Republican News · Thursday 27 June 2002

Shots fired by RUC/PSNI in Derry

The RUC/PSNI fired shots during an incident at Nailors Row close to the Fountain Estate in Derry last Wednesday, 19 June.

RUC/PSNI snatch squad, which was undercover at nearby Long Tower Court, attempted to arrest nationalists who were chasing loyalists into the Fountain estate when the two shots were fired.

According to Sinn Féin Assembly member Mitchel McLaughlin, the incident arose after a number of men made their way from The Fountain to Columb's Wells in the Bogside, where they taunted young people with sectarian abuse. These young people in turn chased the men and it was during this chase that the undercover RUC/PSNI intervened.

McLaughlin, who had just the day before announced that Sinn Féin was undertaking a number of initiatives to prevent trouble in the Fountain area, said this latest incident was different from previous ones because of the role played by the RUC/PSNI. He accused them of "instigating or colluding in the instigation of Thursday's violence".

"The behaviour of the RUC/PSNI was anything but responsible and there are questions to be answered," said McLaughlin.

Other witnesses told An Phoblacht that there was no trouble at the Fountain until the men, who were either loyalists or plain clothed RUC/PSNI, provoked it.

The incident comes after a period of ongoing loyalist violence and the revelation that the commander of the UDA's Derry and North Antrim Brigade has been seen in the Fountain along with other known UDA members last weekend.

This man has been responsible for masterminding the UDA's pipe bomb campaign in County Derry and North Antrim in the last two years.

Alexandra House, a residence for the elderly, was attacked with stones by loyalists on Friday 21 June. On Sunday 23 June two UDA pipe bombs were found by a man walking his dog on the Abercorn Road. It is believed the bombs were thrown from the Fountain at nationalist targets.

The previous weekend had seen an upsurge of loyalist violence in and around the Fountain. A Catholic family escaped serious injury after a UDA pipe bomb exploded in their home at Harding Street, blowing a hole in the toilet roof. Nationalist homes and vehicles were also stoned and in one attack, passengers on an Ulsterbus were terrorised by a gang of loyalists who tried to board the vehicle.

On Sunday 16 June, a member of the Pat Finucane Centre who was stewarding the Fountain area after the Irish world cup match was set upon by a group of loyalists. Also on Sunday, a young Catholic woman had to flee her Pump Street home after all the windows were smashed by loyalists wearing Rangers scarfs and balaclavas. She made 12 phone calls to the RUC/PSNI, only to be told she would have to go and alert the RUC/PSNI in person.

Meanwhile, as part of the party's initiative to stop the trouble at the Fountain, Sinn Féin says that young people from within the nationalist community are involved in some of the violence and has called on all those involved to desist immediately.

"We have to accept that this is a problem that to a certain degree lies in our own community and we must take steps to deal with it," said Mitchel McLaughlin. "We hope we can persuade the young people to see that the activity they are engaged in helps no one but the RUC/PSNI, who are only too glad to avail of the opportunity to attack young nationalists."

The Sinn Féin Assembly member also called on the DUP to stop playing party politics with the Fountain estate issue, as it is too important.