PSNI mount pre-Christmas raids

Republicans in Derry, Belfast and Newry have condemned heavy-handed raids by the PSNI which have devastated family homes in the lead up to Christmas.

One republican in Derry said he had been called to the house of one of those raided earlier this week and witnessed a scene of devastation.

“Door and frame forced off the hinges as they beat them in with enforcers even though the wife was visible through the door,” he said.

“They ripped open wrapped presents in front of the children, took their phones, manhandled the mother of the children in front of them and ripped a shelf off the wall.

“They then lifted the child’s laptop which had her exam coursework and also memory pen on which she had backed up her coursework. The family remonstrated with them in regard to the schoolwork but they were having none of it and removed all regardless,” he said.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Belfast said numerous house raids have been carried out in the city “in the mouth of Christmas, in many homes containing young children and as usual the silence from so called elected nationalist politicians is disgraceful, yet not unpredictable”.

The Belfast 32CSM said it had received several reports concerning these raids including one by a man from north Belfast man whose home had been ransacked by the PSNI. The man’s wife, who had recently been released from hospital following treatment for cancer, had been assualted in the raid.

“This is only one incident reported to our cumann, we have been made aware of similar incidents across nationalist Belfast, including Ardoyne, Short Strand and Newington,” the 32CSM said.

“Those so called nationalist politicians who endorse British policing need to explain the actions of these militia. They should equally explain their silence against these continued assaults on the nationalist community.”

Urgent Appeal