PSNI raids condemned

A leading Derry community worker has criticised a PSNI search at the home of his grandchildren, describing it as “disgraceful.”

Youth worker Charles ‘Nucker’ Tierney hit out after a PSNI squad searched a house in the Creggan where two of his grandchildren live.

The PSNI arrived at the house, the home of a former partner of leading Derry republican, Gary Donnelly, at around 10.45am to search the property. No one was at home at the time as the householder was in Dublin visiting a relative who was ill.

The PSNI used a battering ram to break through the locked front door before officers in white forensic suits searched the property.

Mr Tierney said when he arrived at the house he was refused entry by the police.

“I got a phone call about the search and I knew no-one was in so I tried to get into the house to see what they were doing and they refused to let me in. After a local councillor intervened they let my son in to watch the search,” he said.

Mr Tierney also said police officers would not let him stand in the garden of the house.

“They smashed the front door in with a crowbar and they threatened, in front of witnesses, to throw me out of the garden. I was told if I did not get out of the garden they would drag me out. I think that is disgraceful behaviour,” he said.

SDLP councillor Jim Clifford and Sinn Fein Councillor Kevin Campbell were at the scene during the searches.

A second search operation was also carried out in Sackville Court where a car belonging to Gary Donnelly was searched.

A spokesperson for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement condemned the raids.

“This is another example of a British police force punishing the families of republican activists. Actions like this nail the lie that we have a civic police force protecting the community,” the spokesperson said.

GARDA BULLIES

Meanwhile, the 32csm in Cavan have condemned the actions of the Gardai police last week when threatened to arrest a youth for handing out republican literature.

The Gardai visited the school which the youth attended in County Cavan and requested to see the head principle and the student in question.

The student was then subjected to a lengthy interrogation over his interest in politics.

The father of the young boy has lodged a complaint with the Education minister and the Dublin government into what was a blatant attempt to intimidate his son.

Urgent Appeal