https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2024/0516/1449597-dublin-monaghan-bomb-gang-investigator-says-there-was-collusion/

Dublin-Monaghan bomb gang investigator says 'there was collusion'

By Vincent Kearney Northern Editor

The officer leading the inquiry into the activities of the loyalist gang suspected of being responsible for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings has said he has no doubt there was collusion between the gang and the British security services.

Sir Iain Livingstone heads up Operation Denton, which is examining allegations relating to the activities of the so-called Glenanne Gang, which was based in County Armagh and Mid-Ulster during the Troubles, including its role in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

"I can say categorically there was collusion. We know that to be true," Mr Livingstone told Prime Time as part of a report into the 1974 atrocity.

"What we are going to do - and we are going to do it with rigour, and we're going to do it with complete transparency - is define the character, the nature and the extent of that collusion," he said.

"It’s well established that people who worked for the State - police officers, members of the UDR - had previously been involved in some of these despicable, sectarian attacks that were carried out primarily by loyalist paramilitaries."

"Whether there were individuals within that who were also agents and in terms of informants - that’s something that our review will consider, we’ll make an assessment around that, and we will report on that because it’s a matter of legitimate public interest," he added.

Operation Denton is examining 127 killings linked to the Glenanne Gang. The deaths include the 34 people, including one unborn child, killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

The Glenanne Gang consisted of members of the UVF paramilitary group, the locally recruited British army regiment the UDR, and members of an RUC Special Patrol Group, whose duties included anti-terrorism.

A Prime Time report to be broadcast tonight focuses on allegations that the gang played a key role in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and asks why suspects identified within days were never charged in connection with the attacks.

In a four-minute period around 5.30pm on 17 May 1974, three explosions rocked Dublin's Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street. Another followed 90 minutes later in Monaghan town.

The death toll was the largest to occur in a single day during the Troubles. More than 250 other people were injured.

Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the bombings, but victims’ families are still searching for justice.

Separately, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Jon Boutcher, has told Prime Time he will not block efforts by the families of victims of the bombings to take legal action to gain access to related secret British government files.

His predecessor as Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, and the British Ministry of Defence, spent six years robustly opposing such a legal action by the families.

Before taking up the position as PSNI Chief Constable in November 2023, Jon Boutcher spent almost four years leading Operation Denton.

"I won't be opposing any progress of any civil case to be properly heard in the court, to ensure that the victims have that opportunity for that civil redress, which I think they've got every right to," he said.

The comments stand in contrast to steps previously taken by his predecessor and the British Ministry of Defence, which included trying to overturn a High Court ruling in Belfast in 2018 which directed the UK authorities to hand over relevant documents.

As recently as last month, a High Court judge in Belfast dismissed an application from the PSNI instigated during the leadership of the former chief constable, and British authorities, to have the families' case thrown out.

The statements from Sir Iain Livingstone and Chief Constable Boutcher may offer new hope to relatives of victims of the bombings, who are still seeking justice for their loved-ones five decades later.

The attacks were viewed as a warning to the government in Dublin that political interference in the affairs of Northern Ireland would come at a heavy price.

They happened during a period of intense political volatility, when Northern Ireland was paralaysed by the Ulster Workers Council strike.

The strike was a protest against the Sunningdale Agreement which would have included a Council of Ireland, and given the Irish government a direct say in policies in Northern Ireland.

However, investigations into the bombings were quickly wound up without arrests. Details about the timeframes of the investigations were revealed in a 2003 report into the killings by Judge Henry Barron, and outraged victims’ families.

Margaret Urwin of Justice for the Forgotten, a campaign group which represents families, told Prime Time it is "absolutely incredible" that the Garda investigation into the Dublin bombings was closed down within two months, and the Monaghan investigation a month earlier.

Across the border, the RUC investigation was also wound up quickly, despite Special Branch having a list of suspects.

"I think by today's standards, we know that would never happen," PSNI Chief Constable Boutcher told Prime Time.

"Those enquiries would've gone on for a number of years. You know, every possible lead would have been exploited," he said.

"In the early 1970s, was that the norm for investigations of that nature? I actually think probably not," he added.

The Prime Time report also includes footage from an interview with a self-confessed Glenanne Gang member conducted during a BBC Northern Ireland investigation 20 years ago.

William McCaughey, a former RUC officer who died in 2006, admitted to being a member of the UVF and Glenanne Gang while also serving as a member of an RUC Special Patrol Group, whose duties included anti-terrorism.

McCaughey confirmed that the gang consisted of members of the UVF, UDR and police officers.

Additionally, a police officer who worked in the area where the Glenanne Gang operated in the 1970s told Prime Time they believe investigations into the activities of the group were mishandled or obstructed.

"The people that I worked with are honourable and professional police officers," serving PSNI Superintendent Gerry Murray said "but probably others within the organisation knew sufficiently more evidence that obviously wasn't shared with the people who were operationally policing on the ground."

Superintendent Murray worked as an RUC sergeant in South Armagh during the 1970s.

Operation Denton is due to report early next year.

50 years on from the attacks, families now hope the final report from Operation Denton will trigger a renewed push for justice.

"I’ve made one promise to my mother. I will, as long as I live, I will carry on with the campaign and to get justice for my father," Pat Fay told Prime Time. His father Patrick was killed while putting petrol into his car on Parnell Street.

"I will carry on to do what I promised my mother. I’ll see it to the end."

Vincent Kearney and Sallyanne Godson’s report on the Glenanne Gang and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is broadcast on the 16 May edition of Prime Time at 9.35pm on RTÉ One television.

This might be my old guy shouting at clouds moment, but what the hell has happened to gig prices? Was quite excited for tickets getting released for Childish Gambino in Dublin this morning at 3Arena - cheapest ones? €180 - to stand. I know this is just one specific example, but is it normal? Used to pay less than that for Glastonbury tickets (+camping)...

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-paedophile-forced-to-flee-again-after-angry-mob-torches-car-and-pickets-home/a2096738256.html

Convicted paedophile William Sholdis has been forced to flee a second time after an angry mob torched his car and picketed his home. The Sunday World has revealed the 33-year-old was forced to flee from temporary accommodation in Antrim after protests outside his flat.

It’s the second time he has been forced to move in the space of a year after he had leave his house in Ballynure following his conviction for having indecent images of kids as young as six-years-old.

Sholdis, who the court heard has autism, entered guilty pleas to 18 counts, including making indecent images of children and possessing banned images of children and extreme pornography.

After details of his offending were made public last autumn, he and his family fled their home in Ballynure, which sits directly opposite a green space regularly used by families.

Originally he was handed a 12-month jail sentence but that was overturned on appeal and he was told to serve a three year probation order instead, as well as a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and having to sign the sex offender’s register for ten years.

Now it has been revealed a hate mob targeted his new home in Antrim where he had been placed in a hostel designed for vulnerable people.

His car was torched late at night on April 27th and when police arrived there was an angry stand-off with protesters who slammed the PSNI for not making local residents aware he was living there.

“People in the estate were furious when they found out he’d been placed there, living amongst kids and other vulnerable people,” said a source.

“It seems the protesters set fire to his car because he was in shared accommodation – otherwise they would have torched his house most likely.

“The fire also damaged another car beside it as well as a bin. The cops and the fire brigade turned up and the protesters were shouting at the cops for not informing them about him living there.

“It was pretty angry and threatened to get out of hand but it calmed down and Sholdis moved out.”

In January senior judges ruled that Sholdis should be released from prison and instead ordered to complete three years’ probation.

Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan described him as a “pathetic figure” who has shown insight into the extent of his crimes.

Sholdis, 33, was arrested after PSNI child protection officers searched his home near Ballyclare in March 2021.

A number of devices were seized, including a laptop fitted with anti-forensics software. Police uncovered nearly 5,000 photographs and videos, along with search terms indicating an interest in indecent images of children.

Some of the pictures were in the most serious category, but there was no evidence that he had shared or uploaded any of the files.

In November last year Sholdis received a 12-month sentence after pleading guilty to a series of charges of making and possessing indecent images .

The original term was split between four months in custody and eight months on licence.

Defence lawyers challenged the sentence imposed, arguing that supervised help in the community would be of greater benefit in dealing with his issues.

Sholdis suffers from autism and was bullied at school, still lived with his parents and has never had an intimate relationship, the Court of Appeal was told.

The payroll administrator originally found the illegal material through a spam email and felt “ashamed” that his actions had helped to support abuse of children.

Barrister Mark Barlow submitted: “He fell down the rabbit hole and, because of his personal characteristics and circumstances, simply couldn’t stop himself.”

His family have since been forced to relocate amid community tensions about the offences.

Counsel for the Public Prosecution Service, Mark Farrell, responded by highlighting the aggravating features in the case.

Images were discovered on six devices as part of offending over a period of 19 months.

Ruling on the appeal, Dame Siobhan stressed the court’s “abhorrence” to crimes related to the abuse of children.

Based on a probation report on Sholdis, however, she found that he has shown genuine remorse and a motivation not to re-offend.

“Due to the personal circumstances, particularly his immaturity, isolation and lack of sexual knowledge, he presented as a pathetic figure,” the Chief Justice said.

“We think this appellant is insightful of the pernicious nature of this type of offending.”

With the two months Sholdis had already served in prison identified as a deterrent feature, she confirmed that his original sentence was to be substituted for a three-year probation order.

Dame Siobhan explained: “To further protect society and prevent a recurrence of this sickening behaviour, we are imposing the maximum (possible) period of community supervision.”

Sholdis was confronted by a journalist last year after he had pleaded guilty but did not want to comment.

His mum spoke for him saying, “He’s going on courses to help him, he has autism and other disabilities and during lockdown he had went into an area he wasn’t aware of.”

A police spokesperson told the Sunday World: “Police attended the scene of an arson attack on a car in the Donore Crescent area of Antrim on Saturday, 27th April.

"NI Fire and Rescue Service also attended and extinguished the fire which was reported just before 11pm. Significant damage was caused to the vehicle and it appeared that it had been set alight deliberately.”

They said enquiries are underway and anyone with information is asked to contact them.

Doing a research project at the moment and can't for the life of me think of what we call creepy men. Any help appreciated!

Crime statistics: shoplifting up by 20% according to PSNI figures

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-69026855

By Finn Purdy
BBC News NI

Shoplifting is up nearly 20% in Northern Ireland in the last year, according to the latest crime figures release by the police.

It comes despite an overall drop in crime levels.

A shop manager in Belfast city centre told BBC News NI that shoplifting has become "really bad".

Adele Reilly said she had definitely seen an increase in the past couple of years and that people were mostly taking food.

The spike in shoplifting is at odds with the overall crime figures which show a drop in the past year.

The amount of criminal incidents recorded from April 2023 to March 2024 was down 6% compared to the previous 12 months.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd said the statistics were "very welcome".

"These efforts are all the more remarkable given the significant resource pressures which our officers and staff have found themselves working under throughout this period."

However, he added there were some "areas of concern particularly relating to hate-motivated incidents and shoplifting".

• 'The cost of living started my shoplifting'
• Steak, coffee and cheese tagged as shoplifting rises

There were 8,979 recorded incidents of shoplifting in Northern Ireland between April 2023 and March 2024, compared to 7,511 recorded in the previous financial year.

Despite this, theft offences generally remain lower than pre-pandemic.

In 2023/24 criminal damage and burglary levels fell to the lowest levels recorded.

Ms Reilly told BBC News NI that when taking note of stock at the end of the day, she notices stuff has gone missing nearly every day.

"I don't know [why] but I think it's maybe because of price increases, maybe people haven't got the money to pay for things," she said.

"It does have an impact on the business."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpdgd32d7mno

A sales advisor has settled a disability discrimination case against his former employer for £160,000.

Eamon Bowen took the case against his former employer Telefónica Ltd and was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The case was settled with no admission of liability.

O2 - the trading name of Telefónica Ltd in the UK - said it had apologised to Mr Bowen and that it was "pleased to have mutually reached a settlement".

Mr Bowen worked in an O2 shop for a number of years and was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, a degenerative disc disease, in 2014.

The condition caused chronic pain, exhaustion, sleep and mobility issues which meant Mr Bowen had to take periods of sick leave. He worked from home during the pandemic. He returned to work in-store in June 2020 but his illness made his job difficult.

Mr Bowen was referred to occupational health who made recommendations aimed at helping him manage his job.

Mr Bowen said the recommendations were not implemented appropriately and he felt he had no option but to resign.

He left his job in November 2021. "I only ever wanted someone to take me seriously and when I landed with the Equality Commission they really did," he said.

Mr Bowen said the settlement highlights the importance of taking disabilities seriously. "I enjoyed my work, I loved my work, loved working," he added. "I stepped away from the role with a massive amount of regret - if the processes had been followed I would absolutely be in employment still."

When settling the case, Telefónica Ltd apologised to Eamon for "significant upset, distress and injury to feelings".

The company also agreed to work with the Equality Commission to review their policies, practices and procedures.

An O2 spokesperson said the company had a "broad and diverse workforce". "We have a range of measures in place to support employees who have a disability or specific needs, such as making layout changes for wheelchair users, hiring sign language interpreters for employees with hearing difficulties, and providing specialist equipment where appropriate," they added.

“We have apologised to Mr Bowen for any distress caused in this case, and we are pleased to have mutually reached a settlement.”

Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said: "It is essential that employers carefully consider all recommendations made by occupational health and communicate with the person with a disability to ensure they understand their needs.

"This case was settled for a significant amount of money and the company has lost an experienced employee."

Ms McGahey also said staff should be aware that workplaces have a legal requirement to consider reasonable adjustments.

Tomorrow's the day folks! Our charity Magic: The Gathering event opens up tomorrow, from 11am-6pm.

Taking place at the Portadown Wellness Centre on the Armagh Road here in Portadown, its looking to be a great day for everyone.

Sign ups for the tournament close at noon on the 18th of May, you can sign up in person or via our sign up form at https://bit.ly/WellnessCentreMTG

No sign up necessary for casual play.

Entry fees are £2 for casual play, or £4 for tournament entry.

Contact Avery with any questions and for more info at: WellnessCentreMTG@Yahoo.com

Read more about the Portadown Wellness Centre at: https://portadownwellnesscentre.com/

Hope to see you there!

Happy Friday. Some lovely person appears to have hit my car while it was parked outside my house on the street and caused some minor paint damage/ scuffing to the front passenger door. Assuming a van, neighbours car etc. No note or anything left so unfortunately no idea who did it . Is it worth calling insurance company? First time I’ve had anything like this happen so unsure.

Hello, I am at my wits end trying to find a job. I have years of hospitality experience and I have just finished my social science degree. I want an admin/receptionist or preferably a wfh/remote job, but finding it quite difficult to find. I had a Tesco interview last week and was unsuccessful :( is the job market here this bad? Does anyone have any advice?

Hi folks. Long time reader, first time poster.

I was at the Gary Numan gig tonight in the limelight and saw a confrontation. Two fellas (to our right) were there pretty early, as we're my daughter and I. About 5mins before the gig started a fella who looked like a Stone Cold Steve Austin from wish, (but half of it was lost in transit) and his GF (lets call her peroxide Peggy) wedged in Infront of them. They (two fellas) were okay about it and all was well.

In fairness to the two fellas, the washed up wrestler (late 20s) and his Mrs didn't stop talking during the first half and I saw the two fellas had moved to the other side of me. Obviously because they couldn't hear the music.

Later on, in the second half the same "animated couple" tried to stand in front of the two fellas, who told SSSA and PP to move on, at which point Steve Austin tried to square up to them. I heard them tell them why they wanted them to fuck off. (They talked through the first half, we don't wanna hear about your dreams etc etc we came here to hear himGary Numan not you....) SSSA walked aff saying to his already vacant GF "take me away before I head butt someone" and called them .... "Dick weeds" 😂 and saying they were *privileged and "I remember my first gig."

I'm still laughing at dick weeds.

Okay. Compose myself..... Why don't people have self awareness at gigs and shut up and not talk when they paid for tickets? Who was in the right. I was 100% supportive of the two fellas for calling Stone Cold out.

TLDR- Steve Austin from Wish took offence being called out for talking through a gig, called someone a dickweed.

Me and my long term partner broke up this week. I need to distract myself this weekend with something to try and take my mind off it, what could I do?

I wanted the football but won the watch. Only here could you be unhappy with the big prize. It’s like winning a holiday voucher who wants that !!!

https://www.belfastentries.com/places/historical-places/belfasts-market-house/

Slim chance of finding anyone in here that has interest in this sort of thing, but is any German car enthusiasts heading to Kilbeggan for EuroProjekt tomorrow? I was supposed to be meeting up with mates tomorrow and travel down in a group for camping and BBQ at the venue, but now they've bailed for work so I'm traveling down alone with my partner and daughter. Just curious if there's anyone whose also alone and traveling down from NI that maybe wanted to meet up to travel in a group too?

Anyone know why cars are always parked outside the gates of Lissue House on the Ballinderry Road? Are you able to go in and walk about? Every time I drive past the gates are shut.

Getting the gas installed on Monday, blokes have put the box on the wall and Firmus have sent up all the guff about topping up, all except the actual card. Does the install guy bring one cos without it, we're kinda fucked?

I know gas is dear etc, but the missus wanted the tank out of the hot press and the oil tank and boiler are fit for frig all.

TIA

Another survey, as if there isn't already enough here, for this time NIFL asking about attendance & their media presence and as to why you may, or may not engage with local football and what may change that.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/NIFootballLeague/NIFootballLeagueSupportersSurvey