PSNI raids continue while loyalist attacks go uninvestigated

The home of a sister-in-law of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been subjected to a violent raid by the PSNI police, according to reports.

In a midnight raid, armed riot police dressed in balaclavas kicked in the doors in of her Whiterock home.

Commenting after the PSNI raid in the Whiterock area last night, local SF Assembly member and Policing Board member Pat Sheehan said the manner in which the raid was conducted had led to a serious undermining of local confidence in the PSNI.

“Masked and heavily armed officers entered the home of a woman, who is recovering from hospital treatment, while she was having tea with her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend,” he said.

“The PSNI entered the house screaming and pointed their rifles at the three people, forcing them to put their hands in the air and using riot shields as they were forced from their home.

“I will be raising this issue at the Policing Board and with local police commanders. I will also be encouraging the family to immediately take the case to the Police Ombudsman. It is a disgrace that this family have had to undergo such a terrifying ordeal.”

FRUSTRATION

Meanwhile, the family of a Derry man left for dead in a loyalist sectarian attack seven years ago have said their “patience and goodwill” with the PSNI “has been stretched to the limit”.

Paul McCauley was attacked by a loyalist mob during a barbecue with friends in the Waterside on July 16 2006. He suffered severe head injuries in the unprovoked attack and now requires round-the-clock care.

The Independent Monitoring Commission has said the paramilitary UDA was involved in the assault on Mr McCauley.

To date only one person has been convicted in relation to the attack despite the PSNI believing that up to 15 people were involved.

Speaking this week Mr McCauley’s father Jim hit out at the PSNI for failing to bring more prosecutions.

“We are still working with police but our patience and goodwill has been stretched to the limit. Seven years later and we still don’t have anyone in court for the attempted murder of Paul,” he said.

Urgent Appeal