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Fury over housing bosses' secret plot with UVF to protect paedos
Sunday Mirror, May 23, 2004 by DONNA CARTON
TERRORIST watchdogs are investigating allegations that housing bosses hatched a secret plan for paramilitaries to protect paedophiles on an estate.
Talks about placing convicted sex offenders in a revamped estate - with the UVF "policing" them - took place during a meeting between the Housing Executive and community members, the International Monitoring Commission was told.
It was thought the rejuvenation of Kilcooley, a run-down estate in Bangor, Co. Down, would include a scheme which places paedos in a number of new houses - so long as their safety is guaranteed.
The plan effectively meant that loyalist paramilitaries would monitor the perverts' movements and ensure their protection.
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Last night, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) strongly denied a deal had been struck but the issue is now part of an investigation by the Independent Monitoring Committee.
An NIHE spokesman said: "We have not entered into any agreement with community representatives in Kilcooley to rehouse sex offenders in the estate."
However, a Sunday Mirror source said the plan was talked about and "initial agreement" made.
He said: "Ensuring the safety of perverts can only be done if paramilitaries are on board.
"Everyone who discussed this about Kilcooley knew that. The Kilcooley proposals will now form part of an IMC inquiry into how public bodies deal with local terror groups."
The IMC, set up to investigate paramilitary activity, has slammed the development of "unofficial law enforcement" and "a degree of tolerance" of paramilitary control by individuals and communities "including statutory agencies".
Social Development Minister John Spellar visited the Kilcooley Estate in January to promote the new Neighbourhood Renewal Plan.
Identified as an area of deprivation, poverty and unemployment, the 1,500-home sprawl was earmarked for long-term investment.
A private development of 21 new houses within the estate will also be released.
The estate, built to house people leaving Belfast as the Troubles took hold, has been working to shake off its run-down, paramilitary- infiltrated image.
Residents welcomed the promised investment but the majority will be unaware of alleged talks about plans to house sex offenders in the area.
When rehousing sex offenders, the Housing Executive said it operates guidelines which balance it's responsibility to re-house people and the rights of residents living in an area.
A spokesman said: "The housing of offenders is an emotive and sensitive issue. The Housing Executive has to balance its statutory obligation to treat all released offenders equitably and fairly, with our desire to ensure that our tenants and their families feel that they are living in a secure environment.
"The Housing Executive tries to ensure they are re-housed in areas away from families with children, and in a location which is known to the organisations that have a role in their supervision and monitoring."
He said paramilitaries having a role in that supervision "is completely contrary" to NIHE policy.
In the first report of the IMC, the organisation pledged to investigate, and report on, paramilitaries and statutory agencies.
The IMC said: "We are aware of the line of argument that some aspects of local paramilitary influence are benign.
"We have been told that this influence limits inter-communal violence and riotous behaviour by the young; or that drug trafficking in some neighbourhoods is restricted by the imposition of local discipline.
"We recognise some people may even welcome unofficial law enforcement, though it is difficult to gauge the extent to which this may be the case. We do not accept that illegality can be allowed to claim respectability in this way."
The IMC said it understood terrorist groups operate because of the fear they instill but added: "We believe that paramilitary control is the greater because of a degree of tolerance in circumstances where that is unjustified, and not imposed.
"We think this tolerance may be widespread but we find it entirely inappropriate. It is an issue which effects society as a whole, including statutory agencies. We plan to return to it in future reports."
North Down MLA Robert McCartney said he was vehemently opposed to official involvement with paramilitaries.
"I have already complained about suggestions that the PSNI should utilise paramilitary assistance for control of interfaces areas in the summer," Mr McCartney said
"The suggestion is perhaps paramilitaries may have methods for securing compliance of paedophiles that are not available to the forces of law and order."
Copyright 2004 MGN LTD
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