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Court cases 'used by vigilantes' | Court cases 'used by vigilantes' |
(about 18 hours later) | |
Police have asked judges in Londonderry to consider withholding the names of drug suspects to ensure their safety. | Police have asked judges in Londonderry to consider withholding the names of drug suspects to ensure their safety. |
Republicans vigilantes Republican Action Against Drugs (Raad) have shot and hurt at least 15 men in the city. | Republicans vigilantes Republican Action Against Drugs (Raad) have shot and hurt at least 15 men in the city. |
Chief Inspector Chris Yates said the gunmen were finding potential targets by reading their names in newspapers. | Chief Inspector Chris Yates said the gunmen were finding potential targets by reading their names in newspapers. |
He told the BBC he had asked the district judge in Derry to review whether the names and addresses of suspects should be revealed in court. | He told the BBC he had asked the district judge in Derry to review whether the names and addresses of suspects should be revealed in court. |
Shot | Shot |
An example of what Mr Yates was talking about was outlined by Derry journalist Eamonn McDermott, in regard to three men charged with drug possession. | |
"We still have to work on the presumption of innocence," he said. | "We still have to work on the presumption of innocence," he said. |
"These guys appeared in court on Monday charged with possessing cocaine, and on the following Friday night, two of them were shot. | "These guys appeared in court on Monday charged with possessing cocaine, and on the following Friday night, two of them were shot. |
"It's not intelligence-gathering, it's just reading the paper." | "It's not intelligence-gathering, it's just reading the paper." |
In recent weeks, the third man was shot in the legs after being ordered to go to an alleyway in the city. | In recent weeks, the third man was shot in the legs after being ordered to go to an alleyway in the city. |
Mr Yates told the BBC's Spotlight that police had "a clear picture" of Raad's membership but intimidation within communities was preventing them from gathering the necessary evidence to obtain convictions. | Mr Yates told the BBC's Spotlight that police had "a clear picture" of Raad's membership but intimidation within communities was preventing them from gathering the necessary evidence to obtain convictions. |
The practice of including people's ages and addresses in court reports is designed to avoid confusion should someone else have the same name. | The practice of including people's ages and addresses in court reports is designed to avoid confusion should someone else have the same name. |
Watch Enda McClafferty's BBC Spotlight investigation (UK only, available until 9 March | Watch Enda McClafferty's BBC Spotlight investigation (UK only, available until 9 March |