An Appeal to Desist

By AM Sunday, August 19, 2012

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A letter from a number of Ardoyne residents who claim to ‘have suffered at the hands of political policing in more recent times.’ TPQ after discussion with its authors is satisfied that it is authentic and not the work of some internet troll. It was delivered to Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly, Sean Mag Uidhir of Community Restorative Justice, and a priest, Gary Donegan. It was also delivered to a number of other people who attended an inter-agency meeting at the local church hall.

To Whom It May Concern,

As you will be well aware through your attendance of these Interagency Meetings, they are an attempt to normalise the role of the PSNI within this community and portray this unionist militia as an impartial, non political police service that has the best interests of the Ardoyne community, and the nationalist community in general, at heart.

It is notable that the PSNI official title is “The Police Service of Northern Ireland, incorporating the Royal Ulster Constabulary”. Recent events have exposed PSNI impartiality as pure nonsense, something that Republicans in this area have been saying for the last number of years, that the PSNI are no different to their forerunners in the RUC and RIC before them. These include:

• The Internment of local Republicans Alan Lundy, Ta McWilliams and Deekal Gorman on absolutely no evidence whatsoever.

•  The continued facilitation of unwanted sectarian Loyal Order Parades through Republican areas.

• The facilitated attacks on the GARC march of 12th July by loyalist paramilitaries, without any arrests being made.

•  The attempted murder of ex-Blanketman Ginger McCoubrey on the Black Mountain by loyalist paramiltaries who identified themselves on social media sites brandishing their weapons, yet still no arrests.

• Continued use of draconian Stop and Search legislation to harass members of the Republican Community and their families.

•  House raids on family members of Republicans, resulting in the PSNI leaving loaded weapons in the bedrooms of children.

•  Passing of Republicans’ details to loyalist paramilitaries, and threats to have local Republicans assassinated. 

•  The continued use of lethal Plastic Bullets against members of the nationalist community, and the lack of use against loyalists, further highlighting the one sidedness of policing in the Six Counties. Their use against anyone should be banned.

•  Lack of arrests of those involved in loyalist rioting and illegal blockades in Rathcoole, Ballyclare, Shore Road, etc.

•  Facilitating the Young Conway Volunteers blatant sectarianism outside St. Patrick’s Chapel and attacks on those filming those involved, still no arrests.

•  The attempted recruitment of local Republicans and vulnerable members of this community by the PSNI and their masters in MI5.

•  The continued use, by the PSNI, of local criminals and drug dealers, as paid informers and state agents. This laissez faire attitude to criminals is resulting in the destruction of our community from within.

We, as Republicans and members of the Ardoyne community would appeal to you to desist from attending these meetings that further add to the lie that the PSNI are a reformed police service. They are quite clearly not, as you can see from the examples listed above. They are paid state agents, there to uphold and protect the State. We would ask that you leave these meetings and stand with the people of Ardoyne, opposing their presence in community facilities. The choice is simple, do you support the State or do you support members of your Community being persecuted by the State? By continuing to attend meetings that help pursue a PSNI normalisation agenda, you will quite clearly be demonstrating that you support the State. Examine your conscience and make your decision accordingly.

Yours faithfully,
Ardoyne Victims of PSNI Harassment and Internment