SF chairman on new loyalist hit list

Date: 10th Sept '02

Name: RM Irish news article

SF chairman on new loyalist hit list

A number of republicans, among them the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr
Mitchel McLaughlin, have been warned that their details are in
the hands of loyalists.

Mr McLaughlin and other republicans were contacted by RUC/PSNI
detectives in Derry on Saturday and advised to review their
personal security.

A leading member of the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG),
which is linked to the UDA, appeared in court in Derry charged
with having the hit list.

Mr Mark John Pilling, a community worker, was remanded in custody
following a brief hearing.

The court heard that on dates between May 31st and September 7th
this year, Mr Pilling had in his possession information of a kind
"which is likely to be of use to a person committing or preparing
an act of terrorism".

A spokesman for the UPRG, Mr John White, said he was surprised at
the arrest of the man. "He has certainly made a very positive
contribution."

NORTH BELFAST ATTACK

In other news, a loyalist mob attacked Catholic and Protestant
homes in a mixed area of north Belfast in the early hours of
yesterday morning. Windows at homes on Skegoniel Avenue, which
runs between Shore Road and Antrim Road, were smashed by a gang
of up to 10 men using bricks, concrete blocks and wooden poles in
two separate attacks.

The first took place at around 11.40pm on Saturday, on two houses
near the junction of Jellicoe Avenue and Skegoniel Avenue. Later,
at around 4.30am yesterday, the thugs returned and smashed
windows at eight more houses, close to the junction of Ashfield
Gardens and Skegoniel Avenue. Cars were also damaged.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said that upstairs
and downstairs windows had been smashed at his home.

"I heard the first incident at about 11.40pm on Saturday. I could
see six to 10 people at the front of some houses. They went right
into the gardens to make sure they had put the windows right
through," he said.

"I went to bed but was woken at 4.40am by a smash - two of my
front windows had been broken. The police arrived and patrolled
the area but they found nothing."

The householder, who has lived in the street for eight years,
said the attacks were the latest of a spate in the area.

"On July 20 my car was petrol bombed and my house paint and
petrol bombed. It must have been organised. Just two weeks ago
they jumped on the bonnet of my new car," he said.

"These thugs are just trying to up the ante, but I'm not moving.
Other people have moved out because their homes and cars have
been petrol bombed.

"This is a mixed area and a quiet neighbourhood. There is no-one
here to provoke any trouble. People just mind their own business
and get on with their lives."

Local political representatives are divided about the motives for
the attacks.

Sinn Fein Oldpark councillor Gerard Brophy said that loyalist
paramilitaries were engaged in "ethnic cleansing" in the area.

"These were unprovoked, orchestrated attacks and everyone knows
the UDA is responsible," he said.

Referring to the 'no first strike' committment made by loyalist
paramilitaries through the Loyalist Commission, Mr Brophy said:
"People are very angry this has not been honoured and I call on
unionist politicians to condemn this and get it stopped."

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