Andersontown News, October 10, 2002 - http://www.irelandclick.com/
O'Loan papers taken in raid - Kearney at centre of Police Ombudsman talks
As leading community worker Ciarán Kearney enters his sixth day of
questioning at the hands of the PSNI, the Falls Community Council have
called for the Police Ombudsman to investigate the circumstances of his
arrest.
As manager of the Participatory Democracy project, Ciaran Kearney has been
involved in the documentation of human rights abuses.
Along with three other individuals he was arrested over the weekend in PSNI
raids in West and North Belfast.
He was instrumental in organising a meeting between Nuala O’Loan, the Police
Ombudsman, and community representatives in the offices of the Andersonstown
News earlier this year.
It is believed that documents and minutes relating to that meeting are among
the items removed from Ciarán's home.
Chairperson of the Falls Community Council, Eileen Howell said: “As a person
who has worked tirelessly to combat injustice, it is ironic that Ciarán
himself be subjected to such a clear abuse of his own human rights.”
Ciarán Kearney was arrested from his Andersonstown home on Friday morning. A
second search of his home was conducted on Monday.
“Ciarán Kearney was instrumental in bringing the Patten Commission to West
Belfast and organising the community response to the Patten Review,” said
Eileen.
“He arranged the first ever visit of the Police Ombudsman to West Belfast
and set up the mechanisms for community engagement with the Ombudsman's
office.
“He has developed links between human rights organisations in South Africa
and challenged police tactics in situations of conflict at interface areas.
“This work was done with the authority and support of the Falls Community
Council and we absolutely stand over the integrity of this work and by our
employee,” she added.
“We are also concerned about the prejudicial coverage by sections of the
media, which we believe puts the safety of Ciaran and indeed the employees
and volunteers of the Falls Community Council at risk.”
Journalist: Allison Morris