PRC-UTE
2nd February 2005, 04:25
Irelandclick.com
Celts fans quizzed on Northern Bank
Celtic fans travelling to Saturday's SPL game with Motherwell at Parkhead
were quizzed by Scottish police about the Northern Bank raid.
The Andersonstown News received phone calls yesterday from various
supporters telling how they were singled out and questioned by Dumfries and
Galloway police at Scottish ports, while making their way to and from the
match, and some supporters said they were shocked to find themselves being
questioned on the £26.5million Northern Bank heist. As we went to press
last night there were reports of other Celtic fans being detained.
Scottish cops ask fans if they knew who was involved in robbery. Celtic
supporters from Belfast, who were detained by Scottish police over the
weekend, found themselves being questioned about the Northern Bank heist.
And the Andersonstown News can reveal that fathers and mothers bringing
their kids through Cairnryan port over the weekend were also asked details
about their children and other members of their families.
And as we went to press last night there were further reports of other
Celtic fans being detained at Scottish ports as they made their way home
from Glasgow, many of them again said that they were questioned on the
£26.5million Northern Bank robbery.
New 'anti-terror' laws have seen a number of supporters being detained by
Scottish police over recent months as they travelled to Celtic games.
However, over the weekend Celtic supporters have told the Andersonstown
News that more people than ever seemed to be detained and questioned for
long periods of time.
As fans made their way to Saturday's Celtic versus Motherwell match, cops
asked many supporters their names, ages and place of birth of their kids
many of them just 10-years-old and younger. A number of Celtic supporters
contacted the Andersonstown News over the weekend to tell how they had been:
* detained in "cabins" for hours and interrogated by Dumfries and
Galloway police without any access to a solicitor
* asked details of their kids and their fathers and mothers
* told that 'files' had to be updated
* told they could be held for up to NINE hours
* questioned on what they knew about the Northern Bank raid
* had possessions including mobile phones tampered with.
Hundreds of Celtic fans from Belfast make the journey to Scotland every
week to watch their heroes.
Last night ex-political prisoner Eddie Higgins a regular Celtic visitor
to Parkhead who was travelling with two friends to see Celtic's 2-0
victory over Motherwell expressed outrage at his treatment. And he said he
also suspected his detention was because of a rally to commemorate Bloody
Sunday taking place in the centre of Glasgow on Saturday.
He was travelling with mates Tomboy Loudon, a father of three, and Gerard
Magee, a father of seven.
"They just asked a lot of stupid questions. It's just a lot of harassment
for people going to a match," he said.
"They asked one of us did we believe the IRA carried out the Northern Bank
job, and we just refused to comment on it. It was ridiculous, but they
detained us for several hours.
"There was a Bloody Sunday march that was attacked by loyalists on Saturday
in Glasgow, which was the first time it had been in the city centre.
"I am well used to being stopped, but I take exception when my kids are
being asked about."
Scottish folk group Shebeen who were travelling back to Glasgow after
playing two nights in West Belfast said they had been asked the same
questions about the Northern Bank heist. Singer Alan Quinn who performed at
the Andersonstown Social Club and the Roddys said he was asked if he knew
"anyone involved in the peace process" who had been involved in the robbery.
"They also asked about our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and kids.
They held us for four hours from around 9.20 in the morning to the
afternoon," he said.
"They took fingerprints and had sniffer dogs around our van.
"A sister of one of the group who came over to play with us for the first
time was really distressed.
"We were asked if we knew any republicans.
"We had £500 payment for the band and they took down the serial numbers of
all the Northern Bank notes."
A spokesperson from Dumfries and Galloway police constabulary last night
refused to comment.
Celts fans quizzed on Northern Bank
Celtic fans travelling to Saturday's SPL game with Motherwell at Parkhead
were quizzed by Scottish police about the Northern Bank raid.
The Andersonstown News received phone calls yesterday from various
supporters telling how they were singled out and questioned by Dumfries and
Galloway police at Scottish ports, while making their way to and from the
match, and some supporters said they were shocked to find themselves being
questioned on the £26.5million Northern Bank heist. As we went to press
last night there were reports of other Celtic fans being detained.
Scottish cops ask fans if they knew who was involved in robbery. Celtic
supporters from Belfast, who were detained by Scottish police over the
weekend, found themselves being questioned about the Northern Bank heist.
And the Andersonstown News can reveal that fathers and mothers bringing
their kids through Cairnryan port over the weekend were also asked details
about their children and other members of their families.
And as we went to press last night there were further reports of other
Celtic fans being detained at Scottish ports as they made their way home
from Glasgow, many of them again said that they were questioned on the
£26.5million Northern Bank robbery.
New 'anti-terror' laws have seen a number of supporters being detained by
Scottish police over recent months as they travelled to Celtic games.
However, over the weekend Celtic supporters have told the Andersonstown
News that more people than ever seemed to be detained and questioned for
long periods of time.
As fans made their way to Saturday's Celtic versus Motherwell match, cops
asked many supporters their names, ages and place of birth of their kids
many of them just 10-years-old and younger. A number of Celtic supporters
contacted the Andersonstown News over the weekend to tell how they had been:
* detained in "cabins" for hours and interrogated by Dumfries and
Galloway police without any access to a solicitor
* asked details of their kids and their fathers and mothers
* told that 'files' had to be updated
* told they could be held for up to NINE hours
* questioned on what they knew about the Northern Bank raid
* had possessions including mobile phones tampered with.
Hundreds of Celtic fans from Belfast make the journey to Scotland every
week to watch their heroes.
Last night ex-political prisoner Eddie Higgins a regular Celtic visitor
to Parkhead who was travelling with two friends to see Celtic's 2-0
victory over Motherwell expressed outrage at his treatment. And he said he
also suspected his detention was because of a rally to commemorate Bloody
Sunday taking place in the centre of Glasgow on Saturday.
He was travelling with mates Tomboy Loudon, a father of three, and Gerard
Magee, a father of seven.
"They just asked a lot of stupid questions. It's just a lot of harassment
for people going to a match," he said.
"They asked one of us did we believe the IRA carried out the Northern Bank
job, and we just refused to comment on it. It was ridiculous, but they
detained us for several hours.
"There was a Bloody Sunday march that was attacked by loyalists on Saturday
in Glasgow, which was the first time it had been in the city centre.
"I am well used to being stopped, but I take exception when my kids are
being asked about."
Scottish folk group Shebeen who were travelling back to Glasgow after
playing two nights in West Belfast said they had been asked the same
questions about the Northern Bank heist. Singer Alan Quinn who performed at
the Andersonstown Social Club and the Roddys said he was asked if he knew
"anyone involved in the peace process" who had been involved in the robbery.
"They also asked about our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and kids.
They held us for four hours from around 9.20 in the morning to the
afternoon," he said.
"They took fingerprints and had sniffer dogs around our van.
"A sister of one of the group who came over to play with us for the first
time was really distressed.
"We were asked if we knew any republicans.
"We had £500 payment for the band and they took down the serial numbers of
all the Northern Bank notes."
A spokesperson from Dumfries and Galloway police constabulary last night
refused to comment.