RNU Hold Successful Anti-Plastic Bullets Rally

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Sunday August 08, 2010 23:19 by Ardoyne Republican - Republican Network for Unity (RNU)

Earlier this evening, the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) held a successful Rally against Plastic Bullets outside Antrim Road RUC/PSNI Barracks in North Belfast.

Earlier this evening, the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) held a successful Rally against Plastic Bullets outside Antrim Road RUC/PSNI Barracks in North Belfast.

Over forty people attended the protest to highlight the immoral use of these lethal weapons over the Twelfth in Ardoyne where close to 100 plastics were fired over a three-day period. The Rally was overshadowed by the presence of a number of RUC/PSNI vehicles, two of which were fitted with video equipment.

After thirty minutes, RNU Spokesperson, Martin óg Meehan thanked everybody who attended. He said there was no difference between the RUC who had Plastic Bullets in its arsenal and the PSNI. He also reminded everyone about the anniversaries of two plastic bullet victims, Seamus Duffy (15) and Sean Downes (22) both of who were killed by the RUC. Martin óg introduced the main Speaker, Brenda Downes (United Campaign against Plastic Bullets). Who was praised for her long activism in exposing the use the lethal weapon.

Brenda recalled how her late husband, Sean had been killed by the RUC during an Anti-Internment Rally in 1984. She explained how the RUC member responsible was later charged and acquitted of his murder because the British State in Ireland had never been made accountable for the murder of Rubber and Plastic Bullet victims. She then read a statement from United Campaign against Plastic Bullets which thanked RNU for highlighting the issue and demanded the immediate banning of these lethal devices. Mrs. Downes concluded by reading the names and ages of the seventeen victims killed by Rubber and Plastic Bullets.