MoD fail to stop TV programme 

A documentary on Ulster Television (UTV) featuring allegations of collusion between the British Army Force Research Unit and loyalist paramilitaries was the subject of fierce judicial debate between lawyers for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and a legal team acting for UTV. The legal drama before Judge Shiels in Belfast High Court ended less than half an hour before the programme was shown last night, 30.01.01. The MoD had 'requested' that UTV deliver a copy of the UTV Live Insight programme to Thiepval Barracks before 5pm yesterday afternoon. Soon after legal teams arrived at the High Court. 

Judge Shiels eventually viewed the contentious programme and following this the MoD decided to drop their objections to the screening, possibly because the judge made clear that he would not uphold any legal attempt to ban the documentary. Titled 'Licenced to Kill', the half hour programme featured interviews with relatives of some of the victims of FRU/loyalist activities including Geraldine Finucane, Laura Hamill and the daughter of Francisco Notorantonio. 

A former member of FRU, Sgt Jack Grantham, speaking in silhouette to camera, admitted that the undercover unit had directed loyalist paramilitaries in a murder campaign and blamed Whitehall for setting up a unit to conduct a dirty war with no system of democratic accountability or legal guidelines.
 

Peter Mc Bride Update 

New Internationalist, the widely respected monthly magazine featuring development/human rights/third world issues, has bowed to pressure and agreed not to use Independent MP Martin Bell in an advertising campaign following protests regading the formers role in the campaign to release two Scots Guards convicted of the murder of Peter Mc Bride. 

A spokesperson for the magazine told the Irish News today that Bell would no longer be used. Martin Bell MP joined with the right wing press and various Tory luminaries in a deeply racist campaign aimed at gaining the release and reinstatement in the British Army of Guardsmen Wright and Fisher. John Spellar MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, was met with a picket when he spoke at the annual dinner of the Young Fabians last Saturday night in central London. 

Picketers were protesting his decision to reinstate the two Scots Guards in the Mc Bride case. Some of those attending the dinner promised to raise the case with the Minister. Spellar sat on the three man Army Board which decided that there were 'exceptional' reasons justifying retention of the two. See our website for details of the AB ruling. www.serve.com/pfc A judicial review of the Army Board decision begins next Monday Feb 5 at 9.30 am in Belfast High Court. Please join us to show your support for the Mc Bride family.