Ciapann an PSNI Feachtasóir Íobartach

02/09/09

(English version follows.)

I sampla eile de chiapadh agus d’imeaglú leanúnach an PSNI i gcondae Thír Eoghain, stopadh ball de Ghaolta ar son na Córa [RFJ], grúpa i mbun feachtais ar son íobartaigh fhoréigean stáit na Breataine, stopadh agus coinníodh é agus é ag taisteal i dtreo thimpeallán Bhaile Uí Dhálaigh.

In éineacht le Martin Mallon, a shuíonn ar Bhord Stiúrtha RFJ, in éineacht leis ag am an eachtra bhí an tUasal Sherry, fear 65 bliain d’aois a bhfuil ainriocht croí air.

Chuaigh na hoifigigh PSNI i mbun maoin phearsanta an Uasail Mallon a ghabháil, guthán póca, dialann agus páipéarachas san áireamh. Rinne siad iarracht ansin guthán póca an Uasail Sherry a ghabháil, ach dhiúltaigh sé ar dtús é a ghéilleadh de bhrí go raibh air dul i dteagmháil lena dhochtúir nó leis an otharlann dá mbeadh éigeandáil ann maidir le staid a chroí. Ghlasáil Mallon doirse an chairr ansin agus chuaigh i dteagmháil le polaiteoir agus dlíodóir áitiúil, a chuaigh i dteagmháil le ball sinsearach an PSNI. Mar sin féin, d’éirigh leis na hoifigigh i gceist dul isteach sa charr agus ghabh siad guthán póca an Uasail Sherry. Níor tugadh é seo, mar aon leis na hearraí gafa ó Martin Mallon, ar ais fós. De réir RFJ, glacadh an tUasal Sherry in otharcharr chuig Otharlann Chreag Abhann de dheasca an eachtra. Tátahr ag tabhairt réim cógas ardaithe dó faoi láthair.

Is ábhar ciaptha an RUC-PSNI le fada é Martin Mallon, a bhfuil baint aige le cúpla comhrac dlí suntasacha faoi ionsaí aontachtach ar áras a theaghlaigh in 1994. Roimh ionsaí 1994, inar gortaíodh a bhean chéile agus maraíodh Rosemary Mallon, a bhí 76 bliain d’aois, choinnigh baill armtha Bhrainse Speisialta an RUC Martin Mallon ar bhóthar tuaithe. Le linn a choinneála, tháinig beirt fheallmharfóirí aontachtacha, Billy Wright ina measc, chuig an suíomh, rinne comhrá leis na fir RUC agus rinne siad bagairt ar Martin Mallon sular imigh siad.

Trí sheachtain ní ba mhoille, rinne an UVF ionsaí ar theach Mallon. Bhuaigh Mallon cás cúirte in éadan Aireacht Cosanta na Breataine ina dhiaidh sin agus fuair sé ‘follsaú ráiteas’ ó shaighdiúirí ceilte na Breataine a bhí i láthair in aice áras an teaghlaigh ag am an ionsaithe. Luaigh na saighdiúirí úd gur tarchuireadh scannánú beo den ionsaí chuig Beairic Mhic Mathúna i bPort an Dúnáin trí cheamara faireachais ach gur ordaíodh dóibh ‘na ceamaraí a mhúchadh’ agus ‘gan freagairt’.

Le déanaí, d’freastail clann Mallon ar breis agus 20 réamhéisteacht in iarrachtionchoisne a bhunú faoi dhúnmharú Rosemary Mallon agus na himeachtaí a bhain leis. Dhiúltaigh iar-ardchonstábla an PSNI Hugh Orde cuidiú leis an chróinéir ar bhealach ar bith áfach agus rinne sé bagairt orduithe gobánach a ghairm i bhfoirm theastais Dhíolúine Leasa Pobail.

I ndiaidh an eachtra, dúirt rúnaí ginearálta éirígí Breandán Mac Cionnaith: “Is léir nach bhfuil aon mhian ag an PSNI aghaidh a thabhairt ar oidhreacht na claonpháirtíochta in Éirinn – mar gheall ar a dhiongbháilteacht na nascanna fadbhunaithe idir an RUC-PSNI agus dronga báis aontachtacha a nochtadh, tá an tUasal Mallon arís ina thargaid do chiapadh an PSNI. Is fianaise eile an sampla seo de cé chomh fada is atá an PSNI ó fhórsa póilíneachta pobail, agus ina áit go bhfuil siad chomh dílis do na modhanna chur faoi chois agus a bhí riamh.

“Tá rún na Breataine in Éirinn mar an gcéanna, agus tá polasaithe na claonpháirtíochta agus forcheilte na fírinne taobh thiar de shaoránaigh cosúil le Rosemary Mallon go fóill i lánfheidhm.”

PSNI Harass Victims Campaigner

In yet another example of continuing PSNI harassment and intimidation in County Tyrone, a member of Relatives for Justice [RFJ], a group that campaigns on behalf of victims of British state violence, was recently stopped and detained while travelling towards the Ballygawley Roundabout.

Martin Mallon, who sits on RFJ’s board of directors, was accompanied at the time of the incident by a Mr Sherry, a 65 year-old man who suffers from a serious heart condition.

The PSNI officers set about seizing Mr Mallon’s personal effects, which included his mobile phone, diary and paperwork. They then attempted to seize Mr Sherry’s mobile phone, which he initially refused to surrender owing to the fact he needed to contact his doctor or the hospital should an emergency relating to his heart condition arise. Mallon proceeded to lock the doors of the car while he contacted a local solicitor and politician, both of whom contacted a senior member of the PSNI. Nevertheless, the officers concerned gained access to the vehicle and seized Mr Sherry’s mobile phone. This item, along with the items taken from Martin Mallon, have yet to be returned. According to Relatives For Justice, “Mr Sherry was admitted to Craigavon Hospital by ambulance as a direct result of the incident. He is currently being administered increased medication.”

Martin Mallon, who has been involved in a number of landmark legal battles concerning a unionist attack on his family home in 1994, has long been the subject of RUC-PSNI harassment. Prior to the 1994 attack, in which his wife was injured and 76-year-old Rosemary Mallon killed, Martin Mallon was detained on a country road by armed members of the RUC Special Branch. During his detention, two leading unionist assassins, including Billy Wright, approached the scene, chatted with the RUC men and threatened Martin Mallon before driving off.

Three weeks later, Mallon’s home was attacked by the UVF. Mallon subsequently won a court case against the British Ministry of Defence and secured a “discovery of statement” from covert British soldiers who were present in the vicinity of the family home at the time of the attack. The soldiers in question stated that live footage of the attack was transmitted to Mahon Barracks, Portadown via surveillance camera but they were ordered to “switch off cameras” and “not to react”.

Recently, the Mallon family have attended over 20 preliminary hearings in an attempt to establish an inquest into the murder of Rosemary Mallon and the events surrounding it. However, former PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde refused to assist the coroner in any way and threatened to invoke gagging orders in the form of Public Interest Immunity certificates.

After the incident, éirígí general secretary Breandán Mac Cionnaith said: “It is clear that the PSNI have no wish to face up to the legacy of collusion in Ireland – because of his determination to expose the long-established links between the RUC-PSNI and the unionist death squads, Mr Mallon has again become the target of PSNI harassment. This example is but further evidence of how the PSNI is far removed from a community police force, and instead is as devoted to the methods of repression as ever.

“The British agenda in Ireland remains the same, and the policies of collusion and covering-up the truth behind the murders of citizens like Rosemary Mallon are still in full effect.”