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    by Published on 16-05-2012 11:31 AM
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    A Londonderry man has claimed that republican vigilantes told him to go to anger management classes or get shot.

    The Republican Actions Against Drugs (RAAD) has been behind paramilitary-style shootings against those guilty of so-called "anti-social behaviour".

    But Hugh Brady, a community volunteer, said he was surprised by the claim.

    He had never heard about anyone being ordered to go on an anger management course by RAAD, he said.

    Mr Brady is a volunteer adviser at the Rosemount Resource Centre which acts as an intermediary between RAAD and those threatened by the group.
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    by Published on 25-04-2012 01:44 PM
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    Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was involved in authorising the IRA murder of two RUC officers in 1989, according to evidence given to the Smithwick Tribunal.

    Former British intelligence officer Ian Hurst - also known as Martin Ingram - claimed the murders were "authorised by Northern Command" and "Mr McGuinness was OC Northern Command".

    Sinn Fein said Mr McGuinness totally rejected the allegations, saying they were "more lies from an individual with a highly dubious track record".

    The spokesman added: "Judge Smithwick has already been critical of the quality and nature of the evidence provided to his tribunal by the British state.

    "This individual, who uses a variety of names including Martin Ingram, has no credibility. By his own admission he is part of a British security apparatus which played a very negative and malign role in the conflict.
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    by Published on 24-04-2012 11:49 AM
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    A man has been arrested in England by detectives investigating a sectarian murder in Northern Ireland almost 40 years ago.

    The 62-year-old was detained in Blackpool by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Serious Crime Branch, with the assistance of officers from Lancashire Police and the North West Counter Terrorism Unit.

    He was held following a review by the Historical Enquiries Team into the shooting of John Huddleston in Durham Street, West Belfast, on March 24 1973.

    Factory worker Mr Huddleston, a 28-year-old Catholic, was shot a number of times on his own doorstep by loyalist paramilitaries as he returned from a night out. His brother was wounded in the attack.

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    by Published on 17-04-2012 12:42 PM
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    The Orange Order has received a grant of almost £900,000 from the European Union to help address the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland.

    Communities at sectarian interfaces and border areas which suffered disproportionately during the Troubles will benefit, the organisation said. The Stepping Towards Reconciliation in Positive Engagement (Stripe) project will be based in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

    Drew Nelson, chairman of the Orange Community Network, said: "The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland believes there is an imbalance of weak community infrastructure, low confidence and low levels of participation within the Protestant community, particularly
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    by Published on 10-04-2012 06:18 PM
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    Six men who were arrested following a dissident republican rally in Londonderry on Monday remain in police custody.

    Several hundred people attended the event during which a masked man read out a statement from the Real IRA, threatening to attack police.

    The arrested men were taken to Antrim police station for questioning.

    The police said they kept a distance from the rally, but a security force helicopter monitored the scene.

    The BBC's Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said a small group of men lined up and marched in paramilitary style uniforms during the event, which was held at Creggan Cemetery in the city.

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    by Published on 27-03-2012 11:16 PM
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    The PSNI spent more than £4m on the first so-called supergrass trial here for more than 25 years.

    Twelve men were acquitted of all charges against them after a judge said the two main prosecution witnesses were liars and "ruthless terrorists".
    Details of the costs have been revealed in a letter to the justice committee at Stormont.

    Their trial is expected to be one of the most expensive ever held in Northern Ireland. It relied on the evidence of so-called supergrasses, Robert and Ian Stewart.

    Nine men involved in the UVF supergrass trial were acquitted of the murder of UDA leader Tommy English.
    They included the alleged former UVF leader in north Belfast Mark Haddock.
    Thirteen men had been charged with more than 30 offences including the murder of rival loyalist Mr English, kidnapping, and UVF membership.
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