And still the intimidation and racketeering go on ...
Saturday June 19 2004
Puncture wounds covered his head and body when he was found bleeding profusely and suffering from severe injuries.
Nobody had claimed responsibility for the attack but locals said no action could be taken in that republican heartland without at least the sanction of the Provisional IRA.
Conor Murphy, an Assembly member for the area, said his party condemned such attacks although, like other members of Sinn Fein he doesn't, and has never, criticised any action taken by the IRA.
However, the Provos have denied the recent assault and abduction of renegade republican Bobby Tohill who was taken from a bar in Belfast.
The kneecapping and mutilations by the IRA continue despite Sinn Fein committing itself to "take effective steps" to prevent the attacks when it signed up to the Mitchell Principles on democracy and non-violence.
Just how carefully the military wing follows the political process was evident when the number of Provo punishment beatings and mutilations dropped from an average of 17 a quarter to three in the last quarter of 2003 when the campaign for the Assembly elections was running.
Last year, Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe's election agent was abducted in Dublin and taken to South Armagh where he was tortured, tried by the Provisional IRA and shot in both ankles, for what was described as "freelance fundraising".
In February, a court awarded damages of €17,500 against Sinn Fein and a Mr Gerry Hanratty for an assault on a former Sinn Fein member and for the intimidation of his wife in Co Wexford during the 2002 General Election. Sean O'Laoghaire and his wife sued Hanratty for head-butting him in a car park and Sinn Fein was a co-defendant in the case. The court heard that the chairman of Sinn Fein's Wexford Comhairle Ceanntair, Liam McGarry, was later 'stood down' from his position and has since left the party.
When it comes to the IRA's finances, crime is the main earner. Earlier this year it emerged that the Provisional IRA was "stealing to order" from Dublin docks and that they are involved in counterfeiting videos, CDs and DVDs in a racket worth an alleged £150m year in the North. Illicit whiskey and vodka, copied designer clothing, perfume and sports gear are other earners for the Provisionals.
Huge profits from smuggling petrol because of the North-South price differential and laundering diesel fuel also pad out republican coffers.
- Sam Smyth
