Irish Republican News · November 2, 2004

PSNI harassment follows mother’s death

The PSNI police has been criticised for raiding the home of a north Belfast family as it was grieving the loss of their mother to cancer.

The McNally family had just lost their mother when the PSNI entered the house and claimed that it was the scene of a crime. They proceeded to question one of Mrs McNally’s sons for twenty minutes in the back of a jeep about the mothers background.

Sinn Fein described the incident as “unbelievable”.

Speaking today, local councillor, Caral Ni Chuilin, said: wWhat the PSNI did was “unbelievable” and “completely inexcusable”.

“This is a family who will be suffering enough at this time of loss and to have the PSNI enter the family home armed with automatic rifles is surely not a practice that would happen anywhere else.

“I will be advising the McNally family to contact the office of the Police Ombudsman and their solicitors. This cannot be allowed to happen again to any other family. It also raises serious question on what is the practice and procedure of the PSNI in a so-called new beginning for policing.”

DISSIDENTS ATTACK BELFAST MAN

Meanwhile, Republican hardliners were believed to be behind a gun attack last night on a west Belfast home.

Shots were fired at the home of John Devine, in Waterford Street, off the Falls Road.

Last week the 40-year-old was abducted, and had been given 24 hours to leave the country after he was beaten, tortured and abandoned across the border in County Monaghan

A caller claiming to be from the breakaway Continuity IRA said it was responsible for the incident.

Following the abduction Mr Devine, who lives alone, insisted he would not leave his home and his three sons but he has not returned to the house to date.

The 40-year-old said the masked gang had accused him of being an informer -- a charge he has denied.

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