More news in brief.
Four charged with IRA membership
Four men arrested during a Garda operation into the activities of dissident republicans in Co Donegal were charged with membership of the IRA at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court yesterday.
All four men have addresses in Derry city. They are Gary Donnelly (38), Kildrum Gardens, Michael Gallagher (28), Sackville Court, Martin Francis O'Neill (date of birth unknown), Colmcille Court, and Patrick John McDaid (39), Marlborough St. They are charged with membership of an illegal organisation on March 16th.
Gardaí told the court the men were arrested yesterday and that, when cautioned, Mr Gallagher and Mr McDaid denied IRA membership while Mr Donnelly and Mr O'Neill made no reply.
Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded all four men in custody until next Tuesday, when bail applications are expected to be heard.
When charged, Mr McDaid said: "I spent over three days in custody and said quite clearly I was not a member of an unlawful organisation. This is a clear case of internment through remand," he added.
Ms Justice Dunne replied: "I have to disagree with you, Mr McDaid. . . You will in due course be afforded a trial in relation to the matter."
Man beaten in Belfast dies
Frank McGreevy, the 51-year-old former IRA prisoner who was found by his son drenched in blood and badly beaten in west Belfast on Saturday, died yesterday from his injuries. Mr McGreevy had been on a life-support machine since he was rushed to hospital after being discovered by his 15-year-old son in his flat in Ross Street. PSNI detectives, who have appealed for public assistance in catching and convicting his killers, have launched a murder inquiry.
A 20-year-old man who voluntarily handed himself into police custody at the weekend was still being questioned about the murder last night. Police said they are following a definite line of inquiry and that more than one person was involved in the beating of Mr McGreevy.
A pickaxe was recovered from the scene of the attack. Other implements, possibly including a baseball bat, were used by Mr McGreevy's assailants, according to the police who described the assault as brutal and dreadful. Mr McGreevy may have been struck 60 times, they said. On Monday Sinn Féin and SDLP politicians discussed with police the growing problem of serious and violent anti-social crime in west Belfast. They called for a community-based approach to the problem.
Thieves took car with baby inside
Sinn Féin has condemned car thieves who stole a vehicle in central Belfast on St Patrick's night while a 19-month-old baby boy was in the back of a car. The vehicle was stolen near Central Station, Mays Meadow at around 9pm on Monday and driven across the Albert Bridge into east Belfast. The silver car was found abandoned a short time later in the Short Strand area and the unharmed child reunited with its parents.
Sinn Féin representative in Short Strand, Niall Ó Donghaile, described those responsible as "death drivers". He added: "My thoughts go out to the family. How these people were not aware a baby was in the car is beyond me. It was a nasty incident. The car wasn't just stolen it was hijacked."
Meanwhile, police are investigating an incident in Newry on Monday in which a gang of youths assaulted a 15-year-old boy. Police said up to six youths attacked the teenager near Buttercrane shopping centre at 8pm on Monday evening.
389 cases of drink driving
Provisional statistics from the Garda indicate that last week, 389 drink driving incidents were recorded, compared to 346 the previous week.