hotbed for the UVF, whose
members often act under the cover names of the Orange Volunteers and
the Red Hand Defenders. Acting under such cover names, they have been
responsible for bomb attacks, petrol bomb attacks and intimidation of
Catholics. In Larne, known UVF and UDA members have driven through
the town and, using loud hailers, have named and threatened
Catholics.
The Glenarm attack, like so many others both in Antrim and throughout
the Six Counties, could easily have led to a tragedy on a par with
that which befell the Quinn family in Ballymoney.
``We are used to the RUC ignoring loyalist activity,'' said a local
Sinn Féin member, ``but now the courts have turned a blind eye.''
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)