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éirígí: ancora molestie da parte della PSNI

PSNI Harass Victims Campaigner

Roseanne MallonIn 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 Roseanne 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.

ÉirígíThree 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 Roseanne 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 Roseanne Mallon are still in full effect.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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