Mater files used to target North Belfast Catholics?
BY CAITLIN DOHERTY
Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast, Gerry Kelly, has
called for an urgent internal investigation at Belfast's Mater
hospital into allegations that loyalist paramilitaries may have
used patient lists from the hospital's own computer to target
Catholics in the north of the city.
Ten days ago, it emerged that Catholics working in the hospital,
located in a staunchly loyalist part of North Belfast, were on a
loyalist death squad's hit list. The hospital had to be put on
alert after a threat was issued to its 1,000-strong staff,
Catholic workers in particular.
In a sinister development, it has now been claimed that loyalist
death squads have gained access to the hospital's highly
confidential medical records and are using such information to
plan their attacks. The files, from the hospital's own computers,
contain personal details of patients, such as their addresses,
medical condition and other privileged information.
Gerry Kelly says it is vital that the hospital takes immediate
internal action and carries out a full investigation into the
matter. ``If loyalists have breached the Mater's security system
then that must be investigated'', he said.
``People have a right to know if their personal security has been
compromised and whether or not the hospital can allay their
fears. While I have always supported the fine work that the Mater
does, I would nonetheless call on hospital chiefs to ensure there
is a system in place that ensures anyone accessing sensitive and
personal hospital files is identifiable at all times.
He added ``I know that there has always been a good working
relationship between Catholics and Protestants in the Mater and I
hope that continues for a long time to come. Let me be clear that
I am in no way saying that the Protestant staff are to blame.''
Catholic staff have reacted angrily to the news of the death
threats and say the hospital is not taking appropriate action.
Despite pledges from the chief executive of the hospital, some
Catholic staff say they have heard nothing about the claims or of
what is being done to ensure their safety.
``We only heard about it in the media; no one has told us about
what threats are being made and who is most at risk,'' said one
angry North Belfast resident, who works in one of the most
exposed departments.
The Chief Executive of the hospital says that special measures
have been taken to ensure the security of the hospital staff and
that special security instructions have been issued. However, a
number of workers who talked to An Phoblacht said they have not
received any special instructions.
In the past, loyalists have used the Mater Hospital to carry out
killings. In October 1976, UFF killers shot dead mother of five
and leading Sinn Féin member Máire Drumm while she received
treatment at the Mater.
In August 1993, New Lodge man Seamus Hopkins was abducted from
the hospital grounds and found battered to death on waste ground
in Sherbrook Way off the Shankill Road. In the same period, a
security man on duty at the hospital was shot and seriously
wounded as he sat in a hut at the Crumlin Road site.
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