News

Senior SDLP figure refuses to meet police inspector

The original Billy Wright banner hung from a lamppost in Dungannon last month
The original Billy Wright banner hung from a lamppost in Dungannon last month The original Billy Wright banner hung from a lamppost in Dungannon last month

FORMER SDLP deputy leader Patsy McGlone has refused to meet a senior PSNI officer who claimed some people will not be offended by a loyalist banner which gloated about the murder of four Catholic men. 

The Mid Ulster assembly member turned down an invitation to meet Dungannon based PSNI inspector Keith Jamieson last month.

It is highly unusual for senior politicians to refuse to speak to high ranking police officers.

Inspector Jamieson’s comments were criticised by the nationalist community after a banner depicting LVF founder Billy Wright appeared to gloat about the murder of four men in Co Tyrone in 1991.

Details of the snub emerged as chief constable George Hamilton is set to be quizzed about the controversy when the Policing Board meets later today.

Nationalists reacted angrily after inspector Jamieson said the Billy Wright banner will be seen as offensive by some, but not by others.

He also said the force “must attempt to achieve a balance between the rights of one community over another” after it was criticised by the mother of UVF murder victim Dwayne O’Donnell.

The 17-year-old was one of three IRA members killed during a loyalist gun attack at Boyle's Bar in Cappagh, near Dungannon, in March 1991.

Republicans Malcolm Nugent (20) and John Quinn (23), were also shot dead along with civilian Thomas Armstrong (52) when the loyalist gunmen struck.

Mr McGlone branded the officer’s remarks as “sick” and called on Inspector Jamieson to withdraw them.

The banner included an image of Wright and read: “In proud memory of Brigadier Billy Wright" and carried the quote 'I would look back and say Cappagh was probably my best.'

Mr Jamieson later invited Mr McGlone to meet him to discuss the situation and explain the PSNI position.

However, Mr McGlone declined the invitation.

In response he wrote: “I have read your email as I have comments in the media attributed to yourself,” he said.

“As those comments 'explaining' the PSNI position have too become a significant matter of concern to myself and many in the community (and are) currently referred to the Policing Board - I do not believe a meeting with yourself would contribute in any meaningful way.”

Speaking last night Mr McGlone said he decided not to meet the police officer because “the meeting would have been about him and none of that was very meaningful”.

“His comments as reported actually made the situation worse,” he said.

It is understood the banner, which was put up in the Eastvale Avenue area of Dungannon, was later slashed in half by a man using a stanley knife.

It was then replaced by a new poster which made no reference to the Cappagh killings, but instead showed Wright in front of Drumcree Church in Portadown.

The PSNI later claimed the banner was removed after consultation with “local representatives and the community” but refused to clarify which banner they were referring to.

The Irish News understands all banners referring to Billy Wright have now been taken down.

Meanwhile, Policing Board member Nichola Mallon has described the PSNI response to questions she posed about Mr Jamieson’s remarks as “unsatisfactory”.

The SDLP assembly member had asked chief constable George Hamilton several questions about the controversy in advance of today’s Policing Board meeting.

“I tabled a number of questions to the Chief Constable about the PSNI statement in response to the Billy Wright poster; a response which many people found insulting and offensive,” she said.

“The answers to date are unsatisfactory. In fact most don’t answer the question at all and I intend to pursue this further with the Chief Constable at the Policing Board meeting.”