Irish News, 1999 Nov 9th

Hit-list Rice was refused NIO help

By Steven McCaffery

A LEADING member of a nationalist residents group has been told he is on a loyalist hit list - four days after the NIO refused to offer him protection.

It is understood details relating to Lower Ormeau Concerned Community spokesman Gerard Rice were among more than 300 security force files found in an Orange hall at Stoneyford, Co Antrim.

The find - one of the largest of its kind in the troubles - has sparked further allegations of security force collusion with loyalists.

Three prominent Sinn Fein members are among those whose details were found. A Belfast arson attack has also been linked to the discovery.

Mr Rice says the RUC first approached his family on Saturday to warn of the possible risk to his life.

On Tuesday NIO security minister Adam Ingram confirmed Mr Rice’s request to be added to the Key Persons Protection scheme was being rejected.

It is understood the request for added security at Mr Rice’s family home was denied on the grounds his death “would not affect the maintenance of law and order”.

While Mr Rice’s solicitor was told of the NIO decision on Tuesday November 2, police last night confirmed the files were found on October 30.

Mr Rice says his home has been attacked four times in four months when ball-bearings were shot by catapult through its windows.  His solicitor met Mr Ingram yesterday and asked that he reconsider his decision.

Mr Rice hit out at the decision and said he was concerned about the latest threats.

Later the RUC responded to Sinn Fein claims it had not acted swiftly enough in warning those whose details were found insisting it was acting “as quickly as humanly possible”.

This comes as a house on Norglen Road in the nationalist Turf Lodge area of west Belfast was targeted by arsonists who poured petrol through its letterbox at around 4am on Monday.

Three members of the family - including an 18-month-old baby - in the house say they “could easily have been killed” had a smoke alarm not alerted them.

Their address was also among those recovered at Stoneyford.

At least five people in the Markets and lower Ormeau area of Belfast have been warned their details are among those found.

It has been claimed at least one of these has no-link to any political organisation.

Three prominent Sinn Fein representatives have been told their details were also found.

West Belfast assembly member Alex Maskey, south Belfast councillor Sean Hayes and Lisburn Borough councillor Michael Ferguson are due to hold press conference this morning.

Mr Hayes said this was the third time loyalists have obtained his details.

His home has also been attacked with ball-bearings in the past couple of months. There have also been ball-bearing attacks on the homes of SDLP Belfast city councillors Catherine Molloy and Carmel Hanna, both of whom live in south Belfast.