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Newslist Messages for February 2000
AIR-MISS OVER ANGLESEY It is scandalous that the British Ministry of Defence have kept quiet about an air-miss involving two RAF Hawk trainers over the airfields complex on Anglesey in March last year. The Celtic League recently expressed concerns about RAF operations involving the Hawk trainer. We specifically cited air activity in and around the Valley complex, which abuts Irish sea air routes, and the Wylfa nuclear power station. The aircraft also use the civil airfield at Ronaldsway in the Isle of Man and the base was the subject of controversy over the training of Indonesian personnel as part of a contract by Britain which supplied Hawks used for repression in East Timor. The MOD, in correspondence last month,* responded to our concerns and confirmed several accidents in recent years but were tight lipped about the Anglesey air-miss in which it appears that an RAF Hawk from the satellite airfield at Mona drifted off course and came within 100' of collision with another trainer from Valley. It speaks volumes for the air traffic control system covering Anglesey that controllers did not wake up to the incident and only the action of the pilots averted disaster. In November, following an air accident near a nuclear power station in Scotland, we wrote to both the MOD and Irish and Manx governments about the possible dangers posed by air activity near nuclear plants. Amongst others we cited the North Wales training complex at Valley. Both the Irish and Manx governments have echoed the Leagues concerns over this issue. A letter from the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs* set out that "the Irish government have grave concerns about the operation of the British nuclear industry, and the additional risks posed by hazardous flying close to these facilities are potentially very serious". Anglesey resident and member of the Stop the Hawks campaign Rev Emyln Richards has called for an end to the RAF pilot training in the area. J B Moffatt Secretary General 9:2:00 * MOD & Irish/Manx government correspondence referred to will be faxed on request ====================== SOLWAY HARVESTER SPECULATION UNHELPFUL Speculation and an interim report by the MAIB into the sinking of the Scottish Fishing Vessel the Solway Harvester are unhelpful say the Celtic League Within hours of a Manx Government Minister outlining how unhelpful speculative comment over the Solway Harvester tragedy was the MAIB issued an interim report which by its very nature is disturbingly speculative. The comments about the absence of a hatch cover, deficiencies over the life rafts and the level of training may not have been directly aimed to impugn the deceased men but the blunt nature of the comments conveys that effect. Whatever befell the Solway Harvester obviously occurred at dramatic speed and it is doubtful that had all the omissions catalogued by the MAIB been complied with anyone would have survived the disaster. There are obviously still serious unanswered questions concerning the sinking that will only be resolved after the vessel is raised. So what are the motives behind the release of this interim report by the MAIB? The position is that the original United Kingdom government stance was to leave the wreck of the vessel on the sea-bed. At that stage it was not even contemplated that a recovery of the mens bodies would be attempted. In that situation the MAIBs ability to arrive at a judgement would have rested on that evidence which could be gathered from the sequence of events before the incident and any video evidence acquired by remote control submersible. It would not therefore even have had the evidence it has now when it concluded its final report. The firm intervention by the Manx government has radically altered the position and it has so to speak put MAIB 'on the back foot'. In any case as evidenced by comments in parliament last week the reputation of the MAIB is not particularly sound and this interim report may be an attempt to recover the initiative over the sinking and its investigation. However, there is a lack of confidence in the pronouncements of the British government and their handling of enquiries into a wide range of disasters. The day before the MAIB issued its statement the UK Defence Secretary was on his feet reassuring the House of Commons that a British submarine had not been involved. This very likely is the truth. But his assurance is devalued somewhat by the fact that the British government and the MOD have been known to cover-up in the past. As the Manx Agriculture Minister said this week speculation over the issue is unhelpful and deeply distressing to the families of those who died. To put it bluntly the MAIB comments fall into that category. When the Manx governments initiative to recover the wreck is effected then, and only then, might we find the reason for this tragedy. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 23:2:2000 ============================ McBRIDE MURDER - JUSTICE MOCKED The Celtic League have accused the British Army and Ministry of Defence of mocking justice and putting themselves above the law in relation to the case of the two Scottish guardsmen Mark Fisher and James Wright. The retention of the men by the British Army is the subject of a further review. The original decision to retain the two murderers of Belfast man Peter McBride was taken after their premature release from custody. Subsequently, in the High Court Mr. Justice Kerr described the decision as "flawed" and the review decision was quashed. However, the MOD confirmed in November 1999 that the case would be subject to further review by "Army Board members who have had no involvement with the previous decision". At the time the Celtic League wrote to the MOD expressing our view that the relevant section of Queens Regulations did not allow for the appointment of multiple panels and we accused the MOD of perverting the regulations. The MOD however rejected this assertion. The League also asked the UK governments Attorney General if the MOD action was lawful. In a somewhat reluctant reply the Attorney General has endorsed the MOD action action. It seems therefore all echelons of the British establishment endorse this new opportunity for Fisher and Wright to avoid the consequences of their horrendous crime. Indeed, the only establishment figure to emerge from this situation with any credibility is Mr. Justice Kerr who exposed the original Army decision for what it was a "white-wash". Bernard Moffatt Secretary General 23/2/00 ============================= PUBLIC ENQUIRY CALL OVER CUSTODY DEATH The Celtic League have asked the Home Secretary to give further consideration to establishing a public enquiry into the death of an Irish man Richard O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien died after being arrested in April (4th) 1994 and whilst being restrained by three officers of the Metropolitan Police. The cause of his death was given as "postural asphyxia". Three police officers were later cleared of alleged manslaughter. The Celtic League at its annual general meeting last year passed a resolution supporting calls, by Irish Community Groups in the UK, for a public enquiry. However, in December the Home Office in response to correspondence from the League said the Home Secretary did not consider that the case of Mr. O'Brien met the "criteria" for a public enquiry. In its latest approach to the Home Office the League point to the conclusions and recommendations in a recently published report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) which visited the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man in 1997. Publication of this report had been delayed because of objections from the British government who sought to have it amended. The report comments on the O'Brien case, amongst others. The report is also critical of procedures for pursuing complaints and also refers to restraint procedures and training. The Celtic League have also indicated that the current level of deaths in police custody in England & Wales despite a slight decline still gives cause for concern. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 25:2:200 Text of letter set out below: The Home Secretary Jack Straw MP c/o Home Office Operational Policing Policy Unit - Powers and Procedures Section 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT Dear Sir, We wrote to you in November of last year conveying the text of a resolution adopted by the Celtic League at its 1999 AGM. The resolution supported calls for a public enquiry into the circumstances of the death of Richard O'Brien, an Irish man who died in the custody of the Metropolitan Police. The Home Office reply to us in December set out the background into the investigative procedures followed in such cases. We were also furnished with supplementary information detailing the statistics of deaths in custody for the period April 1998 to March 1999. However, the response rejected calls for a public enquiry. I am aware that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) recently published its report following a visit to the United Kingdom and Isle of Man. That report comments, in several sections, on the O'Brien case, and others, raising questions about the procedures for pursuing investigations into such cases. It also comments on the efficacy of current procedures governing guidance on the use of restraint techniques by police officers and training in restraint techniques provided. In the light of the CPT comments and recommendations will further consideration now be given to establishing a public enquiry into the O'Brien case? I refer above to the information you supplied on deaths in custody. The Home Office letter pointed to a slight fall (4) in such deaths over the previous annual period. However, our analysis of the data indicates that 25% of deaths of those in custody occurred in the Metropolitan Police area. Does this not give you continued cause for concern? Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 24/2/00 ================================ MARINE ACCIDENT BODY REFUTES LEAGUE CRITICISM The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Rear Admiral J S Lang, has refuted criticisms of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued by the Celtic League ten days ago. The Chief Inspector says, in correspondence to the League, that whilst he welcomes "informed criticism" that the League are likely "not to be aware of the many changes introduced since the Branch (MAIB) was first formed and certainly since the Marchioness investigation" which the Celtic league had commented on in its statement. Rear Admiral Lang also goes on to correct what he sees as a misconception the Celtic League has over the recovery of the bodies of mariners he says, "As I am sure you are well aware there is not one single accident investigation in, as far as I am aware, the world charged with recovering bodies from an accident site.. We are no different. My sole task is to investigate accidents and informed opinion on our work leads me to believe our efforts are appreciated" The Chief Inspector encloses substantial detail on safety surveys concludes with an offer to meet to provide any further clarification. The Celtic League had criticised the MAIB and its predecessor the Marine Directorate of the Department of Transport for failing to "satisfactory explanation or substantive remedy" in several significant cases involving the loss of motor fishing vessels with substantial loss of life. The Chief inspector however alludes to recent relations between Fisherman's organisations and communities and observes that this leads him to believe our work is being more appreciated than perhaps you give us credit for". J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 25:2:2000 ================================ REID ACTION ENDORSES FISHERY GERRYMANDER The 1999 AGM of the Celtic League unanimously adopted a resolution from the Scottish branch calling for the return to Scottish jurisdiction of 6000 square miles of sea which was transferred shortly before the Scottish parliament was established to England. The move effectively snatched some of the most lucrative sea fishery areas of eastern Scotland. It also established the ridiculous position of Scotland having two territorial sea boundaries with England one covering oil and gas and the other revised delineated fishery boundary. When we communicated with First Minister Donald Dewar on this issue, shortly after the AGM, his office advised that the Scottish parliament had debated the issue and rejected a motion calling on the UK government to reinstate the original boundary. Since that time however the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs Committee has issued a report calling for one boundary governing oil, gas and sea fisheries. However, the Secretary of State for Scotland John Reid has rejected the proposal in a move which has provoked attacks on him by SNP fisheries spokesman Richard Lochhead. Mr. Lockhead said: "John Reid's arrogance is breathtaking and his determination to do as little as possible for Scotland beggars belief". The Celtic League endorse that view. Quite frankly the sooner that Reid is ejected from the Scottish political scene the better. This will probably come via his elevation to the House of Lords which Prime Minister Blair is anxious to fill with trusted "yes men". Interestingly, the boundary move via the device of the hastily adopted Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 in the short term is unlikely to restrict access for Scottish fishermen to sea fish in areas allotted as UK quotas by the EU. The move does however indicate a long term worry on the part of England about Scottish independence this would seem to be the only logical reason for this gerrymander of the fishery boundary. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 27:2:2000 ================================== GAELIC TV - POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM BROADCAST COUNCIL LEADER The Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council of Scotland has assured the Celtic Leagues Scottish Branch that the Broadcasting Council of Scotland "is working to ensure that management protect the commitment to developing Gaelic services on both digital and analogue channels". The Scottish Branch Secretary Risnidh Mag Aoidh had written to Sir Robert Smith seeking support for the establishment of a Gaelic television channel. Sir Robert also advises that "progress is being made to extend the Radio nan Gaidheal transmission reach" and indicates that proposals to carry that service on the Internet will be advanced in the coming months. The Scottish Branch had also raised issues relating to the provision of broadcast news services for Scotland and Sir Robert indicates that all the points raised in the Leagues correspondence will be brought to the next meeting of the Broadcasting Council for Scotland. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 27:2:2000 ====================== SELLAFIELD ROOT AND BRANCH SHAKE UP NEEDED It's less than 10 days since the Chief Executive of BNFL indicated his determination not to resign in the unfolding scandal over falsification of safety data. Latest media reports however say that if he does not jump this week he will be pushed. Ironically, it was probably a cutting attack from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) itself now under scrutiny, which accused BNFL of systematic management failures, and new evidence that the safety scandal extends beyond the Japanese contract that will seal Taylor's fate. There was something distinctly uncomfortable about seeing junior grades of process workers at the plant disciplined and sacked whilst senior management sat tight. It is obvious that in an industry of this type, which should be a leader in safety consciousness, any shortcomings identified warrant a shared accountability by management. Nor should the NII believe that its production of an unusually swift condemnatory report gets it off the hook. It is reassuring therefore that United Kingdom government ministers are pressing for radical changes at Britain's nuclear watchdog. The Chief Minister of the Isle of Man this week joined Irish and Icelandic government spokespersons in condemning the plant. Most of the countries and people that have Sellafield for a neighbour are thinking that if the company misled two of its most significant customers over safety matters can we believe anything said on safety. There really needs to be a "root and branch" shake up over safety within the UK nuclear industry and that includes senior heads rolling at both BNFL and the NII. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 27:2:2000  Back to Celtic League News |